Background: Obesity is common in the Western world, and obese persons constitute a growing
population of surgical patients for both bariatric and non-bariatric operations. It is the
traditional perception that obese patients have a higher risk of perioperative morbidity and
mortality, although different studies show contradictory results.
Purpose: To better delineate the perioperative morbidity and mortality in obese patients.
Methods: Review of the pertinent English-language literature
Results: Obesity is a risk factor for nosocomial infection, particularly surgical site infection
(SSI). The mechanisms by which obese patients may be at higher risk for SSI are reviewed,
and specific recommendations are outlined that should be implemented when treating obese
patients to minimize potentially preventable SSIs.
Conclusion: The growing prevalence of obesity and the increasing number of operations
performed on obese patients, whether to achieve weight loss or for other purposes, will have
a substantial impact on health care resources. Vigilant identification of high-risk patients and
provision of all proved preventive measures must suffice until new methods of prevention
are identified and validated.
