title: [Morbid obesity as a cause of respiratory failure].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc, ul. Płocka 26, 01–138 Warszawa. j.zielinski@igichp.edu.pl
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zieliński
mesh_terms: D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010845:Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015431:Weight Loss