Optimizing the perioperative management of obstructive sleep apnea in metabolic and bariatric surgery

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. Weight-loss surgery is an effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity.  Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which people repeatedly stop breathing while they sleep, is very common among people who undergo this type of surgery. Many patients do not know they have obstructive sleep apnea. 
Sleep apnea may increase the complication risk during or after surgery. Over time, untreated sleep apnea can also increase the risk of heart disease and negatively affect quality of life.
Despite how common sleep apnea is among people undergoing weight-loss surgery, there are no clear, evidence-based recommendations for how to manage obstructive sleep apnea before, during and after weight-loss surgery. This dissertation evaluated and studied ways to improve the management of potential obstructive sleep apnea around weight-loss surgery. It focused on both hospital stays and same-day discharge surgery, while aiming to avoid unnecessary tests and treatments.