Are obese patients good candidates for the outpatient setting?

Obesity rates and, consequently, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are on the rise in the US, and an increasing number of obese patients are undergoing surgical procedures at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Healthcare providers at such facilities are adding procedures and taking steps to ensure the safety of patients whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds 40 kg/m2, says Girish P. Joshi, MD, professor of anesthesiology and pain management, and Gaganpreet Grewal, MD, assistant professor, both at UT (University of Texas) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.