Correlation of Severity of Preoperative Stopbang Scores and Incidence of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Adults Undergoing Elective Surgeries under General Anesthesia - a Prospective Observational Study

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a medical disorder and when non-diagnosed precipitates the risk for post-operative pulmonary complications (POPC). STOPBANG score is a questionnaire based screening evaluation method to find our OSA both in general and perioperative population. Hence, we intended to evaluate the association of both severities of STOPBANG score and POPC in postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) in adults undergoing elective non cardiac and non-neurological surgeries under general anaesthesia.Materials and methods: This double blinded observational study was conducted in ۵۴ patients who underwent elective non-cardiac and non-neurological surgeries under general anaesthesia. Patients were categorized into high risk (≥۳) and low risk (<۳) of OSA with STOPBANG scores in the Pre-anesthetic clinic and were assessed for POPC in PACU. The POPC such as Upper airway obstruction, hypoxia, signs of respiratory distress, and symptoms and signs of pulmonary aspiration, Reintubation within ۲۴ hours in PACU, post-operative ventilatory support requirement were assessed using a questionnaire.Results: A total of ۵۰ patients were analyzed in this study since follow up was lost in ۴ patients. Demographic parameters were comparable. The incidence of hypoxia in the postoperative period and length of stay in PACU was significantly higher in high risk group (p<۰.۰۰۱*). The other POPC was higher in high risk group compared to low risk group, but it was not statistically significant.Conclusion: Pre-anaesthetic STOP BANG score of ≥۳ was associated with increased incidence of POPC in PACU among adults undergoing elective non cardiac and non-neurological surgeries under general anaesthesia.

Keywords:

Complications , General anaesthesia , Lung , Sleep apnoea , score