Obesity and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Open Lower Extremity Revascularization Procedures

Abstract

Prior research has shown conflicting results when looking at the relationship between obesity and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lower extremity vascular surgeries. There are some data to suggest that obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2, correlates with postoperative wound infection and hospital length of stay (LOS), but not mortality or major adverse limb event (MALE). We sought to identify the maximal BMI cutoff point for stratifying patients by mortality risk and to investigate the relationship between obesity and mortality, MALE, LOS, and postoperative wound infection in patients undergoing open lower extremity revascularization procedures.