Effect of obesity on outcomes after breast reconstruction surgery, an analysis of national surgical quality improvement program.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and may affect the incidence, and outcomes of surgical treatment for breast cancer, including breast reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of breast reconstruction in patients with obesity. METHODS: In a retrospective review of the NSQIP 2013-2018, adult patients who underwent breast reconstruction were included. Procedures were categorized to with or without an implant. Obesity was considered as body mass index(BMI)≥30 kg/m2. We made composite variables for 30-day any complication, wound complications, and major complications. Regression analysis was used to identify the independent effect of obesity on outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 46,042 patients were included(mean age 51.4 ± 11.1 years, 99.8% female). There were 3134(6.8%) patients with any complication, 2429(5.3%) with major, and 2772(6%) with wound complications, 2795 patients(6.1%) with unplanned re-operation, and 3 deaths. Obesity was an independent predictor of any complication, major complications, and wound complications(OR:1.83-1.87), and unplanned re-operation(OR:1.52). Wound complication was lower in the implant group(3.7% vs 10.9%) but obesity had a higher odds of wound complications in the implant group(2 vs 1.4). There was an increase in the odds of complications as BMI rises. CONCLUSION: Patients with a BMI>30 kg/m2 have a significantly higher risk of developing surgical complications following breast reconstruction with both implant and tissue reconstruction. Weight loss strategies should be considered in patients who need breast reconstruction surgeries and this may decrease the risk of postoperative wound complication and the need for reoperation.

Postoperative sepsis after primary bariatric surgery: an analysis of MBSAQIP.

BACKGROUND: Identifying patients at higher risk of postoperative sepsis (PS) may help to prevent this life-threatening complication. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the rate and predictors of PS after primary bariatric surgery. SETTING: An analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) 2015-2017. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) were included. Exclusion criteria were revisional, endoscopic, and uncommon, or investigational procedures. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of organ/space surgical site infection (OS-SSI), and patients who developed sepsis were compared with patients who did not develop sepsis in each cohort. Logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of PS. RESULTS: In total, 438,752 patients were included (79.4% female, mean age 44.6±12 years). Of those, 661 patients (.2%) developed PS of which 245 (37.1%) developed septic shock. Out of 892 patients with organ/space surgical site infections (OS-SSI), 298 (45.1%) developed sepsis (P <.001). Patients who developed PS had higher mortality (8.8% versus .1%, P < .001), and this was highest in patients without OS-SSI (11.8% versus 5%, P = .002). The main infectious complications associated with PS in patients without OS-SSI were pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Independent predictors of PS in OS-SSI included RYGB versus SG (OR, 1.8), and age ≥50 years (OR, 1.4). Independent predictors of PS in patients without OS-SSI were conversion to other approaches (OR, 6), operation length >2 hours (OR, 5.7), preoperative dialysis (OR, 4.1), preoperative therapeutic anticoagulation (OR, 2.8), limited ambulation most or all of the time (OR, 2.4), preoperative venous stasis (OR, 2.4), previous nonbariatric foregut surgery (OR, 2), RYGB versus SG (OR, 2), hypertension on medication (OR, 1.5), body mass index ≥50 kg/m2(OR, 1.4), age ≥50 years (OR, 1.3), obstructive sleep apnea (OR, 1.3). CONCLUSION: Development of OS-SSI after primary bariatric surgery is associated with sepsis and increased 30-day mortality. Patients without OS-SSI who develop PS have a significantly higher mortality rate compared with patients with OS-SSI who develop PS. Early identification and intervention in patients with PS, including those without OS-SSI, may improve survival in this high-risk group.