Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the safety of opportunistic panniculectomy during cesarean section. The current recommendation is not to perform additional procedures during cesarean section.
Study Design: Seventy patients were included into the study. Twenty-six patients with truncal obesity underwent opportunistic panniculectomy (study group), and 44 served as controls. The following postsurgical outcomes were included into the analysis: fever, presence of seromas, hematomas, and wound dehiscence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20.0.
Results: Frequency of postpartum fever was 27% in the study group vs. 20% in the control group. Seromas were present in 14% vs. 11% respectively; hematomas, 8.6% vs. 6.5%, respectively; and wound dehiscence was 16.4% vs. 8%, respectively.
Conclusion: Performance of panniculectomy as a part of cesarean section does not appear to increase postsurgical complications in patients with truncal obesity.
Audience take-away:
- Benefits and risks of opportunistic panniculectomy during cesarean section.
- Panniculectomy as a surgical approach to truncal obesity.
