Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email worldanaesthesia@mac.

com

OBSTETRIC ANAESTHESIA & OBESITY

ANAESTHESIA TUTORIAL OF THE WEEK 141
6th JULY 2009

Dr Sally Ann Nortcliffe.

Consultant Anaesthetist, Manor Hospital, Walsall, West Midlands,
UK
Correspondence to [email protected]

QUESTIONS

1. During pregnancy the following occur

a FRC increases
b stomach acidity increases
c oxygen consumption remains the same as none pregnant
d respiratory rate decreases
e cardiac output increases < 5 %

2. Obesity

a is not associated with an increase in difficult intubation

b the dose /kg of suxamethonium is unchanged from none pregnant
c is associated with an increase in diabetes
d the risk of heart failure increases with duration of obesity
e BMI >40 is associated with a reduction in life expectancy

3. Anaesthetic aspects of management of the obese pregnant woman include:

a 1:250 risk of failed intubation

b decreased risk of dural tap
c increased risk of antenatal haemorrhage
d decreased rate of LSCS with increasing BMI
e increased rate of shoulder dystocia.

4. Regarding drugs for caesarean section,

a morphine as a sole analgesic is ideal

b halothane is a better choice than isoflurane
c drugs with a high fat solubility are best avoided
d the dose of atracurium is based on actual body weight
e non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs are useful in obese women with preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial examines the problems obesity presents in pregnancy, labour and delivery and the
associated challenges of anaesthesia.

Obesity is a growing problem in the Western world and in parts of the developing world. The world
health organisation (WHO) describes obesity, which is more common in women, as a pandemic.
Alarming statistics are shown below:

• In 1990 the USA spent $ 46 billion dollars on obesity; 6.7% of the health care budget.
• In 2002 WHO estimated 2.5 million deaths were due to obesity, including 220,000 in Europe.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 1 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

• Over the period 1993 to 2002, UK women aged 16-44 with a BMI > 30 increased from 12% to
18.3% and those with a BMI > 40 increased from 9% to 17%.

Obesity can be quantified by using the body mass index (BMI).

BMI = Weight (Kg)/ (Height (m)) 2

BMI does not take into account frame size or the distribution of the fat. The WHO classification of
obesity is shown below:

BMI Risk of Co-morbidities

Normal 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight 25 - 29.9 Increased
Mild obesity: class 1 30 - 34.5 Moderate
Moderate obesity: class 2 35 – 39.9 Severe
Morbid obesity class: 3 >40 Very severe

BMI over 40 is associated with a reduction in life expectancy. Physiological changes occur in both
pregnancy and obesity which can be additive, resulting in significant challenges for the anaesthetist.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN OBESITY

It has been known for a many years that obesity is unhealthy. William Shakespeare wrote several
hundred years ago in his play Henry IV;
“I am fatter than others and so in bad health”.

Respiratory system

• Reduced functional residual capacity (FRC) with risk of hypoxia due to reduced reserves of
oxygen.
• Reduced closing capacity.
• Restrictive respiratory pattern due to the additional weight on the thorax and restriction of
diaphragm movement leading to impaired diaphragm function.
• Poor respiratory compliance resulting in fast, low volume breaths.
• Increased pulmonary resistance due to low lung volumes and possible hypoxia.
• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). 50-90% of morbidly obese have some degree of OSA with
risk of pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Resulting sympathetic stimulation may
lead to hypertension.
• Increased risk of difficult airway and intubation. Increased breast tissue / fat pad on back
makes head positioning difficult for intubation.
• Increased metabolic demand of breathing due to increased work of moving the chest /
diaphragm.
• Risk of atelectasis and shunt / V: Q mismatch.
• Obese hypoventilation syndrome (Pickwickian syndrome) - 5-10% of morbidly obese.
• Increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration.

Cardiovascular

• Increase in blood volume.

