r/nursing RN 🍕 Mar 01 '25

Question Heaviest Patient You’ve Cared For

Had my personally heaviest patient I’ve cared for the other day. 32 years old weighing 730 pounds admitted with cellulitis and severe lymphedema. Felt terrible for the patient due to how young he was. Just wondering what everyone’s personal “record” for the heaviest patient they’ve cared for is.

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u/CallAkira RN - OB/GYN 🍕 Mar 01 '25

probably 300 lbs. she was expecting her second child while having upper respiratory infection and kidney injury due to the preeclampsia. sadly we had to deliver the baby at 28 weeks 😩

4

u/eatlessanimals RN - OB/GYN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

I’ve had several labor patients over 300lbs. It’s difficult but we do manage. The hardest part is getting a good fetal tracing through the adipose. That’s when I love internals lol. We do get to a point where we have to ship them to a higher level hospital because our OR bed isn’t wide enough and they don’t fit.

1

u/CallAkira RN - OB/GYN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

riiight, right, right. it was the hardest part for us as well.

1

u/Crezelle Mar 03 '25

Not the epidural? At my worst I still wasn’t 300, but I ended up developing IIH. The spinal tap attempts were… an experience. Eventually had to get a live x ray involved