Association of body mass index with surgical complications after minimally invasive hysterectomy.

206,944 patients met the inclusion criteria and comprise the study cohort (Fig.  1 ), of which 1315 (0.6%) were underweight, 46,209 (22.3%) normal weight, 58,945 (28.5%) overweight, 46,687 (22.6%) obesity class I, 28,307 (13.7%) obesity class II, and 25,481 (12.3%) obesity class III. Fig. 1 Study population. NSQIP, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study population. NSQIP, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Mean age was 46.3 years (Table  1 ). Those with larger BMIs were more likely to identify as Black (21.0% class III obesity versus 6.2% of normal weight individuals) and less likely to identify as Asian (0.6% class III obesity versus 6.3% of normal weight individuals). Participants in the underweight category were more likely to be smokers (30.7% underweight, 17.0% normal weight) and have a lower preoperative hematocrit (28.2 underweight, 30.97 class III obesity) than those in higher BMI categories. Diabetes, chronic hypertension, and ASA classification of class III/IV were more common in the higher BMI categories compared to those who were underweight or normal weight. Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients according to body mass index categories Underweight < 18.5 ( n  = 1315) Normal BMI 18.5–24.9 ( n  = 46,209) Overweight 25–29.9 ( n  = 58,945) Obesity Class 1 30–34.9 ( n  = 46,687) Obesity Class 2 35–39.9 ( n  = 28,307) Obesity Class 3  ≥ 40.0 ( n  = 25,481) p value Age, years 44.93 (12.57) 46.62 (10.82) 46.93 (10.32) 46.23 (9.79) 45.53 (9.33) 45.29 (9.59)  < 0.001 Race  < 0.001  White 963 (73.2) 33,057 (71.5) 40,394 (68.5) 31,183 (66.8) 18,719 (66.1) 17,109 (67.1)  Black 82 (6.2) 2802 (6.1) 6766 (11.5) 7519 (16.1) 5453 (19.3) 5358 (21.0) Asian 92 (7.0) 2891 (6.3) 2129 (3.6) 889 (1.9) 322 (1.1) 158 (0.6) American Indian or Alaska Native 4 (0.3) 181 (0.4) 326 (0.6) 317 (0.7) 215 (0.8) 197 (0.8) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 (0.2) 156 (0.3) 265 (0.4) 250 (0.5) 159 (0.6) 126 (0.5) Unknown 171 (13.0) 7122 (15.4) 9065 (15.4) 6529 (14.0) 3439 (12.1) 2533 (9.9) Hispanic 68 (5.9) 3336 (8.4) 6891 (13.5) 5763 (14.0) 2930 (11.6) 2262 (9.8)  < 0.001 Smoking 404 (30.7) 7851 (17.0) 9402 (16.0) 7597 (16.3) 4646 (16.4) 3944 (15.5)  < 0.001 Diabetes 21 (1.6) 976 (2.1) 2725 (4.6) 3664 (7.8) 3202 (11.3) 4269 (16.8)  < 0.001 Chronic hypertension 139 (10.6) 5188 (11.2) 11,273 (19.1) 12,442 (26.6) 9319 (32.9) 10,658 (41.8)  < 0.001 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 30 (2.3) 291 (0.6) 357 (0.6) 315 (0.7) 255 (0.9) 321 (1.3) 0.001 Immunosuppressive therapy 23 (1.7) 716 (1.5) 857 (1.5) 716 (1.5) 499 (1.8) 464 (1.8)  < 0.001 Bleeding disorders 10 (0.8) 284 (0.6) 385 (0.7) 336 (0.7) 245 (0.9) 297 (1.2)  < 0.001 Preoperative hematocrit level, % 28.20 (37.72) 28.97 (36.35) 29.59 (35.23) 30.26 (34.09) 30.27 (33.85) 30.97 (32.36)  < 0.001 ASA classification III/IV 208 (15.8) 4139 (9.0) 6529 (11.1) 7785 (16.7) 8337 (29.5) 16,141 (63.4)  < 0.001 Preoperative blood transfusion 2 (0.2) 97 (0.2) 133 (0.2) 110 (0.2) 79 (0.3) 79 (0.3) 0.086 BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) or mean (Standard deviation) Baseline characteristics of patients according to body mass index categories BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) or mean (Standard deviation) Indications for hysterectomy differed across BMI categories with endometriosis/adenomyosis/pelvic pain being more common in the underweight (22.1%) and normal BMI (17.2%) compared to the obese populations (14.6% class III) (Table  2 ). Abnormal uterine bleeding was a more common indication for the procedure in the class III obesity cohort (35.1%) than those in the normal weight (23.0%) and underweight categories (20.0%). Pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence was a more common surgical indication in the normal weight group (10.0%) than those with class III obesity (2.1%). Table 2 Surgical characteristics of patients according to body mass index categories Underweight < 18.5 ( n  = 1315) Normal BMI 18.5–24.9 ( n  = 46,209) Overweight 25–29.9 ( n  = 58,945) Obesity Class 1 30–34.9 ( n  = 46,687) Obesity Class 2 35–39.9 ( n  = 28,307) Obesity Class 3  ≥ 40.0 ( n  = 25,481) p value Surgical indication