Obstructive Sleep Apnea—Implications for Procedural Sedation

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represents a significant problem, especially in the growing population of obese patients having radiological, medical and surgical procedures requiring sedation. Due to the increased risk of loss of airway and difficulty in securing an adequate airway in OSA patients, particularly during emergency situations, it is very important to understand the condition of OSA, the associated anatomic and physiologic variations, the potential problems, as well as the effective management strategies.