SCCM Resource Library-Caring for the Critically Ill Patient With Severe Obesity: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Pdf Summary

The Spring 2023 edition of CriticalConnections highlights several presentations from the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 2023 Critical Care Congress on the challenges faced when caring for critically ill patients with severe obesity. Management in this area demands a multidisciplinary approach due to the complex medical needs arising from conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other obesity-related complications.<br /><br />Dr. Samuel M. Galvagno Jr., focusing on airway management, emphasized the importance of the five P’s—Prediction, Positioning, Preoxygenation, Performance, and Postintubation management—to address the challenges of intubation in obese patients, noting obesity as a significant factor in difficult airway scenarios.<br /><br />Dr. Sara Hennessy underlined the importance of using appropriate language and the stigma associated with terms like "morbid obesity." She provided insights into the technical challenges of procedures involving obese patients, such as venous access, and emphasized the use of image guidance to compensate for anatomical variability.<br /><br />Dr. Bethany Shoulders discussed the nuances of pharmacotherapy for obese patients, highlighting the variability in dosing based on weight metrics and the limited preclinical evidence, which necessitates a personalized approach to medication plans.<br /><br />Dr. Jose Chavez addressed the nursing challenges in managing obese ICU patients, who present a higher workload and increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries for nurses. He stressed the importance of maintaining patient dignity and provided tips for enhancing patient safety and mobility.<br /><br />Finally, Shelby Yaceczko discussed the critical role of nutrition management, emphasizing the need for customized nutrition plans to prevent malnutrition and support recovery, considering the whole person and potential stigma impacts.<br /><br />Overall, the sessions underscored the need for tailored, compassionate care strategies for obese patients in critical care settings, addressing medical, emotional, and logistical challenges.

Asset Subtitle

GI and Nutrition, 2023, 0:05:50

Asset Caption

"This article was first published in the Spring 2023 issue of Critical Connections.

In the United States, more than one in three adults and about one in five children have obesity, which has been shown to lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Managing patients with severe obesity in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be challenging, especially for perioperative patients undergoing bariatric, trauma, and emergency surgery. At the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) 2023 Critical Care Congress, five speakers presented during the session Current Challenges of Caring for the Critically Ill Patient With Severe Obesity: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry’s only newsmagazine, provides information on cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team."

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area GI and Nutrition

Knowledge Level Foundational

Membership Level Associate

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Select

Tag Obesity

Year 2023

Keywords

Critical Care Congress

severe obesity

multidisciplinary approach

airway management

intubation challenges

pharmacotherapy

nursing challenges

nutrition management

personalized care

obesity stigma

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