Can We Predict the Perioperative Pulmonary Complications Before Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Original Research.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of obesity in worldwide is one of the most serious chronic public health problems and is considered to be a global epidemic. Bariatric surgical procedures have also been applied more often with increased prevalence of obesity. As a result, the incidence of surgical complications has increased. Preoperative evaluation is quite important for these patients.

AIMS: The aim of our study is to determine the predictors of perioperative pulmonary complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: The study is a cross-sectional study.

METHODS: One hundred eighty-three consecutive patients who received laparoscopic bariatric surgery were followed up during 3 months. Patients were divided into two groups A and B. Group A being the patients who had perioperative pulmonary complications (n = 28) and group B being patients who had not (n = 155). Pulmonary function test (PFT), body mass index (BMI), preoperative oxygen saturation, age, gender, comorbid diseases, and smoking history were compared between these groups.

RESULTS: Mean age, size, weight, BMI, PFT parameters of groups A and B were close to each other. The strongest predictors of perioperative pulmonary complications were duration of smoking in current smokers and low baseline oxygen saturation.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative oxygen saturation and smoking history may help to predict perioperative complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.