• N P Edomwonyi and P E Osaigbovo.
• Department of Anaesthesia, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 1111, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
• East Afr Med J. 2006 Apr 1; 83 (4): 112-9.

ObjectivesTo determine the incidence of obesity in parturients scheduled for Caesarean section, identify intra-operative complications, management and outcome.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingUniversity of Benin Teaching Hospital, a university-affiliated tertiary centre.SubjectsParturients scheduled for Caesarean section excluding patients in American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) health status 4 and 5.ResultsThree hundred patients were recruited in the study. One hundred and forty eight (49.3%) were non-obese (BMI < 30kgm2) while 152 (50.7%) were obese (BMI >30kgm(-2)). The incidence of obesity was extremely significant P<0.0001, t = 19.721 and 95% C.I. = 11.998 - -9.820. Twenty four percent of the obese and 6% of the non-obese parturients had intercurrent medical diseases. 40.5% of the non-obese parturients had general anaesthesia while 13.1% of the obese parturients were offered general anaesthesia. The incidence of intra-operative complications was higher in the obese group. P<0.0001; extremely significant. Odds ratio = 3.647; 95% C.I. of 2.0007 - 6.626. The most common complications were hypotension (n = 14), shivering (n = 12) and inadequate anaesthesia (n = 8).ConclusionThere is a high incidence of obesity in parturients. This group of patients constitutes a high risk group in obstetric anaesthesia. The incidence of complications was higher in the obese than in the non-obese.

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