Journal of applied physiology
-
To explore mechanisms of restrictive respiratory physiology and high pleural pressure (P(Pl)) in severe obesity, we studied 51 obese subjects (body mass index = 38-80.7 kg/m(2)) and 10 nonobese subjects, both groups without lung disease, anesthetized, and paralyzed for surgery. We measured esophageal and gastric pressures (P(Es), P(Ga)) using a balloon-catheter, airway pressure (P(AO)), flow, and volume. We compared P(Es) to another estimate of P(Pl) based on P(AO) and flow. ⋯ We conclude that many severely obese supine subjects at relaxation volume have positive P(pl) throughout the chest. High P(Es) suggests high P(Pl) in such individuals. Lung and respiratory system compliances are low because of breathing at abnormally low lung volumes.