a  < 0.001  Uterine fibroids 309 (23.5) 13,818 (29.9) 18,405 (31.2) 14,509 (31.1) 8492 (30.0) 6964 (27.3) Endometriosis/adenomyosis/pelvic pain 291 (22.1) 7926 (17.2) 9217 (15.6) 7329 (15.7) 4550 (16.1) 3726 (14.6) Pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence 82 (6.2) 4643 (10.0) 5878 (10.0) 3381 (7.2) 1290 (4.6) 526 (2.1) Abnormal uterine bleeding 263 (20.0) 10,621 (23.0) 15,194 (25.8) 13,357 (28.6) 8982 (31.7) 8940 (35.1) Other indications 370 (28.1) 9201 (19.9) 10,251 (17.4) 8111 (17.4) 4993 (17.6) 5325 (20.9) Surgical approach  < 0.001 Total hysterectomy 1208 (91.9) 41,209 (89.2) 52,995 (89.9) 42,645 (91.3) 26,307 (92.9) 23,906 (93.8) Supracervical hysterectomy 107 (8.1) 5000 (10.8) 5950 (10.1) 4042 (8.7) 2000 (7.1) 1575 (6.2) Uterine weight > 250 g 136 (10.3) 7788 (16.9) 10,789 (18.3) 8722 (18.7) 5337 (18.9) 4997 (19.6)  < 0.001 Concomitant procedures performed during hysterectomy  Fulguration/excision of ovarian lesions, pelvic viscera, or peritoneal surface 58 (4.4) 1895 (4.1) 2101 (3.6) 1537 (3.3) 930 (3.3) 779 (3.1)  < 0.001  Lysis of adhesions 48 (3.7) 1722 (3.7) 2498 (4.2) 2216 (4.7) 1565 (5.5) 1487 (5.8)  < 0.001  Bladder surgery 56 (4.3) 3087 (6.7) 4353 (7.4) 3117 (6.7) 1642 (5.8) 1147 (4.5)  < 0.001  Ureter procedure 11 (0.8) 356 (0.8) 418 (0.7) 288 (0.6) 180 (0.6) 187 (0.7) 0.063  Ureterolysis 7 (0.5) 207 (0.4) 266 (0.5) 210 (0.4) 136 (0.5) 96 (0.4) 0.580  Appendectomy 14 (1.1) 314 (0.7) 328 (0.6) 191 (0.4) 116 (0.4) 88 (0.3)  < 0.001  Intestinal surgery with enterotomy 8 (0.6) 266 (0.6) 341 (0.6) 323 (0.7) 190 (0.7) 215 (0.8)  < 0.001  Intestinal surgery without enterotomy 33 (2.5) 1140 (2.5) 1653 (2.8) 1329 (2.8) 934 (3.3) 927 (3.6)  < 0.001  Ovarian cystectomy/drainage 1 (0.1) 78 (0.2) 95 (0.2) 80 (0.2) 51 (0.2) 35 (0.1) 0.788  Colpopexy or vaginopexy 78 (5.9) 4193 (9.1) 5189 (8.8) 3133 (6.7) 1311 (4.6) 687 (2.7)  < 0.001  Colporrhaphy 43 (3.3) 2576 (5.6) 3403 (5.8) 2092 (4.5) 955 (3.4) 541 (2.1)  < 0.001  Conversion to laparotomy b 1 (0.1) 66 (0.1) 90 (0.2) 89 (0.2) 70 (0.2) 59 (0.2) 0.003  Contaminated or dirty/infected wound class 18 (1.4) 304 (0.7) 400 (0.7) 313 (0.7) 179 (0.6) 187 (0.7) 0.039  Total operative time, minutes 115.15 (53.08) 127.92 (63.33) 132.27 (64.55) 135.20 (65.09) 137.96 (65.51) 144.50 (67.04)  < 0.001  Hospital length of stay, days 0.94 (3.62) 0.84 (2.60) 0.87 (2.53) 0.87 (3.56) 0.89 (2.28) 0.94 (3.48) 0.001 BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) or mean (standard deviation) a Based on postoperative diagnosis b Based on concurrent exploratory laparotomy or abdominal hysterectomy CPT code Surgical characteristics of patients according to body mass index categories BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) or mean (standard deviation) a Based on postoperative diagnosis b Based on concurrent exploratory laparotomy or abdominal hysterectomy CPT code Fulguration/excision of ovarian lesions/pelvic viscera or peritoneal surfaces and appendectomy were more common in the normal weight category (fulguration 4.1%, appendectomy 0.7% normal weight; fulguration 3.1%, appendectomy 0.3% class III obesity). Lysis of adhesions was more common in class III obesity (3.7% normal BMI, 5.8% class III obesity). There were higher rates of colpopexy/vaginopexy and colporrhaphy in the normal BMI category compared to the class III obesity category (9.1% colpopexy/vaginopexy, 5.6% colporrhaphy normal BMI; 2.7% colpopexy/vaginopexy, 2.1% colporrhaphy class III). Rate of conversion to laparotomy was low (mean 0.12%) across groups, but statistically higher in the BMI class II group compared to normal BMI and overweight ( p  < 0.05). The mean operative time was significantly longer in higher BMI cohorts with the longest average operating time being 144.5 min in the class III obesity cohort and the shortest mean operative time in the underweight category at 115.2 min. In post hoc analysis, a statistically significant difference was found between each BMI group and all other BMI groups ( p  < 0.001). Table 3 displays the rate of postoperative complications in different BMI categories. Those with class III obesity were more likely to have any surgical complication (8.1% class III, 6.5% normal BMI) and minor surgical complications (5.8% class III, 4.2% normal BMI) compared to the normal BMI group ( p  < 