Child obesity and anaesthetic morbidity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To knock down the following myths: obesity in paediatric patients is rare and mainly a North-American problem; obesity in childhood has no long-term harmful effects. To sensitize the anaesthesiologists to a problem seldom addressed in the anaesthetic literature. RECENT FINDINGS Recent medical information concerning the incidence and pathophysiology of obesity in paediatric patients is summarized. SUMMARY The early manifestations of the comorbidities associated with obesity in adults are already present in overweight and obese children and should be addressed for their safe anaesthetic management. Perioperative respiratory events seem more frequent in overweight and obese patients.