Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased time from skin incision to infant delivery and increased neonatal morbidity at cesarean delivery.
Study design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all cesarean deliveries that occurred at 1 institution from 2004-2008. Four comparison groups were defined by BMI of <30 kg/m(2) (n = 668 women), 30-39.9 kg/m(2) (n = 1002 women), 40-49.9 kg/m(2) (n = 403 women), or ≥50 kg/m(2) (n = 193 women). The primary outcome was time from skin incision to infant delivery. Secondary outcomes were a composite measure of neonatal morbidity and its individual components: 5-minute Apgar score <7, umbilical cord arterial pH <7.10 and <7.20, umbilical cord arterial base excess ≤8 mmol/L, special care nursery admission, and neonatal intensive care unit admission.
Results: Increasing BMI was associated with significantly increased time from skin incision to infant delivery, which demonstrated a dose-response pattern. Minutes from skin incision to delivery of the infant by BMI strata were 9.4 ± 5.9 for <30 kg/m(2), 11.0 ± 6.8 for 30-39.9 kg/m(2), 13.0 ± 8.0 for 40-49.9 kg/m(2), and 16.0 ± 11.3 for ≥50 kg/m(2) (P < .01). Composite neonatal morbidity was significantly higher with increasing BMI: 23.0% for <30 kg/m(2), 25% for 30-39.9 kg/m(2), 29.8% for 40-49.9 kg/m(2), and 32.1% for ≥50 kg/m(2) (P = .02).
Conclusion: Increasing BMI is associated with a significantly increased time from skin incision to infant delivery and neonatal morbidity. Cesarean delivery technique remains to be optimized for obese women.
Keywords: cesarean delivery; incision; interval; neonatal outcome; obesity.
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