Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431.
Sixty-seven patients had exploratory laparotomy for stage I and II (occult) adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. Acute surgical complications were analyzed in obese and in normal-weight patients. Compared to normal-weight patients, obese patients had significantly higher rates of wound infection and wound dehiscence, longer operating time, greater blood loss, and longer hospital stay. Wound infection and wound dehiscence were significantly related to postoperative anemia.