A bibliometric analysis of obstructive sleep apnea and anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a growing public health concern, significantly impacting perioperative outcomes.
• OSA is an underdiagnosed yet crucial factor in surgical morbidity and mortality.
• A comprehensive understanding of the most influential research in OSA and anesthesia is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a bibliographic analysis of the most cited articles concerning obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the context of anesthesiology and reanimation.
• To identify key research trends and influential publications within the field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search was conducted using the Thompson Reuters Web of Science Citation Indexing.
• Relevant publications were identified using specific search terms for OSA and anesthesia.
• A total of 79 publications were retrieved and analyzed for citation counts and research domains.

Main Results:

• The analysis identified 79 publications on OSA and anesthesia, with an average of 14.86 citations per article.
• The most cited article focused on preoperative selection of OSA patients for ambulatory surgery.
• Anesthesiology was the dominant research field (52.63%), followed by otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, and respiratory system.

Conclusions:

• Research on OSA and anesthesia has seen a significant increase in recent years.
• Anesthesia management, airway safety, postoperative pain control, and noninvasive ventilation (e.g., CPAP) are prominent research themes.
• Bibliometric analysis reveals the foundational and emerging areas of investigation in OSA and perioperative care.