BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important respiratory risk factor after abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic surgical techniques seem beneficial in obese patients in terms of respiratory morbidity, with a faster return to normal respiratory function. However, there is little information about intraoperative respiratory mechanics and about patient tolerance to abdominal insufflation in the morbidly obese. METHODS: We studied respiratory mechanics and arterial blood gases in 15 morbidly obese patients (mean BMI = 45) undergoing laparoscopic gastroplasty under general anaesthesia and controlled ventilation. Respiratory mechanics were analysed using side-stream spirometry. RESULTS: When compared to preinsufflation values, servocontrolled abdominal insufflation to 2.26 kPa caused a significant decrease in respiratory system compliance (31%), a significant increase in peak (17%) and plateau (32%) airway pressures at constant tidal volume with a significant hypercapnia but no change in arterial O2 saturation. Respiratory system compliance and pulmonary insufflation pressures returned to baseline values after abdominal deflation. CONCLUSION: These alterations in pulmonary mechanics are less than those observed with comparable degrees of abdominal inflation in non-obese patients, and were well tolerated. From the point of view of intraoperative respiratory mechanics, laparoscopic surgery is safe in morbidly obese patients.
BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important respiratory risk factor after abdominal surgery. Laparoscopic surgical techniques seem beneficial in obesepatients in terms of respiratory morbidity, with a faster return to normal respiratory function. However, there is little information about intraoperative respiratory mechanics and about patient tolerance to abdominal insufflation in the morbidly obese. METHODS: We studied respiratory mechanics and arterial blood gases in 15 morbidly obesepatients (mean BMI = 45) undergoing laparoscopic gastroplasty under general anaesthesia and controlled ventilation. Respiratory mechanics were analysed using side-stream spirometry. RESULTS: When compared to preinsufflation values, servocontrolled abdominal insufflation to 2.26 kPa caused a significant decrease in respiratory system compliance (31%), a significant increase in peak (17%) and plateau (32%) airway pressures at constant tidal volume with a significant hypercapnia but no change in arterial O2 saturation. Respiratory system compliance and pulmonary insufflation pressures returned to baseline values after abdominal deflation. CONCLUSION: These alterations in pulmonary mechanics are less than those observed with comparable degrees of abdominal inflation in non-obesepatients, and were well tolerated. From the point of view of intraoperative respiratory mechanics, laparoscopic surgery is safe in morbidly obesepatients.
Authors: Carla Cristine Cunha Casali; Ana Paula Manfio Pereira; José Antônio Baddini Martinez; Hugo Celso Dutra de Souza; Ada Clarice Gastaldi Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 4.129