Wound Complications Due to Obesity in the Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Ammar Rasool,Umair Ahmed Khan,Khalid Masood Gondal,Yar Muhammad

doi:10.21649/akemu.v23i1.1501

Ammar Rasool, Umair Ahmed Khan + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21649/akemu.v23i1.1501

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Abstract

Various factors may affect the outcome of patients in perioperative period. Obesity is considered as one of these factors which increases the risk of perioperative complications. The wound complications in obese and non-obese are different.Objective: The objective of the study was to compare wound complications in obese and non-obese patients undergoing abdominal surgery.Methods: This comparative study was conducted from 01- 05-2012 to 30-04-2015 on 140 patients in the department of surgery, Mayo Hospital Lahore. All these patients were divided into two groups of 70 patients each. Group A (obese) and B (nonobese) on the basis of body mass index. The patients of age less than 12 years, peritonitis, diabetes mellitus, jaundice, renal failure, coagulation disorder were excluded in both groups. All the patients had open and laparoscopic surgery by the consultant on elective list. The operative and postoperative findings and outcome in term of wound complications like wound infection, dehiscence, seroma, hernia, were noted.Results: All the140 patients were divided into group A (obese) and B (non obese) of 70 patients each. The age ranged from 17 to 58 years and males were common (50.8%) than females (49.2%). In group A, body mass index varied from 31.9kg m-2 to 39.08kg m-2 and in group B from 19.3kg m-2 to 23.2kg m-2. The complications in group A were wound infection in 18, dehiscence in 5, seroma in 13, and hernia 4 patients. While in group B, the complications were wound infection in 3, seroma in 5, no dehiscence and incisional hernia in one patient. The results showed that early and late wound complications are more in obese patients.Conclusion: The wound complications are significantly associated with obesity in patients undergoing abdominal surgery and are more in obese than in non obese patients.

Highlights

Obesity is one of the comorbid conditions which can affect the operative and postoperative outcome of patients undergoing surgery.[1]
The results showed that early and late wound complications are more in obese patients
The wound complications are significantly associated with obesity in patients undergoing abdominal surgery and are more in obese than in non obese patients

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is one of the comorbid conditions which can affect the operative and postoperative outcome of patients undergoing surgery.[1] It is better expressed by body mass index (BMI). Body mass index of less than 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and more than 30 is obesity.[2] The distribution of body fat between visceral and non visceral compartments and within different subcutaneous areas is important clinically. Both the central and peripheral types of obesity are associated with surgical complications.[3,4]

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