Obesity, Weight Loss, and Perioperative Risk Assessment in Otolaryngology.

Obesity is associated with unique and compounding perioperative challenges in otolaryngologic surgery. This review summarizes evidence-based guidance on preoperative risk stratification, airway management, intraoperative anesthetic and ventilatory strategies, and procedure-specific postoperative care for patients with obesity undergoing otolaryngologic surgery, with emphasis on the emerging phenotype of sarcopenic obesity, the shared airway, and individualized monitoring frameworks.