Abdominal wall reconstruction in the obese: an assessment of complications from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets

Abstract Background This study utilizes the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to better understand the impact of obesity on perioperative surgical morbidity in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Methods We reviewed the 2005 to 2010 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases, identifying cases of AWR and examining early complications in the context of obesity (body mass index > 30, World Health Organization classes 1 to 3). Results Of 1,695 patients undergoing AWR, 1,078 (63.2%) patients were obese (mean body mass index = 37.6 kg/m2 ). Major surgical complications (15.3% vs 10.1%, P = .003), wound complications (12.5% vs 8.1%, P = .006), medical complications (16.2% vs 11.2%, P = .005) and return to the operating room (9.1% vs 5.4%, P = .006) were significantly increased, while renal complications (1.9% vs .8%, P = .09) neared significance. On logistic regression, obesity only directly led to a significantly increased odds of having a renal complication (odds ratio = 4.4, P = .04). Complications were still noted to increase with World Health Organization classification, including a concerning incidence of venous thromboembolism. Conclusions Although the incidence of complications increased with obesity, obesity itself does not appear to increase the odds of perioperative morbidity. Specific care should be given to VTE prophylaxis and to preventing renal complications.