• Increase in cardiac output proportional to degree of obesity; i.e. fat needs 2-3 mls
blood/100g/min so extra 50 kg needs 1-1.5l/min extra cardiac output.
• Possible increase in haematocrit due to hypoxia.
• Hypertension; found in up to 60% of obese leading to increased afterload and left ventricular
hypertrophy.
• Right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to OSA.
• Systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
• Increased arrhythmia due to fatty deposits in the myocardium.
• Increased preload due to increase in blood volume.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 2 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

• Risk of myocardial ischaemia due to increased oxygen demand and reduced supply.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy; due in part to volume overload.
• Heart failure; increased risk with duration of obesity.
• Increase in ischaemic heart disease.
• Risk of supine hypotension due to aorto-caval compression.

Gastrointestinal
• Increased acid reflux.
• Increased residual volume of stomach.
• Increased gastric acidity.
• Increased risk of gallstones.
• Fatty infiltration of liver and possible abnormal Liver function tests

Metabolic
• Increased oxygen demand to counter the increased work of breathing.
• Increased plasma lipids which increases the risk of atheroma. Elevated lipids can lead to
endothelial activation.
• Adipose tissue is active and produces many substances including leptin which is involved in
appetite reduction by an action at the hypothalamus (leptin resistance is seen in obesity),
interleukin 6 (IL6), TNF-alpha. Substances from fat are involved in the complement system,
lipid/protein/glucose metabolism, steroid production, angiogenic function and inflammation.

Renal.
• Increased angiotensin converting enzyme and renin levels.
• Increased leptin which results in increased sodium absorption and renal vasodilation.
• GFR increases.
• High intra abdominal pressure can reduce renal blood flow.

Endocrine
• Leptin increases sympathetic drive via the hypothalamus, leading to hypertension, sodium and
water retention.
• Insulin resistance leading to initially high levels of insulin that together with leptin and free
fatty acids stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
• Increase in diabetes; risk increases as BMI increases.

Musculoskeletal
• Difficulty in positioning the patient including the left tilt/lateral position to limit aortocaval
compression.
• Risk of rhabdomyolysis (ischaemia and death of muscle due to reduced blood supply as a
result of immobility) with prolonged surgery e.g. buttock ischaemia.

Coagulation
• Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolic events.

Pharmacokinetics
• Increased fat.
• Reduced total body water.
• Increase in lean body mass.

Psychological
• Increased depression and suicide.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 3 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

Many of the physiological changes in pregnancy are similar to those observed in the obese. These
physiological changes have been covered in detail in a previous tutorial and include:

• Increased oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production

• increased respiratory rate
• decreased FRC
• difficult intubation and increased aspiration risk
• increased cardiac output
• increased heart rate
• left ventricular hypertrophy
• increased blood volume

The further physiological impact of obesity on pregnancy is therefore significant and results in high
risk of complications during pregnancy, labour, delivery and during the post-partum period.

PREVENTION
Pubic health programs are essential to reduce the number of obese women in the community through
encouragement of weight loss pre-pregnancy and targeting the number of obese children. Many women
are unaware of the risks of pregnancy and obesity. In some groups including the Samoans, this is
culturally difficult as obesity is equated with strength and status. In the Arab/African world the larger
lady is seen as more desirable. Young girls may be force fed and given steroids to fatten them up as in
Mauritania – some of these women die of hypertensive renal failure before getting pregnant.

Children of women who were obese in pregnancy have an increased risk of becoming obese as adults.
The number of obese women who breast feed is less than lean women. Breast feeding protects against
obesity in adulthood.

OBESITY AND PREGNANCY

Morbid obesity is often associated with infertility but many women become pregnant when weight is
lost. The British infertility society advises against fertility treatment if BMI > 35.
Obese women may already have pre-existing disease with end organ damage e.g. diabetes,
hypertension and ischaemic heart disease.

