Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair-Are Complication Rates Really Increased?

BACKGROUND: A few investigations exist which evaluate the influence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on complications after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS: A database was queried for patients undergoing rotator cuff repair with and without OSA and further subdivided into those with and without a billing code for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Thirty-day and 6-month adverse events were assessed.

RESULTS: After regression analysis, patients with OSA had markedly increased emergency department visits and hospital admission (P < 0.05). This risk was mitigated by CPAP orders compared with control subjects. Patients without CPAP use had markedly increased risks of emergency department visits, hospital admission, and respiratory complications compared with control subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSA have higher risks of emergency department visits and hospital admissions postoperatively; however, a CPAP order appears to mitigate this risk. The independent risk imparted by OSA for the studied complications was markedly lower than other comorbidities.