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Surgical site infections after post-bariatric abdominoplasty and flank liposuction: a case–control study focusing on the quantity of tissue removed

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Abstract

We evaluated whether the quantity of fat removed during abdominoplasty and liposuction correlated with the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI). We selected patients of similar age, sex, smoking status, obesity, and post-bariatric weight loss, retrospectively, and classified them into groups according to the development of SSI. The total amount of fat removed and aspirated was compared. The size of the flap removed from the abdomen and the amount of fat aspirated with liposuction differed significantly between the SSI and no-SSI groups (1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3 kg and 2 ± 0.2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3 l, respectively; p < 0.001). The four SSI patients with the most fat removed (1.4 ± 0.2 kg) or aspirated (2 ± 0.1 l kg) had the deepest infections. SSI was strongly correlated with the size of flap resection (ρ = 0.80; p < 0.001) and liposuction (ρ = 0.72; p < 0.001). The quantity of fat removed or aspirated can influence the occurrence of SSI. If confirmed, these data could be used to better stratify patients according to their risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Antonino Araco, Pietro Gentile & Valerio Cervelli

  2. Department of Surgery, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK

    Gianpiero Gravante

Authors
  1. Antonino Araco
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  2. Gianpiero Gravante
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  3. Pietro Gentile
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  4. Valerio Cervelli
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Correspondence to Gianpiero Gravante.

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Araco, A., Gravante, G., Gentile, P. et al. Surgical site infections after post-bariatric abdominoplasty and flank liposuction: a case–control study focusing on the quantity of tissue removed. Surg Today 42, 97–99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-011-0076-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-011-0076-6

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