Obesity is associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Obesity increases almost all the
complications of pregnancy and delivery:

• Increased miscarriage.
• Increased fetal abnormality e.g. cardiac and neural tube defects. Detection may be difficult
due to sub-optimal view at ultrasound.
• Increased premature delivery.
• Gestational diabetes (risk increases with increasing BMI).
• Pre-eclampsia (risk increases with increasing BMI).
• Increased post partum haemorrhage.
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy.
• Increased risk of Caesarean section (CS). This risk increases as BMI increases and over 40%
of women with BMI >40 may require caesarean delivery.
• Increased risk of thromboembolic events.
• Increased wound infection/ wound breakdown.
• Increased infection of the uterus (endometritis).
• Low vaginal delivery rate after LSCS with increased risk of uterine rupture.
• Increased rate of induction e.g. for large baby /diabetes/ pre eclampsia. Induction may often be
unsuccessful in the obese.
• Increased augmentation of labour.
• Increased post natal depression reducing the chance of successful weight loss post delivery.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 4 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

The uterus in the obese can be infiltrated by fat, like other organs including the liver and heart, and this
may explain its poor contractile ability both pre and post delivery. Pushing can be ineffective and intra
abdominal fat can obstruct labour.

The UK (BMI>35) and USA recommend that the obese pregnant woman is reviewed by the
anaesthetist before delivery to discuss the risks and out line the options for pain relief and delivery. A
management plan along with the results of relevant investigations e.g. ECG, respiratory function tests,
echocardiography, should be clearly documented in the notes.

CONDUCT OF ANAESTHESIA
Departments should have clearly written guidelines on the management of obese women through their
pregnancy, labour and delivery. Guidelines should include recommendations for:
• Early intravenous access (often more difficult in raised BMI)
• Thomboprophylaxis regimens
• Discussion and consideration of early insertion of regional anaesthesia
• Antacid prophylaxis
• Early referral to senior anaesthetist
• Availability of appropriate manual handling devices

Women should be weighed and their weight and BMI recorded clearly in the notes.

EQUIPMENT
• The operating table must be wide enough and able to handle the weight of the patient. It is
possible to buy lateral extensions for the table and arm boards are useful.
• Manual handling equipment including hoists, slide sheets and wide wheelchairs should be
available and unnecessary transfer of patients avoided. Staff should be trained in correct
transfer of patients to limit injury.
• Electric beds that sit the patient up are ideal but costly and must be able to take the weight of
the patient.
• Large gowns are required.
• Wide blood pressure cuffs are required to provide accurate readings (width of cuff should be
20% diameter of the arm). A small cuff will give a falsely high reading. Intra arterial
monitoring of blood pressure may be needed if there are problems with non-invasive blood
pressure monitoring.
• Large compression stockings/ mechanical calf compressors are needed for DVT prophylaxis.
• Long spinal and epidural needles must be available. The long epidural needles, 11cm, will
suffice for the majority of patients. It may be necessary to use an epidural needle as an
introducer for a spinal needle. A 120mm spinal needle for a standard 8 cm epidural needle and
150mm for a 11cm epidural needle. Epidural needles of 15 cm and spinal needles up to 175
mm are available. Ultra sound imaging of the lumbar spine has been shown to assist location
of the epidural and spinal space and this may be especially useful in obese women where
surface landmark anatomy may be very difficult to identify

ANALGESIA FOR LABOUR

Regional analgesia has many advantages though is often challenging in the obese patient. It can
provide the most effective form of pain relief and decrease respiratory and cardiovascular work during
labour. Obese women are at increased risk of instrumental and caesarean delivery so a working
epidural may reduce the risk of general anaesthesia.

Regional analgesia is often best performed early in labour to optimise positioning and may be easier in
the sitting position since the midline may be identified more easily than in the lateral position. Regional
anaesthesia has been described in patients with a BMI as high as 88, and there is increasing evidence
that ultrasound may be beneficial in aiding epidural insertion. Regional analgesia can also help with the

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 5 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

placement of a fetal scalp electrode as trans-abdominal monitoring of the fetal heart rate is often not
possible in the morbidly obese.

