Thoracic Epidural Catheterization Using Ultrasound in Obese Patients for Bariatric Surgery

An epidural catheterization is usually difficult in morbid (body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2) or super obese (BMI > 55 kg/m2 ) (Adams & Murphy, 2000) patients. Therefore, it is rarely used for anesthesia in bariatric surgery. However, an epidural catheterization is commonly used for anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in abdominal surgery. We should use an epidural block in bariatric surgery, too. We have already summarized the anesthesia of 20 bariatric surgeries performed between November 2008 and March 2010 (Nishiyama, et al, 2012). In Abstract

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