title: Increased morbidity in combined abdominal sacrocolpopexy and abdominoplasty procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to determine whether abdominoplasty combined with abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC + A) increases perioperative morbidity compared with ASC alone. We hypothesized that patients undergoing combined procedures would have increased complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of all women undergoing ASC + A from 2002 to 2010 at Washington Hospital Center and Johns Hopkins University. We selected two women undergoing ASC alone for comparison with each ASC + A patient. Baseline demographics, surgical data, length of hospitalization, and perioperative complications were recorded. The primary outcome was any major complication within 6 weeks of surgery, including intraoperative complications, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), cardiac compromise, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, reoperation, and readmission. Surgical data and minor complications were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six ASC + A patients and 52 ASC patients were identified. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Patients with ASC + A had longer operating times (337 vs 261 min, p < 0.01), more intravenous fluid administration intraoperatively (4,665 vs 3181 ml, p < 0.01), and longer hospital stays (3.7 vs 2.7 days, p < 0.01). Major complications occurred in 23 % of the ASC + A group compared with 12 % of the ASC group (p = 0.20). The ASC + A group had greater declines in hematocrit levels and higher rates of PE, ICU admission, and blood transfusion, all of which were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASC + A increases length of stay and perioperative complications, such as PE, ICU admission, and blood transfusion, compared with ASC alone. Surgeons should consider recommending interval abdominoplasty due to increased morbidity risk with a combined procedure.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA. kate.v.meriwether@medstar.net
authors: K V
authors: KV
authors: Meriwether
authors: D D
authors: DD
authors: Antosh
authors: L R
authors: LR
authors: Knoepp
authors: C C G
authors: CC
authors: Chen
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mete
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Gutman
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D061645:Abdominoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors