title: Practical issues in the surgical care of the obese patient.
abstract: The incidence of obesity has steadily climbed to epidemic proportions in the United States. To provide optimal surgical care for the growing number of obese surgical patients, surgeons and other healthcare personnel must often modify routine procedures and standard treatment protocols. Psychological support of obese patients is an additional factor that frequently must be addressed during the perioperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hammond
keywords: Bariatric medicine; bariatric surgery; obesity