Lung volumes and arterial blood gases in obesity

Lung volumes and arterial blood gases have been studied in six severely obese patients (mean weight 143 kg), admitted for jejunoileal shunt-operation. The lung volumes were recorded on a Siemens constant volume body plethysmograph, and the arterial blood gases were measured by means of a Radiometer ABL-1 blood gas analyzer. The patients were in the seated body position. The Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) was found to be 40% (mean value) of Total Lung Capacity (TLC). Predicted normal value of FRC/TLC% in non-obese subjects of the same height, sex and age is 54%. During tidal breathing the arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was 84 mm Hg (mean value) compared to 95 mm Hg in non-obese subjects. A positive correlation between FRC/TLC% and the PaO2 was found. A series of 5 deep breaths normalized the PaO2 which rose by 18 mm Hg to 102 mm Hg (mean value). These results confirm the generally held opinion that the main abnormality of lung function in obesity is a reduction of lung volume to such a low value that airway closure occurs during tidal breathing, causing arterial hypoxemia.