The adverse and favorable obstetrical outcomes following bariatric surgery, retrospective study at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Obesity poses a substantial health burden globally, increasing the risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in reproductive-age females. This study aimed to investigate the impact of bariatric surgery on adverse maternal outcomes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2020 and 2023. The study included 48 out of 438 individuals aged 18-45, who underwent bariatric surgery and subsequently became pregnant. Exclusion criteria comprised patients with primary endometriosis, family history of infertility, uterine fibroids, endometrial tuberculosis, or incomplete data. Data related to the first pregnancy after bariatric surgery were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 48 females studied, pregnancy complications included maternal anemia (54.2%), vitamin D insufficiency (35.4%), gestational diabetes (8.3%), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (4.2%). Modes of delivery comprised spontaneous vaginal delivery (62.5%), miscarriage (33.3%), and cesarean section (22.9%). The mean number of pregnancies after bariatric surgery was 1.58 ± 0.89, the mean age of patients after the first child's birth post-bariatric surgery was 33.31 ± 5.54 years, the mean duration between bariatric surgery and conception was 4.05 ± 2.49 years, and the mean weight before pregnancy and weight gain during pregnancy were 67.69 ± 15.55 kg and 10.74 ± 683 kg, respectively. The mean weeks of gestation were 37.4 ± 4.51. Conclusion: This study highlights a significant relationship between bariatric surgery and the duration of conception. However, no significant association was observed between the type of bariatric surgery and pregnancy complications, mode of delivery, or outcome of the first pregnancy post-surgery. Further research is warranted to investigate the heterogeneity of bariatric surgeries by comparing their types and their effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.