title: Endoscopy unit considerations in the care of obese patients.
abstract: The dramatic increase in obesity in the general population is accompanied by a concomitant increase in bariatric surgical programs. Gastrointestinal endoscopy has an important role in patient evaluation, postoperative management, and emerging endoscopic bariatric therapies. Endoscopy units must address special design and equipment needs of obese patients in short- and long-range planning. Obese people require more health care resources than nonobese people, with increased physical challenges for staff in administering that care. This article details endoscopy unit considerations pertaining to the bariatric patient, which may apply to pretreatment endoscopic evaluation, managing postoperative bariatric surgical complications, and emerging endoluminal bariatric therapies.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3rd Floor Ravdin Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. gregory.ginsberg@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Gregory G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ginsberg
authors.forename: Octavia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pickett-Blakely
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery*; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011300:Preoperative Care