Body Mass Index 50 kg/m2 and Beyond: Perioperative Care of Pregnant Women With Superobesity Undergoing Cesarean Delivery

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus duodenal switch in patients with body mass index ≥50 kg/m2: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Currently, there is no consensus on the best bariatric surgery type for patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥50 kg/m2. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare outcomes of duodenal switch (DS) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in terms of weight loss, resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, and complications among patients with a BMI ≥50 kg/m2. A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to include studies that compared outcomes of DS and RYGB in patients with BMI ≥50 kg/m2. A meta-analysis was carried out, alongside subgroup analyses based on the type of study and duration of follow-up. Twelve articles were included in this study (2678 patients, follow-up: 1-15 years). Patients with DS had 7.31 kg/m2 higher BMI loss (95% CI: 5.59-9.03, P < .001) and 9.9% more total weight loss (95% CI: 4.47-15.28%, P < .001) compared with RYGB. The rate of complications, reoperation, mortality, and remission of comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea was not significantly different between DS and RYGB. Rate of malnutrition was 8.3% in the DS group compared with 1.2% in RYGB (OR: 5.53, 95% CI: 1.35-22.44, P = .02). In addition, 5.4% DS patients needed revisional surgery for malnutrition versus none in RYGB (OR: 6.1, 95% CI: 1.03-36.33, P = .05), and 24.6% of DS patients developed gallbladder disease needed cholecystectomy versus 4.5% after RYGB (OR: 6.36, 95% CI: 1.70-23.82, P = .01). DS leads to significantly higher BMI and total weight loss in patients with BMI ≥50 kg/m2 but may be associated with a higher rate of major malnutrition and needed revisional surgery. These should be considered in surgical planning.

Skin Incision Selection in Superobese Women Undergoing Cesarean Birth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine whether vertical versus transverse skin incision is associated with increased wound complications in superobese women undergoing cesarean.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study that included women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50 kg/m2 and a cesarean birth with documented skin incision type from 1/1/2008 to 12/31/2015 at a single academic medical center. The primary outcome was a composite of wound complications: infection requiring antibiotics including superficial cellulitis, deep and organ space infections requiring packing, vacuum placement or exploration and debridement in the operating room. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss (EBL), time from skin incision to delivery, need for classical or T-hysterotomy, prolonged hospital admission (>4 days), and a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes. The primary exposure was skin incision type, transverse or vertical. Modified Poisson regression variance was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

During the study period, 298 women underwent a cesarean with a known skin incision type. Vertical skin incision occurred in 25.8%. Women with a vertical skin incision were younger, had a higher BMI at delivery, had less weight gain in pregnancy, and were less likely to have labored prior to cesarean. Wound complications were not significantly more common in women with a vertical skin incision after adjusting for covariates (vertical 48.1 vs. transverse 29.4%, adjusted relative risk (aRR): 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-1.86). Compared with a transverse skin incision, vertical skin incision was associated with an increased risk for classical hysterotomy (67 vs. 17%, aRR: 2.96, 95% CI: 2.12-4.14), higher EBL, prolonged hospital stay, and composite neonatal morbidity. There were no statistically significant differences in the time from skin incision to delivery.

CONCLUSION

In superobese women, vertical skin incision was not associated with increased wound complications, but was associated with increased risk for classical hysterotomy.

KEY POINTS

· Vertical skin incision was not associated with a higher risk for composite wound morbidity after adjusting for covariates.. · Vertical skin incision was significantly associated with classical hysterotomy without associated decrease in incision to delivery time or neonatal morbidity.. · When selecting a skin incision approach in superobese women, clinicians should consider whether potential benefits outweigh known risks..

Pregnancy Care for Patients With Super Morbid Obesity

The patient with obesity represents unique challenges to the medical community and, in the setting of pregnancy, additional risks to both mother and fetus. This document will focus on the risks and considerations needed to care for the women with obesity and her fetus during the antepartum, intrapartum, and immediate postpartum stages of pregnancy. Specific attention will be given to pregnancy in the setting of class III and super morbid obesity.

Medications for Pregnant Women With Obesity: Special Considerations

Pregnant women with obesity are at increased risk of a multitude of complications of pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes. The risk of some of these complications, such as neural tube defects or preeclampsia, may be mitigated by some medications. Other complications, such as diabetes, venous thromboembolism, and infections, require treatment with medications. Given the changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during pregnancy, which is further enhanced by obesity, the optimal medication and its dose is often researched. This chapter further explores the different complications and common medications that women with obesity are likely to require.

Anesthetic Management of a Super Morbidly Obese Obstetric Patient With a Body Mass Index of 109 kg/m2 Presenting for Her Fourth Caesarean Delivery

Morbidly obese obstetric patients undergoing anesthesia present many unique challenges. Previous caesarean sections (CSs) further complicate their management. We present the successful anesthetic management of a super morbidly obese obstetric patient with body mass index (BMI) of 109 kg/m² who underwent her fourth CS. As per our review, this patient has the highest recorded BMI in the obstetric anesthesia literature.

A 27-year-old female, G4P3003, presented for fourth repeat CS at 38 weeks’ gestation. She had obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and type 2 diabetes. Her first CS was emergent under general anesthesia (GA), and the other two were performed under neuraxial anesthesia, with the most recent one complicated by intraoperative cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Preoperative preparation involved multidisciplinary preparation, planning, and risk stratification. Although neuraxial anesthesia is preferred over GA for CS, she refused neuraxial anesthesia due to her prior traumatic experience and the potential that it caused her prior cardiac arrest. In addition, her inability to position for a block or lay flat, poor anatomical landmarks, unknown length of surgery, plan for periumbilical incision, uncertain placental status, and risk of massive hemorrhage convinced us to consider GA. Surprisingly, her airway examination was reassuring. Two 18G peripheral intravenous lines and an arterial line were obtained prior to induction. With optimum patient positioning and preoxygenation, modified rapid sequence induction with mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy were performed. A healthy baby was delivered without significant intraoperative complications. Intraoperative lung-protective strategy with recruitment maneuvers, multimodal analgesia, and elective postoperative continuous positive airway pressure aided in successful extubation. Postoperatively, pulmonary toilet, early mobilization, physical therapy, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis were employed. Her postoperative course was complicated by severe preeclampsia and pulmonary embolism, which were managed successfully in the intensive care unit. She was discharged initially to outpatient rehabilitation followed by home. This case highlights the complexities and significance of an individualized approach in managing super morbidly obese obstetric patients.