The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide. Pathophysiological changes associated with obesity influence multiple organs and increase the risk of comorbidities.1-4 Therefore, this patient population may be at a higher risk of perioperative morbidity. Nevertheless, it is generally recommended that body weight or body mass index (BMI) alone should not be used as the sole indicator of suitability for surgery or its location.5 Most anesthesiologists use a body weight or BMI “cut off” in their ambulatory anesthesia practice, which has gradually increased over the years. So what is the current evidence assessing the appropriate selection of obese patients scheduled for ambulatory surgery?
In recent years, several large observational trials have evaluated the incidence of perioperative complications in the obese population. The factors contributing to increased adverse outcome include patient characteristics (e.g., male gender, coexisting medical conditions such as presence of obstructive sleep apnea [OSA], history...
