Airway Collapse and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Surgery

The objective of this study is to examine the contribution of intravenous (IV) fluid administration and rostral fluid shift from the legs to the neck thereby leading to worsening of sleep apnea following surgery. In this prospective, observational cohort study, 50 consecutive preoperative adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, requiring at least one night hospital stay post surgery, will be recruited. Recent research from general population suggests that intravenous (IV) fluid administration worsens the severity of OSA by shifting of fluid from the legs to the neck thus increasing neck size and causing airway collapse. The results of this study will be used to design future clinical trials evaluating methods to decrease postoperative OSA worsening, as well as decreasing OSA-related postoperative complications.