[Anesthesia for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Associated with Severe Obesity]

A 41-year-old woman with concomitant severe obesity, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and asthma was scheduled for endoscopic cholecystectomy. She was 165.8 cm tall and weighed 141.2 kg, with BMI of 51.4. We were concerned with difficulty in ventilation and intubation at the time of anesthesia induction and intra- and post-operative ventilatory failure. After sedation with fentanyl and droperidol together with intraoral local anesthesia with lidocaine (Xylocaine Viscous), the intubating laryngeal mask (ILMA) was inserted while awake, and after the confirmation of adequate ventilation, the bronchoscope was inserted into the guide. Although she received no nerve block, she did not choke at the time of intubation. Because of airway pressure elevation during surgery, volume-controlled ventilation was changed to pressure-controlled ventilation, and, because of a worsening P/F ratio, the recruitment procedure was performed during surgery, with a consequent improvement in the ratio. Although the use of the reservoir and NPPV equipment after extubation was considered, her respiratory status was stable, and she returned to her room with oxygen mask.