An anesthesiology department head says providing only some sleep apnea patients with postoperative monitoring could lead to adverse events, reports the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety.

Practice guidelines, like those for the perioperative management of obstructive sleep apnea, are needed and may be helpful to providers to help make sound clinical decisions. However, the inclusion of an untested numerical risk assessment scale, which goes against the recommendations of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation for risk stratification should be read with caution, even if there is a disclaimer in fine print at the bottom of the table shown above.