Effects of Obesity and Leptin Deficiency on Morphine Pharmacokinetics in a Mouse Model.

Background: Obesity causes multiorgan dysfunction, specifically metabolic abnormalities in the liver. Obese patients are opioid-sensitive and have high rates of respiratory complications after surgery. Obesity also has been shown to cause resistance to leptin, an adipose-derived hormone that is key in regulating hunger, metabolism, and respiratory stimulation.

Are nocturnal hypoxemia and hypercapnia associated with desaturation immediately after adenotonsillectomy?

Background: Children who undergo adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing frequently have postoperative oxygen desaturations. Nocturnal hypoxia has been shown to predict postoperative respiratory complications; however, other gas exchange abnormalities detected on polysomnography (PSG) have not been evaluated.

Aim: We sought to determine whether hypercapnia seen on preoperative nocturnal PSG can predict postoperative hypoxemia.