Sleep-disordered breathing and anaesthesia in the morbidly obese

Clinically significant Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) is commonly found in the morbidly obese population. The obesity epidemic has resulted in ever larger numbers of morbidly obese patients presenting for surgery, both for bariatric and other procedures. It is essential that anaesthetists are aware of these conditions, and the associated risks.

This article will focus on the common types of sleep-disordered breathing and investigation of these patients. It will discuss the issues around anaesthetising patients with these conditions, and suggest solutions to the problems that these patients present.