Key result
Higher BMI in parturient women is weakly linked to more spinal anesthesia attempts.
Why the study?
As BMI increases in parturient women, spinal anesthesia becomes more challenging with a higher failure rate, but the relationship requires further clarification.
Does a higher body mass index increase the difficulty and number of attempts required to induce spinal anesthesia in parturient women?
Observational (n=383)
Does a higher body mass index increase the difficulty and number of attempts required to induce spinal anesthesia in parturient women?
Effect estimate: r = 0.132
p-value: p=0.01
Higher body mass index in pregnant women is a reliable predictor of difficulty with neuraxial techniques, leading to a statistically significant increase in the number of attempts required to induce spinal anesthesia.
Increasing BMI was associated with higher spinal failure rates in parturients; leaves open need for prospective confirmation before practice change.
Introduction Increasing numbers of people globally are affected by obesity, and the number of obese parturient women has correspondingly risen. For obese parturient women, neuraxial anesthetic procedures are generally safe. As the body mass index (BMI) increases, spinal anesthesia becomes more challenging, with a larger failure rate.Methodology A total of 383 parturient women were included in this research. They were assigned to three groups according to BMI: Group 1 included 157 women with a BMI of <30; group 2 included 189 women with a BMI of 30–40, and group 3 included 37 women with a BMI of >40. Participants’ ages, weights, and heights were documented, and the number of attempts at inducing spinal anesthesia during labor was counted. Every new skin puncture was considered a new attempt. The success or failure of the blockade was noted.Results In pregnant participants, we found that BMI was a reliable predictor of difficulty with the neuraxial technique of inducing spinal anesthesia. We found a weakly positive correlation (r = 0.132) between BMI and the number of attempts to induce spinal anesthesia. This association was statistically significant (p = 0.01).Conclusion In pregnant patients, especially those who are obese and have a substantial amount of fatty tissue in the back, anesthesiologists should check the patient’s back thoroughly during the initial patient encounter. We also advise that anesthesia induction be carried out by an experienced senior anesthesiologist.
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Mahrous et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Parturient women requiring spinal anesthesia (n=383). Body mass index vs. Lower BMI categories was evaluated on Number of attempts to induce spinal anesthesia (r = 0.132, p=0.01). Higher body mass index in parturient women was weakly but significantly correlated with an increased number of attempts required to induce spinal anesthesia (r = 0.132, p = 0.01).
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