title: Intragastric balloon for the treatment of obesity: evaluation of pulmonary function over a 3-month period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity has become a global epidemic in the 21st century, and the placement of an intragastric balloon (IB) is a therapeutic modality used to treat it. Our objectives for this study were to evaluate changes in lung function resulting from IB use and to correlate the pattern of body fat distribution with changes in lung function.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an interventional study with 30 overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome. All of the subjects underwent anthropometric measurements, assessment of their body fat distribution pattern by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and pulmonary function testing before implantation of the IB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the initial evaluations, the main pulmonary function abnormalities observed were decreased expiratory reserve volume (ERV), decreased total lung capacity (TLC), and increased diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DL(CO)), which occurred in 56.7, 40, and 23.3 % of patients, respectively. We observed a statistically significant positive correlation between the DL(CO) and the percentage of trunk fat mass (ρ = 0.42; p < 0.01). Three months after placement of the IB, there was a significant reduction in the body mass index (p < 0.0001) and the maximal inspiratory pressure (p < 0.009). We also observed a significant increase in the forced vital capacity (p < 0.0001), TLC (p < 0.001), and ERV (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight loss as a result of IB causes increased static lung volumes and decreased inspiratory muscle strength. Additionally, being overweight and obese is related to increased DL(CO), especially in individuals with truncal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Araguaia, 1266, bloco 1/405, Freguesia, Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22745-271, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Thomaz
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Mafort
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Erika Paniago
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Guedes
authors.forename: Rodrigo Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Laura Maria Carvalho
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Fleiuss
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Agnaldo José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D005105:Expiratory Reserve Volume; D005260:Female; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014109:Total Lung Capacity; D015431:Weight Loss