Spinal Morphine for Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Status:
Suspended
Trial end date:
2020-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) appear to be especially vulnerable to medications
that suppress pharyngeal muscle activity such as general anesthetics and opioids. Opioids can
depress the ventilator response to airway obstruction and inhibit the awakening response to
hypoxia and hypercarbia, resulting in central respiratory depression. OSA is therefore an
important risk factor for serious postoperative complications, including perioperative death.
While OSA is increasingly recognized as a serious perioperative concern, current clinical
practices are highly inconsistent with regard to the management of surgical patients with
OSA. Additionally, the relative safety of intrathecal opioids in this patient population
remains unknown.