0.005). Major complications were similar between patients with BMI class III (2.9%) and patients with normal BMI (2.8%). Superficial surgical site incision rate increased from the normal BMI group to BMI class III group, with class II and III having statistically more occurrences compared to the normal, overweight, and BMI class I groups ( p  < 0.05). The rate of reoperation was highest in the normal BMI category (1.4% normal weight, 1.0% class III obesity). The rate of sepsis was highest in the class III obesity category (0.5% class III, 0.3% normal weight). Table 3 Postoperative complications of patients according to body mass index categories Underweight < 18.5 (n = 1315) Normal BMI 18.5–24.9 ( n  = 46,209) Overweight 25–29.9 ( n  = 58,945) Obesity Class 1 30–34.9 ( n  = 46,687) Obesity Class 2 35–39.9 ( n  = 28,307) Obesity Class 3  ≥ 40.0 ( n  = 25,481) p value Any complication 87 (6.6) 2986 (6.5) 3705 (6.3) 3009 (6.4) 2042 (7.2) 2058 (8.1)  < 0.001 Any major complication 37 (2.8) 1302 (2.8) 1467 (2.5) 1184 (2.5) 743 (2.6) 747 (2.9) 0.001 Any minor complication 62 (4.7) 1926 (4.2) 2503 (4.2) 2056 (4.4) 1411 (5.0) 1472 (5.8)  < 0.001 Minor complication Transfusion 22 (1.7) 519 (1.1) 622 (1.1) 454 (1.0) 334 (1.2) 313 (1.2) 0.003 Superficial surgical site infection 15 (1.1) 373 (0.8) 542 (0.9) 498 (1.1) 397 (1.4) 493 (1.9)  < 0.001 Urinary tract infection 24 (1.8) 1041 (2.3) 1348 (2.3) 1116 (2.4) 692 (2.4) 676 (2.7) 0.007 Renal insufficiency 1 (0.1) 2 (0.0) 4 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 8 (0.0)  < 0.001 Pneumonia 0 (0.0) 31 (0.1) 54 (0.1) 49 (0.1) 38 (0.1) 42 (0.2) 0.001 Major complication Organ space surgical site infection 19 (1.4) 497 (1.1) 609 (1.0) 509 (1.1) 342 (1.2) 335 (1.3) 0.004 Deep incisional surgical site infection 1 (0.1) 65 (0.1) 75 (0.1) 54 (0.1) 49 (0.2) 44 (0.2) 0.203 Wound dehiscence 2 (0.2) 105 (0.2) 110 (0.2) 103 (0.2) 51 (0.2) 74 (0.3) 0.048 Pulmonary embolism 0 (0.0) 75 (0.2) 105 (0.2) 93 (0.2) 55 (0.2) 56 (0.2) 0.290 Cardiac arrest 0 (0.0) 6 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 9 (0.0) 10 (0.0) 4 (0.0) 0.101 Myocardial infarction 0 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 16 (0.0) 8 (0.0) 8 (0.0) 7 (0.0) 0.404 Cerebrovascular accident 0 (0.0) 8 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 2 (0.0) 6 (0.0) 0.412 Deep venous thromboembolism 2 (0.2) 52 (0.1) 54 (0.1) 56 (0.1) 38 (0.1) 35 (0.1) 0.401 Ventilation > 48 h 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) NA Sepsis 4 (0.3) 133 (0.3) 168 (0.3) 160 (0.3) 101 (0.4) 117 (0.5) 0.001 Septic shock 1 (0.1) 12 (0.0) 12 (0.0) 13 (0.0) 11 (0.0) 15 (0.1) 0.062 Reoperation 17 (1.3) 661 (1.4) 668 (1.1) 505 (1.1) 294 (1.0) 263 (1.0)  < 0.001 Reintubation 0 (0.0) 16 (0.0) 17 (0.0) 22 (0.0) 20 (0.1) 15 (0.1) 0.059 Progressive renal insufficiency 1 (0.1) 14 (0.0) 20 (0.0) 13 (0.0) 8 (0.0) 12 (0.0) 0.704 Death 0 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 6 (0.0) 6 (0.0) 5 (0.0) 6 (0.0) 0.672 BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) Postoperative complications of patients according to body mass index categories BMI, body mass index Data are n (%) Table 4 demonstrates multivariable regression analyses of factors associated with postoperative complications. When comparing those with lower BMI and higher BMI, there was a statistically significant increase in any complications [< / ≥ BMI 35.0, aOR 95% CI 1.06 (1.01–1.10)] and minor complications [< / ≥ BMI 35.2, aOR 95% CI 1.13 (1.07–1.19)] in the higher BMI group. Table 4 Multivariable regression analysis of factors associated with postoperative complications Any complications a (aOR, 95% CI) p value Major complications b (aOR, 95% CI) p value Minor complications c (aOR, 95% CI) p value Lower BMI b Reference Reference Reference Higher BMI 1.06 (1.01–1.10) 0.017 0.96 (0.88–1.04) 0.320 1.13 (1.07–1.19)  < 0.001 BMI groups Normal BMI (18.5–24.9) Reference Reference Reference Underweight (< 18.5) 1.04 (0.82–1.32) 0.748 0.93 (0.67–1.30) 0.670 1.18 (0.89–1.56) 0.242 Overweight (25–29.9) 0.97 (0.92–1.02) 0.219 0.87 (0.80–0.93)  < 0.001 1.02 (0.96–1.09) 0.547 Obesity Class 1 (30–34.9) 0.94 (0.89–1.00) 0.050 0.84 (0.77–0.91)  < 0.001 1.01 (0.94–1.09) 0.761 Obesity Class 2 (35–39.9) 1.01 (0.95–1.08) 0.764 0.82 (0.75–0.90)  < 0.001 1.12 (1.03–1.21) 0.006 Obesity Class 3 (≥ 40.0) 1.04 (0.97–1.12) 0.316 0.83 (0.75–0.91)  < 0.001 1.17 (1.08–1.28)  < 0.001 BMI, body mass index a Adjusted for: age, race, ethnicity, tobacco use, diabetes, chronic hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ASA classification III/IV, preoperative blood transfusion, surgical indication, hysterectomy type, uterine weight, concomitant surgical procedures b Adjusted for: age, race, tobacco use, diabetes, chronic hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ASA classification III/IV, preoperative blood transfusion, surgical indication, hysterectomy type, uterine weight, concomitant surgical procedures c Kolmogorov–Smirnov test—any complications—35.0, major complications—39.44, minor complication—35.16 Multivariable regression analysis of factors associated with postoperative complications BMI, body mass index a Adjusted for: age, race, ethnicity, tobacco use, diabetes, chronic hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ASA classification III/IV, preoperative blood transfusion, surgical indication, hysterectomy type, uterine weight, concomitant surgical procedures b Adjusted for: age, race, tobacco use, diabetes, chronic hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ASA classification III/IV, preoperative blood transfusion, surgical indication, hysterectomy type, uterine weight, concomitant surgical procedures c Kolmogorov–Smirnov test—any complications—35.0, major complications—39.44, minor complication—35.16 When comparing specific classes of obesity to the normal BMI group, there was no longer an increase in any complications seen with higher BMI. Compared to normal BMI, all other BMI groups except the underweight group had lower risks of major complications [overweight- aOR 95% CI 0.87 (0.80–0.93), class I 0.84 (0.77–0.91), class II 0.82 (0.75–0.90), class III 0.83 (0.75–0.91)]. Compared to normal BMI, BMI class II and III had higher risks of minor complications [class II- aOR 95% CI 1.12 (1.03–1.21), class III 1.17 (1.08–1.28)].

This was a cohort study of prospectively collected data from the NSQIP database of LH cases performed between the years 2012 and 2020. The NSQIP database is a comprehensive, validated database that includes data from approximately 700 participating hospitals [ 17 ]. It consists of over 150 variables, collected prospectively, and includes preoperative characteristics, intraoperative factors, and 30-day postoperative outcomes inpatient and outpatient major surgical procedures. We included hysterectomies performed laparoscopically, including total laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomies (CPT codes 58,570, 58,571, 58,572, 58,573), laparoscopic/robotic supracervical hysterectomies (CPT codes 58,541, 58,542, 58,543, 58,544), and laparoscopic/robotic assisted vaginal hysterectomies (CPT codes 58,550, 58,552, 58,553, 58,554). As robotic surgery is not reported separately from laparoscopic surgery in the NSQIP database, both approaches were included as LHs. VHs and AHs were excluded unless AH was classified as a secondary procedure, in which case it was defined as a conversion to laparotomy. In addition, we excluded cases with missing BMI data, non-elective surgeries, concurrent malignancies, or hysterectomies performed for malignancy, and cases with preoperative sepsis or congestive heart failure. Patients were categorized into clinically relevant BMI subgroups according to the World Health Organization (WHO): underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal BMI (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m 2 ), obesity class 1 (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m 2 ), obesity class 2 (BMI 35–39.9 kg/m 2 ), and obesity class 3 (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) [ 18 ]. We collected baseline and preoperative characteristics, including age, race, tobacco use, and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, requirement for immunosuppressive therapy, and bleeding disorders. Preoperative parameters included preoperative hematocrit level, the necessity of preoperative transfusion (within 72 h pre-surgery), and American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification III/IV. Intraoperative variables included surgical indication, hysterectomy approach, uterine weight ( 250 g), concomitant procedures performed during the hysterectomy, conversion to laparotomy, wound classification, operative time and hospital length of stay. Postoperative outcomes were classified as major or minor based on the Clavien–Dindo classification system [ 19 ]. This classification system has been extensively validated and reports negative events after surgery, ranging from Grade I (any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or procedural interventions) to Grade V (death). Grades I–II were considered minor complications, and grades III–V were considered major complications. Major complications included any of the following, occurring within 30 days of surgery: organ space surgical site infection, deep incisional surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thromboembolism, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, progressive renal insufficiency, reoperation, reintubation, ventilation > 48 h, sepsis, septic shock, or death. Minor postoperative complications included blood transfusion (within 72 h of surgery start time), superficial surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, acute renal insufficiency, and pneumonia. The primary outcome was the occurrence of any complication (including minor and major complications), minor and major postoperative complications by BMI category, and the secondary outcome was total operative time. Univariate analysis was used to compare the six BMI categories. We used Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables, as appropriate. For continuous variables, we used the Student t-test for comparisons between two groups and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for multiple comparisons. To identify between-groups differences in operative time, we used the post hoc Tukey’s honest significant difference test. Categorical variables were reported as proportions and continuous variables as mean (standard deviation). We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify variables independently associated with any, minor, and major postoperative complications. The second multivariable regression analysis used the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to identify BMI cutoffs for any, minor, and major complications. The following BMI cutoffs were identified: 35.0 (any complications), 39.44 (major complications), 35.16 (minor complication). The second multivariable regression analysis was based on the six BMI groups, where the normal BMI group was used as reference. The following variables that were identified as statistically significantly different (2-sided p value < 0.05) and clinically relevant in univariate analysis were included: age, race, tobacco use, diabetes, chronic hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bleeding disorders, ASA classification III/IV, preoperative blood transfusion, surgical indication, hysterectomy type, uterine weight, preoperative hematocrit level, and concomitant surgical procedures. We reported results as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical analyses were performed using Software Package for Statistics and Simulation (IBM SPSS version 27, IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) and R Core Team (2022), R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. The Institutional Review Board of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center determined that approval was not required for this study (#00003603). The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

When controlling for various comorbid medical conditions and health disparities, higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of all complications and minor complications compared to those with lower BMI in patients undergoing LH for benign conditions. When analyzing specific BMI categories, compared to normal BMI patients, those with higher BMIs had lower risk of major complications, and patients with BMI class II and III had increased risk of minor complications compared to patients with normal BMI. Total operative time increased consistently with BMI categories. When stratified by BMI category, the results are comparable to a multicenter study that found no association between BMI category and the risk of any complications [ 10 ]. In contrast, a large institutional study showed increasing post-op complications with LH in those with higher BMI, with the highest complication rate seen in patients with BMI > 40 [ 12 ]. However, that study utilized a composite index score that included operating room time and length of stay in addition to severe post-op complications. In a 2015 study utilizing the NSQIP database, there was no increase in post-surgical complications associated with LH. However, the study was limited by a lack of controls for concomitant procedures and did not stratify complications according to the Clavien–Dindo scale [ 6 ]. When stratifying BMI categories into two groups, no difference was found in major complications. A systematic review identified higher BMI as a risk factor for postoperative surgical complications in patients undergoing LH. The most common cutoff value used in the included studies was BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 , stratification by BMI was not reported, and complications severity definitions differed between included studies [ 13 , 15 ]. In contrast and in line with this study’s results, a large retrospective cohort study utilizing English National Health Services data did not find an association between higher BMI and major complications with LH [ 14 ]. Interestingly, a reverse association between higher BMI categories and the risk of major complications was found. This association was not reported in previous studies. One possible explanation may be the obesity paradox [ 20 ]. Reported in various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, those with mild obesity or overweight status actually have better health outcomes than those with normal weight BMI. A proposed mechanism of action of this is that adiposity results in enhanced glucose availability and activation of the immune response which can enhance recovery after periods of acute critical illness [ 21 ]. Another possibility is that, as surgical volume declines for generalist OB/GYNs [ 22 ], more difficult cases, such as those with significantly high BMI, are being referred to those with high volume and/or subspecialty training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), as higher surgical volume and fellowship training are associated with a decreased risk of complications [ 23 – 26 ]. This study, consistent with prior literature, demonstrated longer operating times for each additional BMI category. This finding makes plausible sense as increasing adiposity can make entry, patient positioning, and closure more challenging in laparoscopic cases. However, as prior literature has shown, this increase in operative time should not dissuade surgeons from utilizing a laparoscopic approach as the increase in operative time was seen in VH, LH, and AH in higher BMI patients [ 6 ]. In one study that modeled risks of complications between LH and AH, under no scenario did increased operative time outweigh the benefits of a laparoscopic approach [ 27 ]. Clinically, this study underscores the importance of considering patient’s BMI when counseling patients regarding their risk of postoperative complications following LH. Clinicians can use the stratification based on BMI category for reassurance regarding major postoperative complications among patients with higher BMI categories, while acknowledging a possible higher risk of minor complications. Patients with elevated BMI in need of LH may benefit from referral to a MIGS or otherwise high-volume surgeons. Regarding health policy, the consistent finding across the wealth of literature analyzing BMI and LH of longer operative times suggests that considerations of BMI should be considered when allocating physician surgical reimbursement [ 12 ]. Future studies in this area are needed to elucidate the underlying factors contributing to the disparity in outcomes among different BMI subgroups. Further research analyzing the obesity paradox in gynecologic populations is warranted as current data are limited [ 28 ] Stratification by complication severity, as used in the current study, is paramount. This study had several strengths in building on previous literature examining the relationship between BMI and surgical outcomes following LHs. By focusing exclusively on LHs utilizing the NSQIP database, a large sample size was included, allowing to detect small, but meaningful, differences