Incidence and risk factors for surgical wound complications in women with body mass index >30 kg/m2 following cesarean delivery: a secondary analysis

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Gillespie, BM
Ellwood, D
Thalib, L
Kumar, S
Mahomed, K
Kang, E
Chaboyer, W
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2022
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical wound complications are common and occur in between 3% and 12% of obese women after cesarean delivery. An understanding of the risk factors for wound complications may inform potential areas for clinical care improvement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the incidence and predictors of surgical wound complications in obese women after cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of the ADding negative pRESSure to improve healING, or DRESSING, randomized controlled trial conducted at 4 maternity hospitals in Australia. A total of 2035 women with a prepregnancy body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 undergoing cesarean delivery were included. Data were collected between October 2015 and December 2019 using self-reporting of signs and symptoms, the research nurses’ direct observation of the surgical site, and medical records. Independent blinded outcome assessors ascertained wound outcomes on the basis of self-reported data and medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for wound complications and surgical wound dehiscence. The 30-day cumulative incidence of wound complications and surgical wound dehiscence was calculated. RESULTS: Of the 2035 women, 317 (15.6%) developed a wound complication, whereas 211 (10.4%) developed surgical wound dehiscence. The predictors of a wound complication included 1 previous cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.90; P=.02) and ruptured membranes >12 hours (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.66; P=.02). The odds of developing any wound complication decreased by 45% with vaginal cleansing (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.72; P<.001) and by 59% for low transverse incision (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.18–0.94; P=.04). The predictors of surgical wound dehiscence included 1 previous cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–2.31; P=.008) and ruptured membranes >12 hours (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–3.12; P=.02). The odds of developing surgical wound dehiscence decreased by 50% for vaginal cleansing (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.36–0.69; P<.001) and by 42% for using a double-layer uterine closure (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.97; P=.04). CONCLUSION: Wound complications and surgical wound dehiscence in this population are high. The predictors observed herein would assist in identifying high-risk women. Such information may guide patient-centered decision-making in the planning of surgical births and individualized postoperative care.

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AJOG Global Reports

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2

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3

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© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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Obstetrics and gynaecology

cesarean delivery

cumulative incidence

obesity

predictor

wound breakdown

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Gillespie, BM; Ellwood, D; Thalib, L; Kumar, S; Mahomed, K; Kang, E; Chaboyer, W, Incidence and risk factors for surgical wound complications in women with body mass index >30 kg/m2 following cesarean delivery: a secondary analysis, AJOG Global Reports, 2022, 2 (3), pp. 100069-