The worldwide prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years. Since the results of long-term dietary behavioral therapy remain sadly inadequate, surgery is currently the only effective treatment for patients with severe or morbid obesity. The numbers of weight loss operations continue to increase annually throughout the world. The anesthetic management of severely obese patients entails special challenges, especially when medical co- morbidities are present. Published outcome data on anesthetic care and pain management of these patients are scarce, and many practices remain...