Very Fat Without Medical Problems

Luang Prabang - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Scott Sturman

On December 9th after a tonsillectomy to treat obstructive sleep apnea, Jahi McMath experienced a post operative hemorrhage.  The resuscitation was unsuccessful, leaving the 13 year old brain dead and ventilator dependent.  The events are tragic for all involved –patient, family, doctors, nurses, and the hospital staff, but a comment by a family member stating Jahi had no preoperative medical problems is inaccurate.  Morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea are life threatening conditions for all age groups, especially for seemingly routine surgical procedures.

Beijing, China - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Morbid obesity is so prevalent in America that we are inured to its acute health risks.  This is particularly the case for surgical procedures involving the patient’s airway, which require general anesthesia.  Most anesthesiologists glancing at Jahi’s picture would be wary of airway problems– a potential difficult intubation even under controlled circumstances, rapid arterial oxygen desaturation with interrupted ventilation, and profound airway management problems in the event of massive oropharyngeal hemorrhage in the recovery room.  Even highly skilled clinicians acting promptly could experience daunting technical difficulties during the resuscitation.

Tibetan Plateau - photo by JoAnn Sturman

The responsibility for the childhood obesity epidemic lays squarely on the shoulders of the children’s parents and government agencies which supply mega calories of free, unhealthy food through food stamp-like programs.  As long as parents believe their very fat children are healthy and government welfare agencies make no differentiation between lettuce and soda pop, matters will only deteriorate.   

  Hanoi - photo by Joann Sturman