CPAP in Patients With Severe Obesity After Anesthesia

The current proposed crossover study is a single center, open-label clinical trial in patients who have severe obesity (defined by body mass index greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2) and are recovering from anesthesia. The primary aim is to describe the difference cardiopulmonary function between two settings for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), using electrical impedance tomography (EIT), transthoracic echocardiography, and esophageal pressure monitoring to measure response. The secondary aim is to determine whether the location of adipose tissue modifies responses to CPAP settings. The study protocol consists of placing an esophageal catheter to monitor intrathoracic pressure in the operating room when the participant is under anesthesia. In the post-anesthesia care unit, participants will receive two CPAP settings, in random order, for 20 minutes each. One setting is a recruitment maneuver and CPAP set to the level of end-expiratory pressure (intrathoracic pressure). Another setting is a CPAP set to home levels (if known) or 8-10 cmH20 if not on home CPAP. There will be a 10 minute washout period between interventions. Investigators will monitor airway and esophageal pressure, ventilation with electrical impedance tomography, right heart function with transthoracic echocardiography, and abdominal muscle contraction with ultrasound. Waist and hip circumference will be measured prior to CPAP.