Obese patients manifest unique physiology and pathophysiology, which can influence a surgeon's decision-making process. Following trauma, obese patients sustain different injuries than lean patients and have worse outcomes. Emergency surgery diseases may be difficult to diagnose in the obese patient and obesity is associated with increased complications in the postoperative patient. The prevalence of obesity in this country is continuously increasing at an alarming rate.
While obesity remains mostly a prevention and public health issue, it is becoming an everyday part of daily surgical practice. As a result, the surgeon needs a core understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity and impact of obesity on critically ill and injured surgical patients. Obesity influences a variety of organ systems altering the expected physiologic response to injury and illness. Obese patients may have…
