[Anesthetic management of morbidly obese patients using inhalation induction with high concentrations of sevoflurane].

We describe successful anesthetic management of three morbidly obese patients, using inhalation induction with high concentrations of sevoflurane. In morbidly obese patients, reduced airway space of the pharynx can cause upper airway obstruction after the induction of general anesthesia and may explain difficult mask ventilation. For these patients, careful airway management is essential during the anesthetic induction. In inhalation induction with sevoflurane, the incidence of transient apnea is lower and the control over depth of anesthesia is easier as compared with intravenous induction. Therefore, sevoflurane may be an excellent induction agent in morbidly obese patients with a potentially difficult airway.