Controversies in the Anesthetic Management of the Obese Surgical Patient

The worldwide prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years. Since the results of long-term dietary behavioral therapy remain sadly inadequate, surgery is currently the only effective treatment for patients with severe or morbid obesity. The numbers of weight loss operations continue to increase annually throughout the world. The anesthetic management of severely obese patients entails special challenges, especially when medical co-morbidities are present. Published outcome data on anesthetic care and pain management of these patients are scarce, and many practices remain controversial. Controversies in the Anesthetic Management of Obese Patients considers a wide range of important practical issues. Key questions in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management are addressed, and different approaches are evaluated. Written by international leaders in the field, this book will be an invaluable aid for anesthesia care providers. The prevalence of obesity, an important risk factor for various diseases, has increased markedly worldwide in recent years. The results of long-term dietary behavioural therapy, however, remain sadly inadequate, with a relapse rate of about 90%. Surgery is still the only effective treatment for these patients. The annual number of weight loss operations performed in the United States in the early 1990s totaled only about 16,000, but by 2005 the figure exceeded 200,000. The anesthetic care of severely obese patients entails particular issues, and difficulties are believed to escalate in the presence of co-morbidities. Despite this, outcome data in respect of anesthetic care and pain management are still scarce. Anesthetic Management of the Obese Patient considers a wide range of important practical issues and controversies. Key questions in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management are carefully addressed, and different approaches are evaluated, casting light on their effectiveness and