Key Factors for Successful General Anesthesia of Obese Adult Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To study nurse anesthetists' experiences of key factors for successful airway management in general anesthesia of adult obese patients.

Design: The study was a qualitative observational study with a descriptive approach.

Methods: Eight semistructured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using the critical incident technique.

Findings: Five key factors for successful general anesthesia of adult obese patients were identified. These factors were preparing and planning the anesthesia, optimizing patient position, optimizing ventilation through proper preoxygenation and increasing positive end-expiratory pressure, quickly securing the airway, and working in teams.

Conclusions: Knowledge of key factors that facilitate and improve the anesthesia care of obese patients is important to provide safe and quality anesthesia to this patient group as obese patients often have small margins and urgent situations can quickly arise. This knowledge enables the nurse anesthetist to be one step ahead and to be ready to take action if complications occur.

Keywords: anesthesiologic nursing; critical incident technique; general anesthesia; obesity.