TY - JOUR T1 - Practical Issues in the Surgical Care of the Obese Patient JF - Ochsner Journal JO - Ochsner J SP - 224 LP - 227 VL - 13 IS - 2 AU - Kerry L. Hammond Y1 - 2013/06/20 UR - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/13/2/224.abstract N2 - The incidence of obesity has steadily climbed to epidemic proportions in the United States. To provide optimal surgical care for the growing number of obese surgical patients, surgeons and other healthcare personnel must often modify routine procedures and standard treatment protocols. Psychological support of obese patients is an additional factor that frequently must be addressed during the perioperative period. ER -