The influence of posture on spirometric values in grade III obese patients

Abstracts

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A mudança de posição sentada para a posição supina, a anestesia geral e o procedimento cirúrgico reduzem os volumes pulmonares, e esse efeito pode ser maior nos obesos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência das posições sentada, inclinação dorsal de 30º e decúbito dorsal horizontal na espirometria de doentes portadores de obesidade grau III. MÉTODO: Foram selecionados 26 pacientes adultos no período pré-operatório, obedecendo aos seguintes critérios de inclusão: portadores de IMC > 40 kg.m-2, maiores de 18 e menores de 60 anos e gênero feminino. As variáveis analisadas foram: idade, peso, altura, IMC, porcentagens dos valores preditos da CVF, VEF1 e VEF1/CVF nas posições sentada (90º), com elevação dorsal de 30º e decúbito dorsal horizontal (0º). A comparação entre as médias dos valores previstos nas diversas posições foi realizada por meio do teste de ANOVA, seguido ou não do teste de Tukey, sendo considerado significativo valor de p inferior a 0,05. RESULTADOS: Os valores das porcentagens da CVF, do VEF1 e da relação VEF1/CVF em relação aos valores previstos nas posições sentada (90º), com elevação dorsal de 30º e decúbito dorsal horizontal (0º) e o valor de p da análise estatística correspondente, foram, respectivamente: CVF: 92,8% / 88,2% / 86,5%, p = 0,301 (ANOVA); VEF1: 93,1% / 83,8% / 83,3%, p = 0,023 (ANOVA), p = 0,038 (teste de Tukey - 90º x 0º); VEF1/CVF: 100,8% / 95,5% / 96,8%, p = 0,035 (ANOVA), p = 0,035 (teste de Tukey - 90º x 30º). CONCLUSÕES: As mudanças de posição produzem alteração nos resultados da espirometria de pacientes portadores de obesidade grau III.

AVALIAÇÃO; COMPLICAÇÕES; TÉCNICAS DE MEDIÇÃO

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El cambio de posición sentada para la posición supina, la anestesia general y el procedimiento quirúrgico reducen los volúmenes pulmonares, y ese efecto puede ser mayor en los obesos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de las posiciones sentada, inclinación dorsal de 30º y decúbito dorsal horizontal en la espirometría de enfermos portadores de obesidad grado III. MÉTODO: Se seleccionaron 26 pacientes adultos en el período preoperatorio, obedeciendo a los siguientes criterios de inclusión: portadores de IMC > 40 kg.m-2, mayores de 18 y menores de 60 años y sexo femenino. Las variables analizadas fueron: edad, peso, altura, IMC, porcentajes de los valores previstos de la CVF, VEF1 y VEF1/ CVF en las posiciones sentada (90º), con elevación dorsal de 30º y decúbito dorsal horizontal (0º). La comparación entre los promedios de los valores previstos en las diversas posiciones fue realizada por medio del test de ANOVA, seguido o no del test de Tukey, siendo considerado significativo valor de p inferior a 0,05. RESULTADOS: Los valores de los porcentajes de la CVF, del VEF1 y de la relación VEF1/CVF con relación a los valores previstos en las posiciones sentada (90º), con elevación dorsal de 30º y decúbito dorsal horizontal (0º), y el valor de p del análisis estadístico correspondiente fueron, respectivamente: CVF: 92,8% / 88,2% / 86,5%, p = 0,301 (ANOVA); VEF1: 93,1% / 83,8% / 83,3%, p = 0,023 (ANOVA), p = 0,038 (test de Tukey - 90º x 0º); VEF1/CVF: 100,8% / 95,5% / 96,8%, p = 0,035 (ANOVA), p = 0,035 (test de Tukey - 90º x 30º). CONCLUSIONES: Los cambios de posición producen una alteración en los resultados de la espirometría de pacientes portadores de obesidad grado III.

AVALIACIÓN; COMPLICACIONES; TÉCNICAS DE MEDICIÓN

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

^IMSc in Medicine from Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCM-SCSP); Assistant Physician of Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (ISCMSP); Co-responsible for the CET-SCSP

^IIAssociate Professor of FCM-SCSP; Director of the Anesthesiology Department and Service of ISCMSP

^IIIProfessor of FCM-SCSP; Chief of Thoracic Surgery Department of ISCMSP

Correspondence to

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The change from the sitting position to supine position, general anesthesia, and surgical procedure reduce lung volumes and this effect can be greater in obese patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the sitting position, 30º dorsal inclination, and horizontal dorsal decubitus on spirometry of grade III obese patients.

