Incidence of Complications Associated With Anesthesia in Obesity Parturient Undergoing Cesarean Delivery- a Retrospective Review

The incidence of obesity parturient has been increasing worldwide. There was a report revealing one third of pregnant women in United state considered obesity.

Obesity is associated with increased in maternal and neonatal complications. Also, there was an increasing in the rate of cesarean delivery. Anesthetic management of the obese parturient is differ from non-obese parturients. There were higher risk of difficult intubation and difficult regional anesthesia such as spinal anesthesia or epidural catheter placement comparing with non-obese parturient.

WHO categorised obesity into 3 classification; grade 1: BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2, grade 2: BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2, grade 3: BMI > 40 kg/m2. This study emphasised in grade 3 obese pregnant women (BMI>40 kg/m2) undergoing cesarean delivery that were at risk of increasing in anesthetic complications such as airway complications as well as complications derived from regional anesthesia eg. high spinal block, failed spinal block etc.

Therefore, the primary objective of the study is to report complication associated with anesthesia in obese patients undergoing cesarean delivery in Single University hospital, Bangkok, THAILAND. The secondary objectives rate of postpartum haemorrhage, rate of hysterectomy and neonatal outcomes.