Pulmonary function studies before and after jejunoileal bypass surgery.

Nine out of twelve obese patients (75%) demonstrated diminished minute ventilation volume (MVV) prior to jejunoileal bypass surgery. Seven out of the nine patients (78%) showed improvement in the MVV as weight reduction ensued following surgery. Other parameters, including arterial blood gases, did not change after weight loss. Weight reduction as a result of jejunoileal bypass surgery brings about an improvement in pulmonary function.