Incidence of obesity in parturients scheduled for caesarean section, intra-operative complications, management and outcome
Edomwonyi, N.P.; Osaigbovo, P.E.
East African Medical Journal 83(4): 112-119
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 16863007 Document Number: 598925
Objectives: To determine the incidence of obesity in parturients scheduled for Caesarean section, identify intra-operative complications, management and outcome. Design: A prospective observational study, conducted between June 2004 and June 2005. Setting: University of Benin Teaching Hospital, a university-affiliated tertiary centre. Subjects: Parturients scheduled for Caesarean section excluding patients in American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) health status 4 and 5. Results: 300 patients were recruited in the study. 148 (49.3%) were non-obese (BMI <30 kgm2) while 152 (50.7%) were obese (BMI >30 kgm-2). The incidence of obesity was extremely significant P<0.0001, t=19.721 and 95% C.I.=11.998--9.820. Twenty four percent of the obese and 6% of the non-obese parturients had intercurrent medical diseases. 40.5% of the non-obese parturients had general anaesthesia while 13.1% of the obese parturients were offered general anaesthesia. The incidence of intra-operative complications was higher in the obese group. P<0.0001; extremely significant. Odds ratio=3.647; 95% CI of 2.0007-6.626. The most common complications were hypotension (n=14), shivering (n=12) and inadequate anaesthesia (n=8). Conclusion: There is a high incidence of obesity in parturients. This group of patients constitutes a high risk group in obstetric anaesthesia. The incidence of complications was higher in the obese than in the non-obese.