Obesity and, in particular, morbid obesity, now affects upwards of one-third of the population of the Western world. Morbidly obese and super-obese patients are no longer uncommon, and frequently present for anaesthesia and surgery. Every practising anaesthetist is likely to be faced with such patients, either in the elective or emergency setting. Because morbid obesity is frequently complicated by a number of potentially life-threatening comorbidities, and because of the technical and physical challenges involved in treating the morbidly obese, they represent a daunting prospect for even the most experienced and skilled anaesthetist. Moreover, they potentially represent an extremely high-risk group of patie