Complications of surgical termination of second-trimester pregnancy in obese versus nonobese women.

Background: Obesity is becoming increasingly common in obstetric and gynecologic populations, which may affect the safety of surgical termination of pregnancy.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing second-trimester surgical termination of pregnancy by under ultrasound guidance termination between 13 0/7 and 24 0/7 weeks of gestational age (GA) to compare perioperative risks in obese and nonobese women. Complication rates, operative times and anesthesia times were compared between obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m²] and nonobese women (BMI <30).