Is Obesity Associated With Increased Post-operative Wound Site Infection?

Abstract

Objective: To find out infection frequency in obese and non-obese patients in abdominal
surgeries.
Methods:This descriptive case series evaluated the wound infection in obese verses non obese
patients in abdominal surgeries of Gulab Devi Chest Hospital Lahore and general hospital Lahore
in six months from October 2016 to Feburary 2017. Questionnaire was made and filled with the
help of patients. Inclusion creteria were all indoor patient of post operative abdominal surgeries,
15 to 87 years age and both gender. Calculated sample size was 128 patients. Data was collected
and SPSS was used for analysis. Patients were divided in two groups. Size of each group was 64.
Infection rate was determined in each group.
Results:128 patients were included in this prospective descriptive study. Of the 128 patients,
50(39.06%) were males and 78(60.94%) were females. Mean age of patients was 37.95± 13.916
years. Overall infection rate was 39.84 %(51 patients). There were 28 (21.88%) infected cases in
obese group while 23 (17.97%) patients were infected among non-obese patients.
Conclusions: Obesity alone is considered to be a risk factor for wound infection, more surgical
blood loss and a longer operation time. A tendency to regard obesity as a major risk factor in
general surgery is not justified. Risk of infection is slightly higher in obese patients but not
significant.