Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in ambulatory surgical patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea in the ambulatory surgery setting has become a more significant concern in recent years because its Identification and recognition are a critical part of preoperative patients' risk assessment. The types of surgeries that can be performed on an outpatient basis have increased and include many specialty procedures that previously were performed on an inpatient basis only. Ambulatory surgery has proven to be a cost-effective alternative for patients and physicians; however, patients in this setting often have complex surgical histories.