Day care surgery.

Abstract

Anaesthetists encounter morbidly obese patients in every aspect of their daily practice and especially as ambulatory (day) surgery candidates. Restrictions on body mass index for day surgery appear to have become obsolete and obese patients who are medically fit do well after day case surgery. The less invasive group of bariatric surgical operations including endoluminal procedures may be accepted as outpatients. Comprehensive preoperative assessment focusing on airway, respiratory, and cardiovascular issues is recommended. The full gamut of sophisticated airway equipment and all-round airway skills must be available in the day surgery environment to adequately deal with these patients. An ideal anaesthetic technique is discussed in the chapter.