Problems during hospitalisation of morbidly obese patients in intensive care units. A narrative review.

Background: The frequency of hospitalisation of patients with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index - BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) is constantly increasing. The hospitalisation in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of such a group of patients, in addition to the common problems in care and treatment encountered in the rest of the hospital wards, additionally brings distinct challenges to be faced by the staff.Aim of the study: This review aims to clarify the distinctive physiological characteristics of morbidly obese patients and the resulting challenges during ICU hospitalisation, while also presenting appropriate therapeutic approaches and interventions.Material and methods: Based on the available medical literature and the authors' clinical experience, we have selected articles using PubMed, NIH (National Institutes of Health), SpringerMedizin, and Semantic Scholar, along with guidelines from the Medycyna Praktyczna website, WHO data, and book sources. We reviewed 693 articles, 3 books, and the websites of WHO and Medycyna Praktyczna. The final selection comprised 34 articles (32 in English, 1 in German, 1 in Polish), published between 2004 and 2023, with 12 published after 2020.Results: Morbid obesity disrupts the physiological homeostasis of the body, noticeably affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular or gastrointestinal systems, and is associated with the occurrence of a number of diseases. This necessitates specific distinctions in the intubation procedure, mechanical ventilation strategy as well as drug dosing. In addition, it should be noticed that life-threatening conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or sepsis occur among patients hospitalised in the ICU, requiring additional modifications to the therapy.Conclusions: Morbidly obese ICU patients due to their anatomical and physiological characteristics belong to individuals at risk of difficult intubation requiring specific positioning, preoxygenation and the use of videolaryngoscopes, as well as implementing an appropriate mechanical ventilation strategy. Additionally, altered drug metabolism and distribution in these patients necessitate distinct dosing protocols for effective treatment.