I know leaks are rare with VSG. I've read some mixed data on whether use of a CPAP machine increases the likelihood of leaks. Good oxygen flow increases healing, but the added air pressure might affect staple line strength.

My apnea is low (13.1) and in all honestly, I don't use my CPAP at home because it bothers me and I take it off within an hour of falling asleep every night. So if there is even a small chance that the CPAP will increase the likelihood of a leak, I'd rather skip the CPAP.

I am emailing my sleep apnea doctor to see if he will clear me for surgery without the CPAP.

In my non-medical professional mind, since I will be monitored by an anesthesiologist at all times during surgery, and since they can give me oxygen to maintain my O2 levels, I my feeling is the risk of complications from not using my CPAP are lower than the risk of a staple line leak.

I'd appreciate hearing from post-op sleevers who have been in a similar situation.

Did you use a CPAP in the hospital?

Did you have a staple line leak?

Did your surgeon think the two were related?

Were you allowed to not use the CPAP if you had mild apnea?

Thanks in advance!!!

My doc had the sleep test a requirement.. found out I had mild sleep apnea.. 9 ..sleeve 8:21 I took machine with me to hospital .. no issues .. per doc I would not heal properly without it .. I had very little pain and no complications

Thank you!

My surgeon and sleep doc conferred and are okay with me not using the CPAP. The sleep doc said most likely I won't need it in a few months post-op since my apnea is obstructive. Fingers crossed!!

LIke you I have a high pressure and have zero issues. Actually, my DR. would not do the surgery unless I brought my CPAP with me. I think the benefits outweigh the risks, which are very small.

Just updating for the archives. So they did my surgery without the CPAP. They kept me on oxygen longer than they otherwise would have, just to make sure my sats stayed in the 90s. The nurse said she noticed I stopped breathing twice the first night and my O2 dropped to the high 80s. But then I woke myself and was fine. The respiratory specialist even came by for a consult. He initially was going to recommend a BiPAP, but when I explained my concerns, he was ok with my declining to use the CPAP.

I don't think using or not using it will make much a difference unless your AHI is high.

That said I could reasonably say that if there was any reliable evidence that CPAP increased the risk of staple line leaks that no decent surgeon would want their patients using it (after all leaks are bad for patients, makes the surgeon look bad, and cost both the surgeon and facility time and money)

I had my cpap in recovery room to bring my O2 up!


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