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DOI: 10.48087/BJMS.2026.130322
Authors: Nabila CHOUBANE
Affiliations: Department of Medical and Surgical Emergency, Bab El Oued University Hospital, University of Health Sciences ; Faculty of Medicine Youcef Elkhattib, Algiers – Algeria.
Abstract
Morbid obesity is an increasingly pressing challenge for emergency departments, owing to structural and technical limitations that compromise the delivery of appropriate care. A 48-year-old man with morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI] = 49 kg/m²) was admitted for acute respiratory distress secondary to severe pneumonia. Care was hampered by inadequate equipment, difficult venous access, and the inability to perform essential diagnostic investigations. Orotracheal intubation proved anatomically challenging. Despite transfer to the intensive care unit and prompt initiation of treatment, the patient died within 48 hours. This case underscores the urgent need for adapted hospital infrastructure, specific clinical protocols, and targeted staff training to ensure adequate care for patients with morbid obesity.
Keywords: Morbid obesity, Emergency care, Acute respiratory distress, Airway management, Resource-limited settings, Case report.