CPAP vs AutoCPAP for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in the Postoperative Setting

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Surgery that may cause hypoxemia from causes other than the effect on upper airway patency e.g. any thoracic surgery, upper abdominal surgery, head and neck surgery.
• •2. Surgery on the upper-airway.
• •3. Any condition that may interfere with application of CPAP mask e.g. trauma, surgery on the face, vomiting, naso-gastric intubation etc.
• •4. OSA treated with a device other than CPAP e.g. Bilevel positive pressure or V-Positive Airway Pressure
• •5. OSA needing very high levels of CPAP i.e. \> 16 cms to achieve adequate control
• •6. OSA or other underlying cardiopulmonary conditions that require supplemental oxygen
• •7. Patients with decompensated congestive heart failure or advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (FEV1\<35% of predicted)
• •8. Patients with neuromuscular impairment
• •9. Patients with central sleep apnea
• •10. Pregnant patients
• •11. Decisional impaired subjects who are not able to consent