Association of preoperative nocturnal hypoxaemia nadir and fentanyl ventilatory sensitivity in children with obstructive sleep apnoea undergoing general anaesthesia

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been thought to increase the risk of respiratory depression from opioids. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether preoperative hypoxaemia by sleep study pulse oximetry imparts greater opioid sensitivity.

Citation:
Adler AC, Lin EE, Messner AH, Rosenberg TL, ……… von Ungern-Sternberg BS et al. Association of preoperative nocturnal hypoxaemia nadir and fentanyl ventilatory sensitivity in children with obstructive sleep apnoea undergoing general anaesthesia: multicentre clinical cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 2025.

Keywords:
Intermittent hypoxaemia; obstructive sleep apnoea; opioid; paediatric anaesthesia

Abstract:
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been thought to increase the risk of respiratory depression from opioids. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether preoperative hypoxaemia by sleep study pulse oximetry imparts greater opioid sensitivity.