Obesity – risk factor of postoperative respiratory failure

Monica Filip, L. Szegedi, M. Negrău
Catedra Anestezie-Terapie Intensivă şi Urgenţă Prespitalicească-Facultatea de Medicină, Universitatea Oradea

Abstract

Postoperative respiratory failure is a consequence of the alteration of respiratory function associated with the decrease of functional rezidual capacity and alveolar hypoventilation.
In obese patients, atelectasis, responsible for postoperative respiratory failure, occurred much more frequently than in non-obese patients. We investigated the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation in 29 patients with morbid obesity (BMI>35) and in 31 non-obese patients (BMI<27) admitted for elective abdominal surgery. Postoperatively, 19 (65%) patients with morbid obesity and only 3 (10%) non-obese patients developed hypoxia and required mechanical ventilation. The duration of mechanical ventilation in obese patients was significantly longer.
Conclusion. Morbid obesity represents a predictive factor for postoperative respiratory failure and requires mechanical ventilation to maintain an adequate arterial oxygen tension.

Key words: postoperative respiratory failure, morbid obesity, mechanical ventilation

Obezitatea - factor de risc al insuficienţei respiratorii postoperatorii

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2005 Vol.12 Nr.2, 137-140