The frequency of respiratory failure in patients with morbid obesity undergoing gastric bypass.

Morbid obesity is associated with multiple metabolic and mechanical abnormalities that increase morbidity and mortality after major abdominal surgery. It is unclear whether patients undergoing bariatric surgery have increased pulmonary complications postoperatively. We performed a retrospective chart review of 207 patients who underwent elective gastric bypass surgery during a recent 2-year period.