Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

TLDR

Practice guidelines are systematically developed recommendations that aid clinical decision‑making but are not absolute standards and are subject to revision as medical knowledge evolves. The guidelines are based on a synthesis of current literature, expert opinion, open forum discussion, and clinical feasibility data. The article is part of the Anesthesiology CME program; readers can access the CME test and instructions at www.asahq.org/journal-cme.

Abstract

This article has been selected for the Anesthesiology CME Program. After reading the article, go to http:// www.asahq.org/journal-cme to take the test and apply for Category 1 credit. Complete instructions may be found in the CME section at the back of this issue. PRACTICE guidelines are systematically developed recommendations that assist the practitioner and patient in making decisions about health care. These recommendations may be adopted, modified, or rejected according to clinical needs and constraints. Practice guidelines are not intended as standards or absolute requirements. The use of practice guidelines cannot guarantee any specific outcome. Practice guidelines are subject to revision as warranted by the evolution of medical knowledge, technology, and practice. They provide basic recommendations that are supported by analysis of the current literature and by a synthesis of expert opinion, open forum commentary, and clinical feasibility data.