Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 10/24/2008

Question
I am scheduled to have surgery to have my gallbladder removed.  A couple weeks ago I participated in a sleep study and was found to have sleep apnea and also found ou that while I am asleep my oxygen levels were dropping into the 70's.  I am very concerned as to what effect this will have when I am under anesthesia.  Can you tell me if I am at greater risk because of this?

Answer
Hi Cindy
Sleep apnoea has two main causes - the commenest being an obstructive type where when you are in a certain type of sleep pattern each night the muscles in certain parts of your mouth,nose, palate (upper airway) relax and cause a degree of obstruction making it difficult for the air to get into your lungs. This leads to the drop on your oxygen. It doesn't last long but it tends to happen repeatedly during the night. If felt to be an issue then they provide you with special equipment to wear at night which blows a positive pressure of air into your nose and this helps stop the blockage.
So why tell you all this?
Well basically under anaesthesia we bypass all this with a special tube or mask that either sits in your voicebox or just above it. This is put in while you are asleep so you know nothing about it. So sleep apnoea is not a problem during anaesthesia.
It is important that the team looking after you know about your problem as it can be an issue after the operation. They will advise you about this - though normally I just ask patients to take in their machines and we use those in the postop period. However we do tend to keep a closer eye on patients we know have this issue.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson