Question:
Are patients with sleep apnea suppose to go to ICU after surgery? Does
anyone know of a situation where a patient had severe untreated sleep apnea and went to a regular room instead of ICU? — Hackett (posted on May 21, 2002)
May 21, 2002
i had severe sleep apnea but had been on cpap for a few months before
surgery. when i saw the surgeon the day before surgery he said that he
might put me in icu because of the sleep apnea. i was crushed. well, i did
fine and was put in a regular room the day of surgery. they will observe
you closely in the recovery room and if everything is fine, you might still
go to a regular room. but if you have to go to icu, look at it this way,
you will have almost one on one nursing care. i was just dissappointed
cause my husband was only going to be in town for that first night and he
wouldnt be able to stay all night in icu with me. patsy in las vegas
— PATSY N.
May 21, 2002
When I had my RNY 13 months ago the anesthesiologists required ICU for
everyone opting for the epidural. Even though the surgery was textbook and
I responded really well, I was there for two days. It was AWESOME!
Immediate attention for the most part, a private room, and not too much
trafic in and out. When I was sent to a regular room I had a roomate that
constantly cried "help me" and it took the nurses forever to
respond to anything. I would have much rather stayed in ICU the entire
time. So don't look at it as such a bad thing!
— Virginia N.
May 21, 2002
I had severe sleep apnea at the time of surgery, and had been diagnosed and
put on a CPAP just a month before my RNY. My doc said that some apnea
patients are put in ICU, but it's more a "case by case" basis.
I went straight to the recovery room for 2 hours and then on to my regular
room. My doctor was very strict about me having my CPAP on each time I
dozed off or slept at night in the hospital. My setting wasn't changed (it
was 18), and I did fine. The best news is that 11 wks post-op, I no longer
have apnea and no longer need my cpap! Good luck! Mary
— Mary W.
May 21, 2002
My doctor puts all patients with sleep apnea in ICU for the first night. I
didn't like the idea at first either, but ICU was like a castle compared to
the regular room I went to the second day!
— Heather H.
May 21, 2002
I had been on my c-pap for around 2 years before my WLS. My Dr said I might
go to ICU, but I didn't. I was in a regular room & did great, no
complications. Within a few weeks, I, too, was off the c-pap forever.
— Kathy W.
May 21, 2002
My husband & I both went to ICU post-op. I had to stay 2 nights, as my
apnea was really bad. Both of us are off our CPAPs now, too.
— vitalady
May 21, 2002
My surgeon puts sleep apnea patients in a monitored room. They keep a close
eye on us. At minimum you should have a pulse ox monitor with alarm, in
whatever room your in.
— bob-haller
May 22, 2002
I had really bad, untreated sleep apnea and didn't tell my surgeon. After
surgery my oxygen was so low they put me in Progressive Intensive Care for
two nights. It wasn't bad at all. I got lots of attention!
— elifritz
May 27, 2002
I am the original poster of this question. I just wanted to thank each of
you who answered my question.
— Hackett
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