BACKGROUND: Obesity, defined as an elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) >30, is a prevalent public health concern with far-reaching implications for various medical procedures and outcomes. In the context of inflatable penile prosthesis placement (IPP), where patient well-being and surgical success are of paramount importance, the impact of obesity on postoperative and intraoperative complications warrants thorough investigation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of BMI on both postoperative and intraoperative complications in an international, multi-institutional cohort of patients who underwent IPP placement. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 4,398 cases. These cases were divided into two distinct groups based on BMI: less than 30 (n=2,260) and greater than or equal to 30 (n=2,138). The study assessed various surgical factors as well as complications, including overall complications, corporal scarring, incontinence, intraoperative complications, proximal perforation, distal perforation, proximal crossover, distal crossover, and urethral injury. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in intraoperative or postoperative complications between the two BMI categories. Notably, proximal corporal measurement was significantly higher for > 30 BMI group (9.55 +/- 2.18) compared to < 30 BMI group (9.14 +/- 2.19), (p = < 0.001). The incidence rates for overall complications (30.2% vs. 28.7%; p=0.164), corporal scarring (18.2% vs. 16.7%; p=0.36), incontinence (3.53% vs. 3.13%; p=0.076), intraoperative complications (1.94% vs. 1.68%; p=0.253), and specific complications all exhibited no significant differences. Similarly, post-operative complications, including both non-infectious (6.99% vs. 6.22%; p=0.215) and infectious (2.61% vs. 1.87%; p=0.165) complications, did not significantly vary between BMI categories.
| BMI_CAT1 | BMI_CAT2 | T-Test Results | |
| <30 | >/= 30 | ||
| Sample Size n (%) | 2260 (51.4%) | 2138 (48.6%) | |
| # of Individuals with Complications (All Types) | 683 (30.2%) | 614 (28.7%) | p=0.164 |
| # of Individuals with Corporal Scarring | 411 (18.2%) | 357 (16.7%) | p=0.36 |
| # of Individuals with Incontinence | 80 (3.53%) | 67 (3.13%) | p=0.076 |
| # of Individuals with Intraoperative Complications | 44 (1.94%) | 36 (1.68%) | p=0.253 |
| Proximal Perforation | 12 (0.53%) | 10 (0.47%) | p=0.337 |
| Distal Perforation | 28 (1.23%) | 23 (1.08%) | p=0.289 |
| Proximal Crossover | 6 (0.27%) | 3 (0.14%) | p=0.159 |
| Distal Crossover | 6 (0.27%) | 4 (0.19%) | p=0.16 |
| Urethral Injury | 9 (0.40%) | 12 (0.56%) | p=0.254 |
| # of Individuals with Post- Op Complications | 204 (9.02%) | 164 (7.67%) | p=0.168 |
| Non-Infectious Post-Op | 158 (6.99%) | 133 (6.22%) | p=0.215 |
| Infectious Post-Op | 59 (2.61%) | 40 (1.87%) | p=0.165 |
| # of Individuals with Rear Tip Extender | 1430 (63.3%) | 1364 (63.8%) | p=0.21 |
| Rear Tip Extender Length | 1395 (61.7%) | 1334 (62.4%) | p=0.66 |
| Proximal Corporal Measurement | 9.14 (+/- 2.19) | 9.55 (+/- 2.18) | p= <0.001 |
