Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Respiratory Functions

Background: Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes many systemic adverse effects such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and pulmonary functional disorders, which can be mostly reversed with weight loss. Previous study has confirmed reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and functional residual capacity as a result of these negative effects on respiratory system in obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on pulmonary diseases and pulmonary functions. Methods: Data from obese patients who underwent LSG between 2014 and 2016 were collected. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and excess weight loss ratio (EWL%) at the postoperative 6th and 12th months of the patients were recorded. Spirometry was performed on all patients. Relationship between EWL% postoperative changes in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC% were measured. Results: One hundred thirty-five patients, whose mean age and BMI were 46.1 ± 3.5 years and 49.2 ± 5.6 kg/m2, respectively, were included in the study. Absolute changes in FEV1/FVC were positively and significantly correlated to EWL% (r = 0.20, p = 0.014) at the first year. Postoperatively, patients showed significant increases in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC compared with preoperative period (p