title: Perioperative evaluation of the obese patient.
abstract: There is rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity throughout Western societies and increasing numbers of patients undergoing surgery are obese. Obesity is a condition of chronic systemic inflammation and is associated with an increased burden of comorbidities. Despite traditional teaching, obesity may not be an independent risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes. The Obesity Paradox describes the observation that small amounts of excess body fat may be protective against postoperative complications.
authors: Department of Surgery, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin/St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors: Claire L
authors: CL
authors: Donohoe
authors: Ciara
authors: C
authors: Feeney
authors: Michael F
authors: MF
authors: Carey
authors: John V
authors: JV
authors: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*