Management of the Complications of Obese Patients in Critical Care: Evidence-Based Nursing

Abstract

               The present study aimed at analyzing academic documents related to the management of complications among patients with morbidly obese in critical condition. The findings were summarized to derive evidence-based clinical nursing practice guidelines for patients. Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome or PICO were utilized as the framework in this study. The quality and the level of the research evidence based on the evaluation criteria proposed by the American Association of Critical-care Nurses (AACN’s new evidence leveling systems). Eighteen articles were selected for the present study. Of these, five were research reports and thirteen were academic articles.

                The results showed that the comprehensive management of complications for obese patients in critical care included assessment and physical examination, respiratory system and ventilator care, reproductive system and urinary system care, gastro-intestinal system care, drug administration, skin care and a transfer system. The aims of this comprehensive management were to minimize and prevent complications, promote recovery, shorten the length of the hospital stay, decrease medical expenses, and improve the quality of nursing care for obese patients in critical care.