Hospital OSA Order Set for Physicians, Copy and Take!

[happysleeper]

Hi all,

I recently found this order set on line for my local hospital. http://www.palmdrivehospital.com/WEBPhy ... derSet.pdf
I am very happy to see that the hospital is taking a proactive stance in putting this together, and you might want to copy and take with you to your hospital if you have surgery, etc.

When a patient comes in with a diagnosis of OSA, these orders are available for a physician to use--they just fill in the blanks and sign. This helps to educate the physicians who don't have as much knowledge about sleep apnea on how to write the orders.

Also, an assessment for sleep apnea is usually done by an anesthesiologist before surgery. If the patient comes up with a BMI over 25, or a 12 or higher on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the OSA protocol is put into place (not sure what it says on the "other side"). Then the patient can be referred to a sleep specialist after they are discharged from the hospital.

I love it when medicine works well!

Happy Sleeper

[msla]

Thanks,
I made a copy and put in in the back of my CPAP file

Rolf

[pratzert]

Thanks,
I made a copy and put in in the back of my CPAP file

Rolf

That's a good reminder for all of to be sure to tell your physician/surgeaon about your OSA when they do your history, particularly if part of a pre-op questionaire.

The only time I was "put under" in my adult life was for a standard colonoscopy, but I let the Doc know about my OSA and he made several notes about it and I remember him asking me again the morning of the surgery.

At first, I thought it kinda strange they made a big deal about it, but then I considered the fact that I essentially stop breathing when asleep and that would certainly cause some concern during the procedure.

I sometimes don't even mention OSA when I answer the question about current medical conditions, but I definately should.

[sister]

Hi, That's how I found out I had sleep apnea back in 2006. I had surgery and the anesthesia people told me in recovery room!
I was happy to find out recently that our hospital now has a form you fill out on your pre-op testing before any surgery if you have sleep apnea.

[Calist]

Thanks,
I made a copy and put in in the back of my CPAP file

Rolf

That's a good reminder for all of to be sure to tell your physician/surgeaon about your OSA when they do your history, particularly if part of a pre-op questionaire.

The only time I was "put under" in my adult life was for a standard colonoscopy, but I let the Doc know about my OSA and he made several notes about it and I remember him asking me again the morning of the surgery.

At first, I thought it kinda strange they made a big deal about it, but then I considered the fact that I essentially stop breathing when asleep and that would certainly cause some concern during the procedure.

I sometimes don't even mention OSA when I answer the question about current medical conditions, but I definately should.

I still think they should intubate for any procedures but I can understand that they feel CPAP is gentler. Regardless, if there is any chance of an event during surgery... they need to intubate.

[pratzert]

Thanks,
I made a copy and put in in the back of my CPAP file

Rolf

That's a good reminder for all of to be sure to tell your physician/surgeaon about your OSA when they do your history, particularly if part of a pre-op questionaire.

The only time I was "put under" in my adult life was for a standard colonoscopy, but I let the Doc know about my OSA and he made several notes about it and I remember him asking me again the morning of the surgery.

At first, I thought it kinda strange they made a big deal about it, but then I considered the fact that I essentially stop breathing when asleep and that would certainly cause some concern during the procedure.

I sometimes don't even mention OSA when I answer the question about current medical conditions, but I definately should.

I still think they should intubate for any procedures but I can understand that they feel CPAP is gentler. Regardless, if there is any chance of an event during surgery... they need to intubate.

Oh... they intubated all right... just not at the end I was expecting.

[DreamOn]

Thanks for that information, happysleeper!

Hi, That's how I found out I had sleep apnea back in 2006. I had surgery and the anesthesia people told me in recovery room!

After I had surgery 24 years ago, I remember the recovery room nurse saying something like, "We almost lost you there. You weren't breathing." Huh??? I was too groggy to comprehend much at the time, and there was never any further explanation or follow-up regarding that. Since my sleep apnea diagnosis last year, I have wondered if that's what she was talking about! I had several in-home sleep studies about 15 years ago. I don't recall why I was tested then. The first test was "inconclusive" and the second one was negative.

Effective CPAP therapy over this last year has done wonders for me. I only wish I'd been diagnosed sooner.

[Hawthorne]

I had surgery in 1981 and when I woke in recovery, I still has the tube donw my throat. It was really gagging me! I often wake quickly from anesthetic and I thought I would die with it in!

One nurse said that they had no order to remove it and another said they had no order to leave it in. SInce I was pointing at the tube and registering panic on my face, the second nurse took it out. I asked why it was there and they said I would have to speak to the surgeon. I asked him and he said I was having a little trouble with my breathing.

I don't know if that was a sign of sleep apnea, 21 years before I was diagnosed or not!