Identifying Obstacles for the Obese Trauma Patient.

With the prevalence of obesity and the incidence of trauma increasing, acute care practitioners need to be better prepared to manage this special population. Numerous obstacles exist that complicate and delay the care for this population. Recognizing the obese patient as a special population by trauma organizations and health care facilities can help educate providers in the external, anatomical, and physiological obstacles that may delay care. The purpose of this article is to identify these obstacles that may complicate the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the obese trauma patient in the acute care setting. By identifying these obstacles, care givers can have the necessary staff, equipment, and protocols in place to expedite care and improve outcomes.