Peri-operative anaesthetic management of women with obesity

Obesity in women is prevalent and growing at an alarming pace worldwide, resulting in significant healthcare and socioeconomic consequences. Obesity is a multisystemic disease that is associated with numerous comorbidities, particularly sleep-disordered breathing, hypertension, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hy-pertension, thromboembolism, and diabetes mellitus. Additionally, obesity poses several peri-operative challenges including difficulty with airway management and mechanical ventilation, challenges with intravenous access or regional blocks, the need for modified anaesthetic drug dosing, the requirement for correctly sized and rated equipment, and appropriate post-operative monitoring. Therefore, early multidisciplinary planning is crucial to identify and address important peri-operative and clinical issues. Parturi-ents with obesity are especially at high risk due to the additional physiological changes and obstetric comorbidities associated with obesity. Antenatal anaesthetic consultation along with close communication and collaboration within the multidisciplinary team are important to improve maternal and neonatal safety. & COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

Obesity in women is a global issue with significant healthcare and socioeconomic consequences. It is associated with numerous comorbidities and poses peri-operative challenges. Early multidisciplinary planning is crucial in addressing peri-operative and clinical issues, especially for obese parturients who are at high risk. Antenatal anaesthetic consultation and collaboration within the multidisciplinary team are essential for improving maternal and neonatal safety.