Obesity and Perioperative Complications in Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery in 2013: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on national rates of perioperative complications in women undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery in 2013 in the United States.
METHODS: Women who underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery were identified in the 2013 National Inpatient Sample using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision procedure codes. Demographic data and comorbidities including obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m) were abstracted. Perioperative complications and mortalities that occurred during the same admission were abstracted from the data set using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. The complication rates were compared between obese and nonobese subjects. Univariate analysis was performed to determine factors associated with the primary outcome. Significant factors were included in the regression model to determine the adjusted odds ratio for perioperative complications in obese women.
RESULTS: A total of 16,639 women underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery in the 2013 National Inpatient Sample data set and were included in the analysis. Approximately 10% of the study cohort was obese. The overall perioperative complication rate during the surgical admission was 25%. On multivariate analysis, obesity was found to increase the odds of perioperative complications by approximately 40% after controlling for age, race, income, concomitant hysterectomy, and medical comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.58; P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is an independent risk factor for perioperative complications in women who undergo pelvic reconstructive surgery. This information can be used for preoperative counseling and risk stratification.