Perioperative consideration of morbid obesity during COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has affected nearly 3.4 million people worldwide. People with comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are at high risk of suffering from the most severe form of the disease. Various studies around the world have reported Obesity as one of the most common comorbidities associated with a high mortality rate. Noninvasive ventilation like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) help in the perioperative management of these patients under normal circumstances but during COVID -19 pandemic they should be used with caution considering their aerosol generation potential. In this article, we will review the effect of morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea on perioperative outcomes and measures need to be taken that will benefit both patients as well as a healthcare provider.