Pulmonary considerations in obesity and the bariatric surgical patient

Severe obesity can be associated with significant alterations in normal cardiopulmonary physiology. The pathophysiologic effects of obesity on a patient's pulmonary function are multiple and complex. The impact of obesity on morbidity and mortality are often underestimated. Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective modality of reliable and durable treatment for severe obesity. Surgical weight loss improves and, in most cases, completely resolves the pulmonary health problems associated with obesity.