Anesthetic Outcomes in Obese Patients

Abstract

Background: Obesity produces respiratory, cardiovascular, anatomical, and pharmacological changes that may increase the complexity of perioperative management under general anaesthesia. Objective: To describe perioperative anaesthetic outcomes among adults with obesity and examine differences in overall outcomes across BMI classes. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over four months at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Forty-six adults with BMI ≥30 kg/m², ASA physical status II or III, and undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia were included through non-probability sampling. Demographic characteristics, BMI class, ASA status, intraoperative complications, and overall clinical outcomes were recorded. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages, and associations were evaluated using chi-square or exact testing as appropriate. Results: Class I, II, and III obesity were present in 18 (39.1%), 16 (34.8%), and 12 (26.1%) participants, respectively. ASA III status was recorded in 28 (60.9%) participants. Twenty-four participants (52.2%) had no recorded intraoperative complication, while hypoxia occurred in 9 (19.6%), arrhythmia in 5 (10.9%), hypotension in 4 (8.7%), hypertension in 3 (6.5%), and combined hypoxia with hypotension in 1 (2.2%). Overall outcomes were stable in 25 (54.3%), mildly complicated in 18 (39.1%), and severely complicated in 3 (6.5%) participants. Outcome distribution differed across BMI classes (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Higher obesity classes were associated with a greater proportion of adverse overall outcomes, although the small sample and unadjusted analysis limit causal interpretation