Sleep Apnea Implicated in Deaths After Bariatric Surgery
March 2, 2011|Hospitalist News (Archived)
Author and Disclosure Information
Major Finding: Obstructive sleep apnea causes profound, prolonged, and, in some cases, life-threatening hypoxemia in bariatric patients.
Data Source: Prospective case series of 20 patients.
Disclosures: Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Haines said they have no conflicts of interest.
FROM THE ANNUAL ACADEMIC SURGICAL CONGRESS
Dr. Gallagher and his team are considering a randomized study to further investigate the issue, and they plan to include obese people having other kinds of operations.
Dr. Gallagher believes what the team has found thus far is "the tip of the iceberg."
Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Haines said they have no conflicts of interest. The study received no outside funding.
