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Wound infection in the obese pregnant woman

Amanda M Tipton1, Stephen A Cohen, David Chelmow

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

Seminars in Perinatology
|November 24, 2011
PubMed

Obesity has been linked as a risk factor for wound complications and is becoming a more common occurrence. We reviewed the risk factors, preventive strategies, and recommended management of wound complications in obese women undergoing cesarean delivery. The limited available data support the use of prophylactic antibiotic before cesarean delivery, closure of subcutaneous space >2 cm, and maintaining normothermia intraoperatively to help reduce the incidence of postoperative wound complications. Data regarding management of cesarean wound complications in the obese patient are sparse, but they do suggest either primary or secondary closure of wounds is preferred to healing by secondary intention. Antibiotics should be administered in the presence of cellulitis or systemic toxicity. Use of vacuum-assisted wound closure devices may be useful in wound management. There is a need for randomized controlled trials which evaluate the prevention and management of wound complications in obese women undergoing cesarean delivery.

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