Anesthetic management of a morbidly obese patient with intestinal obstruction

Abstract We managed a morbidly obese patient [body weight 150 kg, body height 157 cm (body mass index, 61 kg.m-2)] with intestinal obstruction due to incarcerated postoperative ventral hernia. The trachea was intubated while applying cricoid pressure. The SpO2 decreased rapidly down to 30% during intubation, but increased to 100% after ventilation with oxygen. Potential problems in the anesthetic management of morbidly obese patients for emergency surgery are discussed.