New York—Obese patients showed less respiratory insufficiency (RI) than their nonobese counterparts during endoscopic surgery, according to a new study. The result was counterintuitive.
Because of their higher rates of obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension and other cardiopulmonary disorders, obese patients generally are thought to be at increased risk for sedation-related complications, such as RI. Consequently, these patients often are sedated more conservatively and monitored