title: Perioperative complications in obese women vs normal-weight women who undergo vaginal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of perioperative complications in obese and normal-weight patients who undergo vaginal urogynecologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for obese patients (body mass index, > or = 30 kg/m2) who underwent vaginal surgery and who were matched with patients with normal body mass indices (> 18.5 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2) by surgical procedures. Demographic information, comorbidities, and perioperative (< or = 6 weeks) complications were documented. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the incidence of perioperative complications and to adjust for baseline differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred forty-two patients underwent vaginal surgery during the study period; 235 women were considered to have obese body mass indices. We matched 194 of these patients with normal-weight control subjects. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of subjects who had at least 1 perioperative complication (20% [obese] vs 15% [nonobese]). However, obese subjects were more likely to have an operative site infection (adjusted odds ratio, 5.5; [95% CI, 1.7-24.7]; P = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall perioperative complication rate in obese and nonobese women is low, with obesity as an independent risk factor for the development of operative site infections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Chi Chiung Grace
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Allison K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Marie Fidela R
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Paraiso
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*