Effect of BMI on clinical outcomes following minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy

Radhika Patnam1, Katherine Husk1, Abhishek Sripad1

  • 1Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 3032 Old Clinic Building, CB#7570, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7570, USA.

Our objective was to compare success and complication rates following minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (SCP) based on body mass index (BMI). This is a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent laparoscopic or robotic SCP at one academic center from 2006 to 2016. Women were included if they had a postoperative pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) exam and subjective success documented. For our primary outcome, we compared composite success (POPQ stage ≤ I and report of no bulge symptoms) amongst three groups: normal weight (BMI ≤ 25), overweight (BMI 25-30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) women. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications, 6 week postoperative complications, and sacrocolpopexy mesh exposure. Of the 431 women who met inclusion criteria, 140 (32%) had normal BMI (23 kg/m2; IQR 22, 24), 177 (41%) were overweight (27 kg/m2; IQR 26, 28), and 114 (26%) were obese (32 kg/m2; IQR 31, 36). Mean age was 60 ± 11 years, and most were Caucasian, with no differences in demographics or Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Median length of follow-up was 49 weeks (IQR 9, 104), with similar follow-up for all groups. For our primary outcome, composite success was 72% overall, with no significant differences in composite success rates between groups. For secondary outcomes, there were no differences in the rates of perioperative complications but obese women had a 2.8 increased risk of mesh exposure (p = 0.02). Obesity was not associated with differences in the success or peri-operative complication rates for SCP in our population, but was associated with mesh exposure.