Impact of obesity on care of postoperative coronary bypass patients

Obesity has become a major health problem in the United States and is well known to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Many clinicians perceive obesity, particularly severe or morbid obesity, to be associated with increased risk for mortality and morbidity following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This article provides a review of the literature related to mortality and morbidity, including the impact of diabetes, risk for acute respiratory failure, and sternal wound infection associated with obese patients undergoing CABG surgery. Implications for nursing practice are addressed with recommendations for practice in this patient population.