There has been an observed increase in theprevalence of obesity over the past few decades. The prevalence of anesthesiology related complications is also observed more frequently in obese patients as compared to patients that are not obese. Due to the increased complications that accompany obesity, obese patients are now more often requiring surgical interventions. Therefore, it is important that anesthesiologists be aware of this development and is equipped to manage these patients effectively and appropriately. As a result, this review highlights the effective management of obese patients undergoing surgery focusing on the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative care of these patients.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that commonly affects women of reproductive age. Its prevalence varies quite significantly and its clinical presentation includes: reproductive, metabolic and psychological issues.  PCOS develops due to a variety of factors some of which are not yet fully understood. Due to the complexity in the development and presentation of this condition, the management of PCOS in most instances is complicated and involves the combination of pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical interventions. This review discusses the pathogenesis and management of PCOS as means of providing information that would enhance understanding and control of this disease.

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As diabetes mellitus continues to be a global health issue, more and more cases of macro-vascular and micro-vascular complications are being commonly observed amongst this category of patients. One micro-vascular complication often seen in diabetic patients is diabetic neuropathy as at least 50% of diabetic patients will experience some form of neuropathy following a diagnosis of diabetes for about 25 years. Even though diabetic patients are at risk for developing various types of neuropathies, polyneuropathies are most commonly observed and develop mainly develop due to hyperglycaemia, dyslipidemia and abnormal insulin signaling. Polyneuropathies are commonly accompanied by bilateral sensory loss in the distal limbs. Varying degrees of pain are also observed with this complication and pain management may serve to be very complicated. Therefore, this review discusses neuropathy focusing specifically on the effective management of the pain that commonly accompanies this diabetic complication.

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in China in late 2019 and since then, this disease has become a pandemic affecting many countries across the globe. Due to this outbreak, many researchers have been diligently investigating this disease for the establishment of better methods of its treatment and control. Evidence from research has led to a plethora of valuable but uncertain information on the modes of transmission of COVID-19 and the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 establishes infections in targeted tissues. It is now better understood that in this disease, SARS-CoV-2 gains entrance into cells by specifically binding ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2); ACE-2 serves as a potential receptor for the virus. The lungs, in addition to many other organs and tissues, express ACE-2 in varying degrees. Therefore, this review will examine the role of ACE-2 in COVID-19 and the secondary effects that COVID-19 has on organs that express ACE-2. To this end, it will assist in establishing the relationship between the ACE-2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2, bringing to the forefront the correlation between the symptomatology presentation, as well as the severity of infections experienced with COVID-19. Given this, it may even provide an avenue for the generation of treatment, or create a platform for the enhanced knowledge of this novel virus, and therefore, control, and maybe unravel the mystery for long term complications.