Hospital Stays and Surgery with a CPAP or BiPAP Machine
When you go to the hospital, bring your own CPAP machine and mask with you. It is possible that the hospital staff may want you to use the hospital's CPAP machine while you are there so make sure you know the pressure setting on your machine. If you don't know it, call your home health care company to get that information.
Use your CPAP machine whenever you sleep, even during naps. While in the hospital, people are often placed on medicines (pain, anxiety or sleep medicines) which can sometimes make sleep apnea worse.
Surgery
Any time you are going to have surgery, be sure you tell the surgeon and the anesthesiologist (the person who puts you to sleep during the surgery) that you have sleep apnea and you use a CPAP machine. Knowing this, they will do a few important things differently during surgery and in the recovery room.
Bring your CPAP machine with you on the day of surgery. In the recovery room you will likely be very groggy from the anesthesia. This may make the sleep apnea much worse. The nursing staff may want you to use the CPAP during this time.
Outpatient procedures with sedation
Many procedures done as an outpatient such as oral surgery, colonoscopy, or endoscopy will include sedating you during the procedure. When sedated, you may have a lot of apnea.
It is important for you to tell staff that you have sleep apnea. Knowing you have sleep apnea, the staff may do some things differently. They may have you wear oxygen during the procedure or monitor you somewhat differently because of your apnea. They may or may not want you to use your CPAP machine.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 08/04/2010
Copyright © 07/15/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7067
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