Cardiorespiratory physiology including airway changes in obesity

Obese patients may present for an elective procedure, for bariatric surgery, for emergency surgery, or for obstetric anaesthesia or analgesia. The anaesthesiologist and surgical personnel are routinely involved in the care of obese surgical patients. It is therefore necessary to understand the complex physiology of this group of patients and respond appropriately to manage this population. Additional, special equipment is often necessary and its availability and use must be planned in advance. Preoperative assessment and preparation, anaesthesia technique, patient positioning, and postoperative care all require special consideration and differ qualitatively as well as quantitatively.