ANESTHESIA AND THE OBESE PATIENT

The obese patient is likely to have pre-operative impairment of cardio vascular and respiratory function. These impairments will tend to incr ease in the per- and post-operative period and place the patient at ri sk of myocardial ischaemia and hypoxaemia. The physical effects of obe sity mean that all patients require endotracheal intubation during ana esthesia and this may be difficult to achieve. The difficulties in mov ing and positioning the patient and difficulties in gaining access for monitoring and venous cannulation add to the problems. Anaesthesia an d surgery may present a considerable risk for obese patients and shoul d not be undertaken without full understanding of the potential proble ms.