As an increasingly common health problem,
obesity not only affects our daily life, but also increases the risk of medical treatment to a certain extent, especially when undergoing surgical treatment and anesthesia. Today, I will give you a detailed introduction to the risks that obese people may face during anesthesia and the corresponding coping strategies to help you better understand the process, reduce anxiety and ensure the safe operation.
1. Effect
of obesity on anesthesia Due to the accumulation of fat in the body, the physiological structure of
obese people changes, which directly affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of anesthetic drugs, thus increasing the risk of anesthesia.
Increased
sensitivity
to anesthetic drugs Fat content in
obese people is high, and the elimination half-life of fat-soluble anesthetic drugs such as fentanyl in obese people will be prolonged, and the clearance rate will be slowed down, which may lead to drug overdose, respiratory depression, blood pressure drop and other adverse reactions.
Respiratory challenges
Obesity may lead to airway stenosis, tongue hypertrophy and increase the risk of respiratory tract obstruction due to excessive body fat. Under general anesthesia, a drooping or enlarged tongue may obstruct the airway and cause expiratory dyspnoea.
Increased
cardiovascular burden
Obese people are often accompanied by cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart disease. During anesthesia, drugs may stimulate the body, lead to vasodilation, further increase the burden of the heart, cause blood pressure drop, slow heartbeat and even arrhythmia.
Metabolic and Endocrine Problems
Obese people may have metabolic abnormalities, such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, which not only affect the metabolism of anesthetic drugs, but also may affect postoperative recovery and increase the risk of complications such as infection and venous thrombosis.
II. Preparation and evaluation
before anesthesia
In order to ensure the safety of anesthesia, obese patients need to undergo more detailed evaluation and preparation before surgery.
Complete physical examination
Have a thorough physical examination, especially an assessment of cardiopulmonary function, liver and kidney function, and metabolic indicators to understand your overall health.
Optimize your lifestyle
Before
surgery, as far as possible, weight loss through diet control and moderate exercise can not only help reduce the risk of anesthesia, but also promote postoperative recovery.
Preoperative medication adjustment
If you are taking antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic drugs, etc., please inform your doctor in advance so that you can adjust the dosage or stop taking drugs to avoid adverse reactions with anesthetic drugs.
Mental preparation
Understand the anesthesia process, fully communicate with doctors, reduce psychological pressure, and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.
3. Selection and adjustment
of anesthesia methods
According to your specific situation, the doctor will choose the appropriate anesthesia method for you and make corresponding adjustments.
Local anesthesia
For minor surgery, local anesthesia may be a better choice, which only acts on the surgical site and has less effect on other parts of the body.
Intraspinal anesthesia
For lower limb or lower abdominal surgery, if the degree of obesity is mild, intraspinal anesthesia is also a good choice, but attention should be paid to the difficulty of puncture and the control of anesthesia level.
General anesthesia
For major surgery, general anesthesia may be unavoidable. During general anesthesia, doctors use safer intubation techniques, such as fiberoptic bronchoscopy-assisted intubation, to ensure that the airway is unobstructed. At the same time, the vital signs will be closely monitored and the dosage of anesthetic drugs will be adjusted in time.
IV. Nursing and recovery
after anesthesia Nursing after
anesthesia is as important as recovery, which requires your active cooperation and careful care of healthcare workers.
Vital signs monitoring
After
anesthesia, the healthcare workers will closely monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and other vital signs to ensure safety.
Pain management
After the
procedure, you may experience pain. Please report to the healthcare workers in time so that appropriate analgesic treatment can be given.
Early activity
With the doctor’s permission, bed activities, such as turning over and lifting legs, should be carried out as soon as possible to promote blood circulation and prevent venous thrombosis.
Dietary adjustment
According to the doctor’s advice, gradually resume diet, starting from clear liquid food, gradually transition to semi-liquid food and soft food.
Regular follow-up visits
After the
operation, please follow the doctor’s advice for regular follow-up visits so as to keep abreast of the recovery and deal with possible problems.
Obese people do face more challenges and risks when undergoing surgical treatment and anesthesia. However, through comprehensive assessment, reasonable preparation and adjustment, and meticulous postoperative care, we can effectively reduce these risks and ensure the safety of the operation. Hopefully, this article will bring you useful information and guidance so that you can take your time when facing surgery. I wish you a speedy recovery!
Anesthesia