There are specific issues concerning epidural and spinals in obese patients:
• More difficult to insert.
• Increased risk of the epidural catheter becoming displaced.
• Increased risk of inadvertent dural tap. There is a lower than expected post-dural puncture
headache rate. It has been proposed that this is due to increased pressure in the epidural space
due to high venous pressure and increased amount of epidural fat.
• This fat may result in higher than expected block levels.

Many obese women now receive ante-natal heparin and if so, they should be warned to omit the dose
when labour commences. 12 hours should elapse following a prophylactic dose of low molecular
weight heparin and 24 hours following a therapeutic dose prior to spinal/epidural insertion.

Alternative analgesia includes the following:

• Entonox (50% nitrous oxide in oxygen) can be useful.
• Intra muscular opiates. May result in variable absorption and effect.
• Patient controlled intravenous analgesia. Short acting drugs like remifentanil avoid the risk of
long lasting sedation and respiratory depression.

ANAESTHESIA FOR OPERATIVE PROCEDURES

Regional anaesthesia

Regional anaesthesia may be challenging to perform and have additional risks in the obese patient but
it is more preferable than general anaesthesia for operative procedures.

• Ideally, obese women considered to be at high risk of intervention should receive early
epidural analgesia and its effectiveness monitored throughout labour.
• If the patient presents without a working epidural, a combined spinal epidural (CSE) may be
preferable to single shot spinal as surgery is more often difficult and prolonged in the obese
and a CSE allows a block to be extended if necessary.
• Adequate leftward tilt to avoid aorto-caval compression must be provided once supine. This
may be difficult to achieve safely in the obese patient.
• The patient may find it difficult to lie flat and may need to be placed head up and oxygen may
be required.

High regional block may be more common in the obese so a CSE technique with a smaller dose of
spinal anaesthetic with an epidural top up to the required level may be preferable. The epidural needle
may aid spinal placement by acting as a long spinal introducer needle, however there is a higher failure
rate of epidurals compared to spinals. A spinal catheter has the advantage of providing a block that can
be extended but insertion of spinal catheters can be technically difficult.

General anaesthesia.

General anaesthesia presents many challenges and should be avoided if possible for a number of
reasons:

Airway and ventilation challenges

• It is well known that failed intubation is more common in the pregnant (1:250) than non-
pregnant woman (1:2000) and pregnant women are at increased risk of regurgitation and acid
aspiration.
• The airway should be thoroughly assessed as soon as the obese woman presents to the
delivery suite. If difficult airway management is predicted, early epidural placement should be
advised.
• Due to a reduced FRC and increased oxygen consumption, pregnant obese women desaturate
rapidly following induction.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 6 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

• Rapid sequence intubation with pre-oxygenation, thiopentone, suxamethonium and cricoid

pressure is usual. Suxamethonium dose should be based on the patient’s total body weight,
using the usual dose of 1- 1.5mg/Kg. The recent arrival of sugamedex, which rapidly reverses
the neuromuscular block of rocuronium may lead to the increased use of rocuronium in this
group of patients.
• Adequate head and neck positioning for intubation can be very difficult in the obese parturient
and time should be taken to ensure the best position is achieved prior to induction. The
‘ramped’ position may be more effective in the obese. In this position, pillows are placed
under the upper thoracic region as well as the head to ensure the opening of the ear is in line
with the sternal notch. A slightly ‘head up’ position may be more comfortable for the patient
and improve FRC.
• Adequate pre-oxygenation is essential: 3 minutes of tidal volume breathing or 4-6 vital
capacity breaths of 100% oxygen with a tight fitting face mask.
• Measures to avoid aorto-caval compression should be taken as above.
• If the patient is in the ramped position or placed head up, the anaesthetist may need to stand
on a step behind the patient. Both of the patient’s arms placed on arm boards may allow the
breasts to fall toward the axillae and aid placement of the laryngoscope as well as reduce
pressure on the chest wall.
• A full range of difficult intubation equipment should be immediately available including.
bougies, stylets, different laryngoscopes etc. A short-handled laryngoscope may be especially
useful in the obese to aid placement. A polio laryngoscope blade should also be available.
• Awake fibreoptic intubation is an option if general anaesthesia is required and difficult
intubation is predicted. This may be challenging and care must be taken if intubating via the
nose since bleeding is more likely in the pregnant patient.
• Once intubated, airway pressures may be high. Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) can
help with oxygenation and head up positioning may improve respiratory compliance.

Drugs

Effective dosing of drugs is a challenge and there is confusion as to which weight to base drug
calculations on: total body weight (TBW), lean body weight (LBW) or ideal body weight (IBW). LBW
increases in obesity due to the additional muscle that develops to carry the extra weight of the body.
Which weight to use for drug calculation depends on the properties of the individual drug including its
fat solubility which affects its volume of distribution.

Analgesia

Effective analgesia is essential to manage post operative pain, encourage mobilisation and help reduce
the risk of thromboembolic complications. Analgesia should be multi-modal and regular. Simple
analgesia e.g. paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if not contraindicated, should be
prescribed regularly and may help reduce the requirements for opioids and limit their associated side
effects . Local anaesthetics either as wound infiltration, bilateral ilio-ingunial blocks or transversus
abdominis plane (TAP) blocks should be used.

Care should be taken at extubation. Assessment of reversal of neuromuscular blockade should be made
prior to wake up. Traditionally patients have been extubated on their side following anaesthesia for
caesarean section. In the obese, however it may be preferable to extubate women awake in the sitting
position to optimise ventilation. This is also the best position for post operative care.

Post operative care

Problems can occur once the woman has left theatre and the immediate postoperative care of the obese
parturient must be by a suitably trained person. Transfer to a High Dependency Unit for appropriate
monitoring and possible CPAP administration may be required. Post operative physiotherapy should be
organised and pressure relieving mattresses should be used to prevent pressure sores. Post-operative
oxygen therapy may reduce the risk of hypoxia which in turn reduces infection. If the patient is
normally on CPAP at night this should be continued. Women should be encouraged to mobilise as soon
as possible as this helps with respiratory mechanics and prevention of thromboembolic complications.

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 7 of 8

Sign up to receive ATOTW weekly – email [email protected]

PREVENTION OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM

Obese parturients are at high risk of thromboembolic complications and this risk is increased if they
have undergone an operative procedure. Early mobilisation should be encouraged, dehydration avoided
and calf compression devises used in all patients. In addition, post delivery heparin
thromboprophylaxis should be prescribed. e.g. enoxaparin 40mg prescribed daily for 5-7 days or until
mobilising normally if <90 kg and twice daily if > 90kg. Heparin should be given 4 hours after spinal,
epidural insertion or removal of epidural catheter to avoid the risk of spinal/epidural haematoma.

SUMMARY

Obesity is associated with many physiological changes which can result in a reduced ability to cope
with the demands of pregnancy, labour and delivery. These women are at high risk and present a real
challenge to the anaesthetist and all the team involved in their care. Management should be planned in
advance and the necessary equipment and expertise available.

ANSWERS TO MULPTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. a) f b) t c) f d )f e) f
2. a) f b) t c) t d) t e) t
3. a) t b) f c) f d) f e) t
4. a) f b) f c) t d) f e) f

FURTHER READING
Saravanakumar K, Rao S.G, Cooper G. Obesity and obstetric anaesthesia. Anaesthesia 2006; 61: 36-48

Obesity and pregnancy. 2008. Royal Society of Medicine. Editors Rees M, Karoshi M, Keith L

ATOTW 141. Obstetric anaesthesia & Obesity, 06/07/2009 Page 8 of 8