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Abstract The increase in the incidence of childhood obesity is evident and has now reached epidemic proportions, Childhood and adolescent obesity are important risk factors for adult obesity, which its consequent morbidity and mortality. Pediatric anesthesia still requires a special understanding of anatomic, psychological, and physiologic development. The reason for undertaking a special study of pediatric anesthesia is that children, especially infants younger than a few months, differ markedly from adolescents and adults. Many of the important differences, however are not the most obvious. Although the most apparent difference is size, it is the physiologic differences related to general metabolism and immature function of the various organ systems (including the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, blood, muscles, and central nervous system) that are of major importance to the anesthesiologist. Obesity is a systemic disease process that alters the physiology and psychology of the pediatric patient. Obese children are at high risk of cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, and left ventricular failure. They are also at risk of respiratory complications such as hypoxemia, laryngospasm, obstructive sleep apnea, decrease in gas exchange, and decrease in the functional residual capacity in comparison with the non-obese ones. Pediatric anesthesiologists have to be careful about choosing anesthetic techniques in those obese pediatrics, pre-operative assessment, intra-venous access, pre-medications, positioning, monitoring and management of complications intra and postoperatively. |