title: Procedural sedation and obesity: waters left uncharted.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Moderate sedation during endoscopy may pose increased risks among obese patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature that considers aspects of sedation within the obese population and to identify gaps in our knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature-based review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There may be increased risks among obese patients undergoing moderate sedation. In particular, the presence of obstructive sleep apnea may identify a subset of patients at higher risk for complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  English language literature only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although obesity may be associated with increased risks of procedural sedation, future studies should better clarify such risks to better inform clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: Section of Therapeutic Endoscopy, Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Institute, and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vargo
mesh_terms: D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology