The impact of body mass index on the risk of high spinal block in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the hypothesis that the risk of high spinal block is not increased in obese parturients undergoing cesarean delivery compared to non-obese parturients.

Methods

This is a retrospective study at an academic center. We searched the perioperative database for women who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal or combined spinal epidural anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine ≥10.5 mg. A body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m² was defined as obese. We categorized obesity into: obesity class I (BMI = 30–34.9 kg/m²), obesity class II (BMI = 35–39.9 kg/m²), obesity class III (BMI = 40–49.9 kg/m²), and super obese (BMI ≥50 kg/m²). The primary outcome was high spinal block defined as need to convert to general anesthesia within 20 min of spinal placement as a result of altered mental status, weakness, or respiratory distress resulting from the high block, or a recorded block height ≥T1.

Results

The analysis included 5015 women. High spinal blocks occurred in 29 patients (0.6%). The risk of high spinal was significantly different according to BMI (p = 0.025). In a multivariate model, BMI (p = 0.008) and cesarean delivery priority (p = 0.009) were associated with high blocks. BMI ≥50 kg/m² was associated with greater odds of high block compared to BMI <30 kg/m² [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 6.3 (2.2, 18.5)]. Scheduled cesarean delivery was also associated with greater odds of high block compared with unscheduled delivery.

Conclusions

At standard spinal doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine used in our practice (≥10.5 mg), there were greater odds of high block in those with BMI ≥50 kg/m².

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