In vivo
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Morbid obesity is frequently accompanied by serious co-morbidity, enclosed obstructive sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome, and thus many morbidly obese patients require surgical interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between arterial oxygen (pO₂) and carbon dioxide (pCO₂) partial pressure, age, loss of excess weight, and body mass index (BMI) in obese patients scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery. ⋯ In obese patients, the severity of hypoxemia is mainly related to age. The amount of weight reduction, rather than lower baseline BMI values, may justify the significant postoperative pO₂ improvement.