Obese Children at Greater Risk for Perioperative Adverse Respiratory Events

Another outcome of nutritional child abuse.

"Children who are obese presenting for elective surgical procedures have a greater prevalence of preexisting comorbid medical conditions and an increased incidence of perioperative adverse respiratory events vs normal-weight children, according to the results of a prospective study in the March issue of Anesthesiology.

'Consistent with the increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States and many countries worldwide, anesthesiologists are now presented with a greater number of adult and pediatric patients who are significantly overweight,' write Alan R. Tait, PhD, from the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, and colleagues...

'Results of this study confirm the observed upward trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children presenting for anesthesia and surgery,' the study authors conclude. 'Furthermore, these results support our hypothesis that the incidence of perioperative adverse respiratory events is increased in children who are obese...'"

Another reason to deny elective care to fat people until they drop the pounds.