• Jens Lohser, Vivek Kulkarni, and Jay B Brodsky.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2007 Feb 1;20(1):10-4.

Purpose Of ReviewThis review considers the anesthetic management of obese patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Extremely or morbidly obese patients differ from patients of normal weight in several ways. Obese patients have altered anatomy and physiology, and usually have associated comorbid medical conditions that may complicate their operative course and increase their risks for postoperative complications.Recent FindingsDuring anesthetic induction and laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation the morbidly obese patient should be in the reverse Trendelenburg position with the head and neck elevated above the table. Placement of a double-lumen tube should be no more difficult in an obese patient than in a normal-weight patient. There are no clear advantages for any of the commonly available inhalational anesthetic agents and each can be used for general anesthesia.SummaryWith proper attention to their special needs, the morbidly obese patient can safely undergo thoracic surgery and one-lung ventilation.

17 keywords...

hide…