Does obesity affect the vaginal hysterectomy outcomes?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of obesity on the perioperative outcomes in women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy for benign disorders at Temple University from January 1997 to December 2002, perioperative indices were compared between 149 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) and 175 non-obese women (BMI < 30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: The groups were similar with respect to age, parity, uterine weight, race, surgical indication, and previous pelvic surgery. Among medical conditions, hypertension and diabetes were significantly more common in obese women. Conversion to laparotomy occurred at similar rates in both obese (3.3%) and non-obese (5.7%) women. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the operative time, length of hospital stay, transfusion rate, perioperative hemoglobin change, and perioperative complications (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obesity does not affect the perioperative outcomes and surgical complications of vaginal hysterectomy.