Effect of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcome

ObjectiveTo compare the perinatal outcomes of women who delivered before with women who delivered after bariatric surgery.MethodsA retrospective study was undertaken to compare perinatal outcomes of women who delivered before with women who delivered after bariatric surgery in a tertiary medical center between 1988 and 2006. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to control for confounders.ResultsDuring the study period, 301 deliveries preceded bariatric surgery and 507 followed surgery. A significant reduction in rates of diabetes mellitus (17.3% vs 11.0; P = 0.009), hypertensive disorders (23.6% vs 11.2%; P < 0.001), and fetal macrosomia (7.6% vs 3.2%; P = 0.004) were noted after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery was found to be independently associated with a reduction in diabetes mellitus (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.67; P < 0.001), hypertensive disorders (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.25–0.59; P < 0.001), and fetal macrosomia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.94; P = 0.033).ConclusionA decrease in maternal complications, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders, as well as a decrease in the rate of fetal macrosomia is achieved following bariatric surgery.