Airway management in obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
The role of tracheostomy is limited in the obesity hypoventilation syndrome unless severe upper airway obstruction exists. If it is performed, special techniques must be applied to overcome the problems associated with tracheostomy in the morbidly obese patient. If attention is paid to these details, however, tracheostomy provides clinically important benefits in this difficult clinical situation.
McLear
P W
PW
Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Thawley
S E
SE
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010845:Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014140:Tracheotomy