[Surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Problems of anesthesia in 100 cases]

One hundred morbidly obese patients underwent an elective bypass operation with an overall mortality of two per cent. Some pathophysiological features of gross obesity are discussed as well as the problems that this condition presents for both anesthesiologist and surgeon. Preoperative work-up, conduct of anesthesia, including Althesin as the primary anesthetic, and management in the recovery room are described. Good anesthetic care and careful monitoring are essential to success with the morbidly obese patient.