The Impact of Obesity on Hospital Length of Stay and Post-operative Complications after Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery: an Analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database

Abstract

Background: The transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary, using endoscopic or microscopic techniques, is associated with decreased morbidity compared with traditional craniotomies. Most published series demonstrate that serious complications are rare and that mortality rates are less than 1 percent. Obesity and its associated comorbidities can adversely affect perioperative outcomes and may predispose patients to increased risk of complications. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) is a nationally validated, risk-adjusted database that tracks surgical outcomes with the goal of improving patient outcomes and safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on hospital length of stay, return to operating room and post-operative medical complications using the NSQIP database.