Chlif et al. (2009) found that forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were significantly reduced in obese patients compared to controls. Thomas et al. (1989)

and Weiner et al. (1998) found increased total lung capacity (TLC), functional residual capacity (FRC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV) and residual volume (RV) 6 and 26 months after bariatric surgery. Martí-Valeri Selleckchem INCB018424 et al. (2007) demonstrated improvement of hypoxemia, hypercabia, FEV1, FVC at 1 year after the surgery (Martí-Valeri et al., 2007) To the best of our knowledge, only one study has examined the breathing pattern of obese patients at rest. Chlif et al. (2009) found that tidal volume, frequency, minute ventilation, and inspiratory duty cycle were significantly higher in an obese group than in non-obese controls, without changes in mean inspiratory flow. Changes in breathing pattern after bariatric surgery has not yet been explored and established. On the other hand, the variables related to thoracoabdominal motion asynchrony of breathing are unknown in obese that underwent bariatric surgery or not. We hypothesize that surgery can promote positive changes in breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal motion parameters contributing to a higher respiratory efficiency. The main purpose of this study was to perform

selleck chemical a longitudinal evaluation of breathing pattern, volume and time variables and to measure the thoracoabdominal motion of obese patients before and at 1 and 6 months after Idoxuridine bariatric surgery, comparing these patients to a control group of non-obese individuals matched by sex and age. Two groups

of individuals took part in this study: Group I consisted of obese patients selected from a list of patients scheduled for bariatric surgery in Vila da Serra Hospital, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil. Group II, the control group, was composed by individuals with BMI values within the normal range, who were recruited from the community and matched by sex and age. The inclusion criteria for Group I were obesity grade II or III, a scheduled bariatric surgery within 7 days using the Rous en Y technique, age between 18 and 60 years, no clinical history of cardiopulmonary disease, and no cognitive alterations. The exclusion criteria were as follows: post-operative complications requiring more than 24 h of mechanical ventilation or which did not accomplish the proposed measures. Inclusion criteria for the control group were age between 18 and 60 years, BMI value between 18 and 29.9 kg/m2, normal spirometric values, no history of cardiopulmonary diseases, no cognitive alterations that would interfere with the evaluation procedures, no current or prior history of smoking and no previous abdominal surgical procedures. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institution, and all individuals gave informed, written consent.