The potential link between obstructive sleep apnea and postoperative neurocognitive disorders: current knowledge and possible mechanisms.

Purpose: This narrative review examines the current evidence on whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). The mechanisms that could predispose OSA patients to these disorders are also explored.

Source: Relevant literature was identified by searching for pertinent terms in Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases.