Last week the Sleep Education Blog reported that bariatric surgery may reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea; but it doesn’t cure the problem.
What about safety? Is weight-loss surgery a risky procedure?
A study published today examined the short-term risks of bariatric surgery. It measured adverse outcomes in the 30 days after surgery.
People in the study had an average age of 44.5 years; 79 percent were women. Their median body mass index (BMI) was 46.5; a BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”
The study analyzed 4,610 surgeries: 3,412 were a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; 1,198 involved laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
Results show a 30-day rate of death of 0.3 percent; 15 of the people died within a month after surgery, CNN reports.
About 4.3 percent of people had at least one major adverse outcome. Complications included blood clots or the need for another surgery.
But obstructive sleep apnea made surgery riskier; people with OSA were more likely to have a major problem in the month after surgery. About half of the people in the study had OSA.
The NIDDK warns that long-term complications also can occur with bariatric surgery. These include malnutrition and hernias.
There also is a 10 percent chance of unsatisfactory weight loss. Some people also regain much of the weight they lose after surgery.
The AASM recommends bariatric surgery as an optional treatment for severe obesity and sleep apnea. But it should only be used along with CPAP therapy, the treatment of choice for OSA.
Contact an AASM–accredited sleep center to discuss all treatment options for OSA.
Showing posts with label bariatric surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bariatric surgery. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Does Bariatric Surgery Cure Sleep Apnea?
In February the Sleep Education Blog reported on the use of bariatric surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea. A small study found that surgery did provide some benefits; but it wasn’t a cure for OSA.
Now a new study takes a broader look at the evidence. The systematic review analyzed 12 studies involving 342 people.
Bariatric surgery did reduce the severity of obesity; the average body mass index (BMI) dropped from 55 kg/m2 to 38 kg/m2. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”
Surgery also reduced the severity of sleep apnea; but it didn’t cure the problem.
The average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) dropped from 55 breathing pauses per hour to 16 per hour. An AHI of 15 to 30 is considered “moderate” sleep apnea; an AHI of more than 30 is considered “severe” OSA.
The AASM recommends bariatric surgery as an optional treatment for severe obesity and sleep apnea. But it should only be used along with a first-line treatment such as CPAP therapy.
Contact an AASM–accredited sleep center to discuss all treatment options for OSA.
Now a new study takes a broader look at the evidence. The systematic review analyzed 12 studies involving 342 people.
Bariatric surgery did reduce the severity of obesity; the average body mass index (BMI) dropped from 55 kg/m2 to 38 kg/m2. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”
Surgery also reduced the severity of sleep apnea; but it didn’t cure the problem.
The average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) dropped from 55 breathing pauses per hour to 16 per hour. An AHI of 15 to 30 is considered “moderate” sleep apnea; an AHI of more than 30 is considered “severe” OSA.
The AASM recommends bariatric surgery as an optional treatment for severe obesity and sleep apnea. But it should only be used along with a first-line treatment such as CPAP therapy.
Contact an AASM–accredited sleep center to discuss all treatment options for OSA.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Losing Weight: Bariatric Surgery & Sleep Apnea
Is bariatric surgery a good treatment option for an obese person who has obstructive sleep apnea?
A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine provides caution. The study involved 24 men and women with sleep apnea.
Before surgery they had an average body mass index (BMI) of 51. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”
Their sleep apnea also was severe. They had an average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 47.9.
This means that they stopped breathing about 48 times per hour of sleep. In general an AHI of more than 30 is considered “severe.”
Bariatric surgery did provide some benefits. But it wasn’t a cure.
One year after surgery the participants were still obese; but they had a much lower average BMI of 32.
Their average AHI also dropped to 24.5. But only one person no longer had sleep apnea.
The majority of the group still had moderate to severe sleep apnea. All but one of them also continued to snore. They still needed to use CPAP therapy to restore normal breathing during sleep.
The AASM recommends bariatric surgery as an optional treatment for severe obesity and sleep apnea. But it should only be used along with a first-line treatment such as CPAP.
The NIDDK warns that complications can occur with bariatric surgery. These include blood clots and hernias.
There also is a 10 percent chance of unsatisfactory weight loss. Some people also regain much of the weight they lose after surgery.
Bariatric surgery also is costly. The NIDDK estimates that the price for surgery is about $20,000 to $25,000.
Medicare only covers bariatric surgery if you are “morbidly obese” with a BMI of at least 35. You also must have a serious health condition related to obesity. Sleep apnea is listed by Medicare as one of the obesity-related problems that is covered.
Contact an AASM –accredited sleep center to discuss all treatment options for sleep apnea.
A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine provides caution. The study involved 24 men and women with sleep apnea.
Before surgery they had an average body mass index (BMI) of 51. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”
Their sleep apnea also was severe. They had an average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 47.9.
This means that they stopped breathing about 48 times per hour of sleep. In general an AHI of more than 30 is considered “severe.”
Bariatric surgery did provide some benefits. But it wasn’t a cure.
One year after surgery the participants were still obese; but they had a much lower average BMI of 32.
Their average AHI also dropped to 24.5. But only one person no longer had sleep apnea.
The majority of the group still had moderate to severe sleep apnea. All but one of them also continued to snore. They still needed to use CPAP therapy to restore normal breathing during sleep.
The AASM recommends bariatric surgery as an optional treatment for severe obesity and sleep apnea. But it should only be used along with a first-line treatment such as CPAP.
The NIDDK warns that complications can occur with bariatric surgery. These include blood clots and hernias.
There also is a 10 percent chance of unsatisfactory weight loss. Some people also regain much of the weight they lose after surgery.
Bariatric surgery also is costly. The NIDDK estimates that the price for surgery is about $20,000 to $25,000.
Medicare only covers bariatric surgery if you are “morbidly obese” with a BMI of at least 35. You also must have a serious health condition related to obesity. Sleep apnea is listed by Medicare as one of the obesity-related problems that is covered.
Contact an AASM –accredited sleep center to discuss all treatment options for sleep apnea.
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