[Morbid obesity as a cause of respiratory failure].

World epidemic of obesity reached Poland. Obesity may result in hypercapnic respiratory failure. This complication may be expected in morbidly obese subjects, with BMI 〉 35. Diagnosis is confirmed by arterial blood gas analysis showing PaO(2) 〈 60 mm Hg and PaCO(2) 〉 45 mm Hg. The most frequent cause of respiratoty failure is severe form of obstructive sleep apnea. In approximately 10% of patients obesity hypoventilation syndrome is diagnosed. Diagnosis is established during polysomnographic examination. Patients are treated with nocturnal ventilatory suport CPAP or BiPAP. Causative treatment is based on weight reduction. Low - calorie diet is ineffective. Bariatric surgery available in Poland is effective.