Anesthesia, Obese Patients, and Gastric Bypass Patients

Article Outline

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The number of morbidly obese patients who present for surgery has dramatically increased over the past several years. Not only has the number is surgeries for correcting obesity increased, but also the number of morbidly obese patients who present for other surgeries has also increased. This presentation will attempt to cover the following objectives.

• Preoperative evaluation of the morbidly obese patients, including an assessment of the cardiac and pulmonary status and special consideration for examining the airway.

• Physiology of the cardiac and respiratory system in morbid obesity and intraoperative challenges.

• Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

• Pain management for the morbidly obese patient.

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References 

1. Todd DW. Anesthetic considerations for the obese and morbidly obese oral and maxillofacial surgery patient. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2005;63(9):1348–1353
2. Richards TA, Kaye AD, Fields AM. Morbid obesity–a review. Middle East J Anesthesiol. 2005;18(1):93–105
3. Deutzer J. Potential complications of obstructive sleep apnea in patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Crit Care Nurs Q. 2005;28(3):293–299