METHODS: Twenty-six adult patients in the preoperatory period were selected according to the following criteria: BMI > 40 kg.m^-2, age between18 years and 60 years, and female gender. Variables analyzed included: age, weight, height, BMI, percentage of predictive values of FVC, FEV₁, and VEF₁/FVC in the sitting position (90º), 30º dorsal elevation, and horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º). ANOVA, followed or not by Tukey test were used to compare mean predicted values on the different positions, considering significant a p value lower than 0.05.

RESULTS: Percentage values of FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC ratio regarding predicted values in the sitting position (90º), 30º dorsal elevation, and horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º), and p value of the corresponding statistical analysis were, respectively: FVC = 92.8%, 88.2%, and 86.5%, p = 0.301 (ANOVA); FEV₁: 93.1%, 83.8%, and 83.3%, p = 0.023 (ANOVA), p = 0.038 (Tukey test - 90º x 0º); FEV₁/FVC: 100,8%, 95.5%, and 96.8%, p = 0.035 (ANOVA), p = 0.035 (Tukey test - 90º x 30º).

CONCLUSIONS: Changes in position produced changes in spirometry results of patients with grade III obesity.

Keywords: Spirometry; Morbid Obesity; Preoperative Care.

INTRODUCTION

Obesity causes changes in the respiratory system; among them, changes in respiratory mechanics, muscular contraction and strength, pulmonary gas exchange, respiration control, lung function tests, and exercise capacity ¹. Total resistance of the respiratory system increases when obese patients change from the sitting position to the supine position ².

Spirometry is more commonly performed on the sitting position, although the supine position is also accepted. The most common abnormality in spirometry of obese patients is the reduction in expiratory reserve volume (ERV) and residual functional capacity (RFC). Vital capacity (VC) and total lung capacity (TLC) show discrete variations, even in different obese populations and in grade III obesity ^3,4. Differences in position can significantly change the values of lung function tests. Gudmundsson et al. ⁵ demonstrated that in obese individuals the forced vital capacity (FVC) is greater when it is measured with the patient in the supine compared to the sitting position. Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) did not show differences between the sitting and supine positions.

General anesthesia and surgical procedures reduce lung volumes, and this effect can be greater in obese patients ^3,6-8. In normal individuals, the site of surgery affects the respiratory function, which is more frequently impaired after abdominal procedures in relation to non-abdominal procedures⁸.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the change from the sitting position (90º) to 30º dorsal elevation and horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º) causes spirometric changes in grade III obese patients.

METHODS

After approval of the Ethics on Research Committee of the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (ISCMSP) and signing of the informed consent, adult patients from the Morbid Obesity outpatient clinic were selected for this transversal study. Inclusion criteria were: BMI > 40 kg.m^-2; age > 18 years and < 60 years; and female gender. The following were considered exclusion criteria: pregnancy; smokers; refusal to participate in the study; users of drugs that cause central nervous system depression; inability to perform the spirometry for lack of understanding; prior or current lung disease; and hearing disease that prevented verbal communication.

The size of the study population was calculated to identify a 30% difference among variables according to the analysis power based on the following parameters: type I error (α = 0.05) and type II error (β = 0.8). For this, 24 patients would be necessary and, assuming the possibility of losses, we decided to include 26 patients.

In the Morbid Obesity Outpatient Clinic, the spirometry was explained to the patient, the spirometer was shown to the patient, and the position of the mouth piece was demonstrated. Then, the test was performed, according to the criteria of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) ⁹. Measurements were performed, first, in the sitting position (90º), followed by the 30º dorsal inclination, with at least three, but no more than eight, measurements. After these two steps, patients were transferred to another room where they underwent pre-anesthetic evaluation performed by another physician who was not linked to the investigation. After the pre-anesthetic evaluation, the patient returned to the exam room and the horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º) spirometry was performed.

A portable spirometer with a SpiroCard^® flow sensor was used for analysis and plotting the volume-time and flow-volume charts, according to the ATS spirometric criteria.

Variables investigated included: age, weight, height, BMI, FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC ratio in the sitting position (90º), 30º dorsal elevation, and horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º) as percentage of predicted values according to Pereira et al. ¹⁰

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test evaluated all variables in this study regarding the normalcy of distribution. Comparison of predicted values was done by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Tukey test was used to compare the different positions, considering significant whenever p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Twenty-six female patients participated in this study. Mean values and standard deviation of anthropometric data were: age (years), 42.07 ± 10.79; weight (kg), 123.51 ± 17.43; height (m), 1.59 ± 0.05; and BMI (kg.m^-2), 48.51 ± 6.19.