between groups. The categorization into total and supracervical hysterectomies, a factor included in the multivariable regression analysis, is another strength of this study. In addition, controlling for concomitant surgical procedures when examining rates of post-op complications across BMI categories adds to the robustness of the findings. There are several limitations to this study. Factors not included in the NSQIP database, such as patient’s prior surgical history, insurance status, obstetric history, and socioeconomic status, were not controlled for in the analysis. Importantly, the NSQIP database does not provide information on surgeon skills, volume or subspecialty training, which may limit the ability to detect changes in complications across BMI categories. It is assumed that patients with higher BMI may have been protected against complications by referral to a MIGS/high-volume surgeon. In addition, cases without reported BMI were excluded from the analysis, potentially introducing bias. Importantly, the NSQIP database only looks at 30 days post-operatively and thus longer-term outcomes and complications are not captured in this study. In addition, the NSQIP database only allows one ICD code to be applied per case. Thus, the analysis does not allow to control for patients who may have had multiple surgical indications, although controlling for additional concomitant procedures may mitigate this limitation. Furthermore, this study utilizes BMI to assess body fat composition, which is increasingly being viewed as a flawed metric when attempting to assess visceral fat and perioperative risk [ 29 ]. Lastly, NSQIP does not allow to distinguish between robot-assisted versus traditional laparoscopy, although current literature does not demonstrate a significant difference in outcomes between these two approaches [ 30 ]. In conclusion, while higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of complications compared to lower BMI, these distinctions were reversed when analyzing major complications. Higher BMI experienced longer surgical times.

Nearly, one in two adults will be obese by 2030 and nearly one in four adults by 2030 will have severe obesity [ 1 ]. As a result, gynecologic surgeons are increasingly likely to encounter patients with higher body mass index (BMI) requiring hysterectomy, raising questions around how to best plan for these operations, counsel patients, choose an appropriate route, and anticipate complications. ACOG Committee Opinion #701 details that vaginal hysterectomy (VH) should be “the approach of choice whenever feasible” but also describes laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) as a “preferable alternative to open abdominal hysterectomy (AH) for those patients in whom a vaginal hysterectomy is not indicated or feasible [ 2 ].” This same conclusion was found in a recent Cochrane Review which found lower risk of complications with VH and LH compared to AH [ 3 ]. A vaginal or laparoscopic approach to hysterectomy rather than abdominal approach results in lower complications, particularly in the subset of patients with class II obesity or greater [ 4 – 6 ]. As physicians become less familiar with the vaginal approach to hysterectomy [ 7 ], and as recent research has shown a decreased rate of blood transfusion and decreased length of hospital stay with LH in comparison to VH in patients with larger BMI [ 8 ], a laparoscopic approach to hysterectomy in those with larger BMIs is increasingly being utilized as a viable alternative to the vaginal approach, and indeed, the rates of LH continue to increase as the rates of AH and VH decline [ 9 ]. There is conflicting literature regarding the relationship between BMI and post-surgical complications in patients undergoing LH which is further complicated by heterogeneity in the definitions of post-surgical complications [ 10 – 15 ]. In particular, two large studies, which used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to assess the association between BMI and postoperative complications following LH, were limited by a lack of consensus on the classifications of postoperative complications [ 6 , 16 ]. The objective of the study was to better characterize the association between BMI and postoperative complications in a large prospective database.