How long is too long? Recovery time of outpatients with sleep apnea after procedural sedation

The aim of this study was to determine whether a postoperative stay of 3 hours is warranted for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The secondary focus was to examine those patients who left against medical advice without complications. This retrospective chart review examined adult patients with previously diagnosed sleep apnea treated with pressure-emitting machines that underwent outpatient procedures with moderate sedation. The 369-bed community hospital where the study took place had the practice of recovering OSA patients for a 3-hour period. Data were collected to compare presedation oxygen, postsedation oxygen, and length of stay in minutes. Additional data collected from all patients included age, gender, weight, reversal medications, if required, and Aldrete score. Of the 118 subjects, there were no statistical differences noted in oxygenation scores before and after procedure yet the clinical improvement is noteworthy. Many of the subjects (n = 92) left against medical advice before the 3-hour period. In conclusion, a 3-hour time period may be too long for outpatients with OSA requiring machine assistance who undergo a procedure with moderate sedation.