All variable were within normal distribution according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (p > 0.05).

Table I shows the results of mean percentage of predicted values for FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC, and the value of p on analysis of variance on all three positions.

Tables II and ^III show the results of the Tukey test for FEV₁ and the FEV₁/FVC ratio, respectively, among the different positions.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of grade III obesity among women is greater than in men and, in our service, it is not different. Due to difficulties of having homogenous groups of obese patients of both genders and the fact that lung volumes and the FEV₁/FVC ratio are different in both genders, we decided to include only females. Elderly patients and/or smokers were also excluded, since both conditions change the results of spirometry.

The correlation of varying the decubitus and lung function in patients with grade III obesity in the preoperative period was evaluated by different authors using other variables not used in the present study ^8,11,12. We did not find in the literature studies comparing predicted FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC ratio on all three positions in the preoperative period of patients with grade III obesity.

Several studies have included preoperative FVC of obese patients only in the sitting position ^7,10-14. Some of them presented absolute values of spirometric variables ^8,11-14. Comparison of those results with the present study was not possible, since the normalcy pattern of spirometric values varies according to the anthropometric characteristics of weight, height, gender, and race, and has specific formulas determined by different authors. We used the reference values defined by Pereira et al. ¹⁰ in our study.

The values observed in the present study on the sitting position (90º) were similar to those observed by Rasslam¹⁵ in a study that evaluated, in patients of both genders, the effects of grades I and II obesity on spirometry. Mean FVC of 101.0% was observed in female patients with mean BMI of 34.2 kg.m^-2.

On the study of Sarikaya et al. ¹⁴, comparing spirometries of non-obese patients and grades I, II, and III obese patients in the sitting position, higher values in the group of grade III obesity (BMI > 40 kg.m^-2; 86% females) were observed, with mean FVC of 108.26%. Domingos-Benício et al. ¹⁶ compared the spirometry of eutrophic and obese (grades I, II, and III) non-smoker volunteers of both genders on orthostatic, sitting, and supine positions. The numeric values were not included in the publication, only histograms, showing that the mean FVC value of grade III obese patients in the sitting position is between 90% and 95%. In their results, as well as in ours, there is a reduction of spirometry results in the supine position.

The mean FEV₁ value in the sitting position observed in the present study, 93.1%, was similar to that observed by other authors in studies with comparable methods: between 90.0% and 96.0% ^14,16-18.

Razi and Moosavi ¹⁷, in a study with patients of both genders, observed that, in a group of non-asthmatic patients in the sitting position, their FEV₁ = 101.0% ¹⁷. However, the mean BMI of 36.69 kg.m^-2 of that study was smaller than that of our study, justifying higher FEV₁ values.

The mean value of the FEV₁/FVC ratio in the sitting position observed in the present study was 100.76%, higher than the values observed in some studies with comparable methods (76.5% and 86.0%) ¹⁴, but similar to that observed by Rasslam (100.0%) ¹⁵.

Studies with male patients, smokers and non-smokers, showed lower FEV₁/FVC ratio: 81.6% and 82.5%, as well as in studies with patients of both genders: between 80% and 86.4% ^9,19,20.

The results regarding the horizontal position confirm the results of Domingos-Benício et al. ¹⁶, the only one found in the literature that used a similar method and evaluated patients in horizontal dorsal decubitus. They reported a statistically significant reduction in FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC ratio in dorsal decubitus in relation to the sitting position, which was not observed in the present study.

The present study demonstrated that, in adult female patients with grade III obesity, non-smokers, without lung disease, 30º dorsal inclination and horizontal dorsal decubitus (0º) cause changes in spirometry. This has practical implications, since the beds in the recovery unit at ISCMSP reach, the most, an inclination of 30º. Note that patients with grade III obesity have difficulties in maintaining the semi-sitting position in the postoperative period. Even at 30º inclination, very often they slide in the bed, resulting in a lower inclination, which potentially hinders their respiratory pattern.

One can infer that male and elderly patients also suffer influence of the decubitus; however, similar studies with those groups should be performed.

Thus, despite the limitations of the present study, it is important to evaluate patients with grade III obesity in the immediate postoperative period, trying to maintain them more elevated than 30º.

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The influence of posture on spirometric values in grade III obese patients

Ayrton Bentes Teixeira, TSA^I; Ligia Andrade da S. Telles Mathias, TSA^II; Roberto Saad Junior^III

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Nov 2011
• Date of issue
  Dec 2011

History

• Received
  11 Nov 2010
• Accepted
  04 Apr 2011