Kairos Sleep Clinic
Provider Resources: Surgical Optimization
Phone: (385) 267-7863
Fax: 385-267-7864
Web: kairossleepclinic.com
Mitigating Perioperative
Risk.
The Critical Role of OSA Screening in Surgery.
Executive Summary
Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most significant, modifiable risk factors in the perioperative setting. The combination of anesthesia, opioids, and surgical stress drastically exacerbates airway collapsibility and depresses the central respiratory drive. Consequently, surgical patients with untreated OSA face exponentially higher rates of cardiovascular collapse, respiratory failure, and unplanned intensive care admissions. By partnering with a specialized sleep clinic for rapid preoperative screening and intervention, surgeons can secure fast-track diagnoses, optimize their patients, and dramatically reduce perioperative complications—all without delaying their OR schedules.
Insurances Accepted
- Cash Pay
- Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Select Health
- United Health
- University of Utah
Coming Soon:
- Cigna
- Aetna
Clinic Contact Information
Phone: (385) 267-7863
Fax Referrals: 385-267-7864
Email: info@kairossleepclinic.com
Provider Referral Page: kairossleepclinic.com/providers
We offer direct EHR integration for seamless electronic referring. Contact us to set up a direct connection with your clinic.
The Hidden Danger in the OR
Up to 70–80% of surgical patients with OSA are completely unaware of their condition at the time of surgery. Anesthetics, sedatives, and opioids blunt upper airway reflexes and depress respiratory drive, turning brief apneic events into life-threatening hypoxic episodes.
- Cardiovascular Events: Unrecognized OSA increases the risk of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) or severe arrhythmia by 2.6-fold.
- Respiratory Failure: The risk of severe post-op hypoxemia and unplanned reintubation is more than doubled.
- Resource Utilization: Complications lead to prolonged PACU stays, unplanned ICU transfers, and doubled hospital costs.
The Power of Preoperative Intervention
Identifying OSA and treating it with CPAP prior to surgery reduces the risk of cardiac arrest and shock by more than 50% compared to untreated patients. Diagnosis allows anesthesia teams to implement risk-adapted strategies (e.g., regional anesthesia, multimodal analgesia, extended PACU monitoring).
The Fast-Track Solution
Surgeons cannot afford OR delays. Kairos Sleep Clinic offers a high-priority workflow:
- Fast-Track Diagnostics: We bypass traditional waitlists, providing rapid laboratory-based or Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT).
- Rapid Treatment: Positive patients are expedited for CPAP therapy.
- Optimization: Patients arrive on the day of surgery stabilized, compliant, and optimized for anesthesia—keeping your schedule intact.