Ask the Experts - Intubating the Morbidly Obese Patient
Ask the Experts - Intubating the Morbidly Obese Patient
I would like ask a question about intubation of morbidly obese patients. If the patient needs to be intubated, when should awake intubation be used? Thanks.
Nieves Alvarez
Morbidly obese patients with excessive redundant oropharyngeal tissue and short, stubby necks do present a special challenge when the need to intubate them arises. In such settings, light sedation and, occasionally, muscle-paralyzing agents may need to be used, and the services of a skilled "intubationist" such as an anesthesiologist may be required. Hospitals that do a lot of bariatric surgery have more experience in this arena. The choice of awake vs sedated intubation must be made on a case-by-case basis.
I would like ask a question about intubation of morbidly obese patients. If the patient needs to be intubated, when should awake intubation be used? Thanks.
Nieves Alvarez
Morbidly obese patients with excessive redundant oropharyngeal tissue and short, stubby necks do present a special challenge when the need to intubate them arises. In such settings, light sedation and, occasionally, muscle-paralyzing agents may need to be used, and the services of a skilled "intubationist" such as an anesthesiologist may be required. Hospitals that do a lot of bariatric surgery have more experience in this arena. The choice of awake vs sedated intubation must be made on a case-by-case basis.
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