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No difference in complications between combined panniculectomy, hysterectomy and hysterectomy alone

Combined hysterectomy and panniculectomy procedures appear to be performed infrequently yet only differences in hospital length of stay were identified when compared to hysterectomy alone, according to recent study results.

Females who underwent hysterectomy with or without concurrent panniculectomy were identified through the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files from 2005 to 2012

A total of 24,893 underwent hysterectomy alone and 174 women had the procedure with a concurrent panniculectomy.

The rate of venous thromboembolism was higher among women who underwent both procedures: 2.9% vs. 1% in the hysterectomy-alone group.

Length of stay was also greater than 3 days for 48.3% of combined-procedure group versus 29.2% in the solo-procedure group.

Researchers found no differences in wound complications, surgical-site infections, venous thromboembolism, medical complications or total complications, in the propensity-matched sample, but patients in the combined-procedure group were two times likely to have a hospital stay of 3 days or more

On morbidly obese patients, the pannus remains an obstacle during gynecology surgery and can require additional instruments, personnel or longer instruments, according to researchers. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.