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CLINICIAN REFERENCE

STOP-Bang

STOP-Bang screens for the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. It does not diagnose OSA or decide whether a patient is safe for surgery.

The questionnaire combines symptoms and clinical characteristics. Interpretation relies on the official questionnaire and its complete scoring guidance.

The official STOP-Bang resource provides the questionnaire and scoring guidance. The questionnaire is owned by Dr. Frances Chung and University Health Network; applicable permissions and licensing requirements govern its use.

This website does not provide an interactive STOP-Bang calculator or collect questionnaire responses.

Why OSA screening matters perioperatively

OSA is common and may be unrecognised in surgical patients. The SASM guidance describes associations with difficult airway management and postoperative complications, and possible increased susceptibility to respiratory effects of opioids and sedatives. Screening can help inform preparation and monitoring; it does not establish a diagnosis.

Practical application

A positive screen may inform:

  • Airway preparation and equipment planning
  • Preference for opioid-sparing and multimodal analgesia where suitable
  • Consideration of regional techniques where appropriate
  • Choice of postoperative monitoring location and duration
  • Postoperative positioning and oxygen strategy

Patients with known OSA who use CPAP or BiPAP can be asked to bring their device and continue it postoperatively, subject to local policy.

Diagnosis and delay

The SASM 2016 screening guideline supports individual decisions about proceeding with or delaying surgery, involving the perioperative team and patient. Additional evaluation may be appropriate when suspected OSA coexists with uncontrolled systemic disease, hypoventilation, severe pulmonary hypertension or otherwise unexplained resting hypoxaemia. A positive screen alone does not routinely require postponement for a sleep study. The 2018 SASM guideline addresses intraoperative management and complements, rather than replaces, the 2016 screening guidance.

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