Managing obese patients in the OR

Currently, approximately one-third of all Americans are categorized as obese.1 On a global level, the World Health Organization estimates that there were approximately 400 million obese adults in 2008, with this number projected to rise to 700 million by 2015.2 Accordingly, it has been noted that the number of bariatric surgical procedures increased from 16,200 in the early 1990s to more than 171,000 in 2005, and an estimated 220,000 procedures performed in 2008.3 Although bariatric surgical procedures are the fastest-growing type of procedure, obesity—in particular, morbid and superobesity—affects the care of all surgical patients, not just those undergoing a weight loss procedure. These patients pose a special set of safety and care challenges for nurses in the OR. Excellence in perioperative nursing means ensuring safe and optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. Perioperative nurses who care for obese patients must be aware of practice standards related to patient handling and transfers, proper positioning, correct use of appropriate equipment, ensuring adequate body temperature, maintaining skin integrity, and providing an environment of respect and sensitivity. in the OR patients