[The role of respiratory physiotherapy in the lung function of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. A review].
BACKGROUND
Obesity, considered a new worldwide epidemic, is characterised by excess adipose tissue and contributes to a series of chronic diseases and increased mortality. Obesity associated to surgical procedure in these patients makes respiratory physiotherapy a must to recover lung function and prevent postoperative pulmonary complications.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of respiratory physiotherapy on the lung function of obese patients undergoing weight loss surgery.


METHODS
We conducted a literature review October 2008-June 2009 of data which had been published over the last thirty years and which was available on the Medline, Pubmed ans Scielo databases.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre- and postoperative respiratory physiotherapy is vital for patients undergoing weight loss surgery irrespective of technique used, as it can prevent pulmonary complications inherent in the surgical procedure and aid lung function recovery.
Tenório
Luís Henrique Sarmento
LH
Pós -Graduando em Fisioterapia Cardiorrespiratória da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. tenorio@gmail.com
de Lima
Anna Myrna Jaguaribe
AM
Brasileiro-Santos
Maria do Socorro
Mdo S
D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012138:Respiratory Therapy