Thirty-Day Complication Rates After Gender-Affirming Bottom Surgery

Abstract

Purpose Gender-affirming bottom surgeries (GABS) play a central role in treating gender dysphoria to improve quality of life for transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) patients. However, there exists limited data on operative risks and outcomes for patient populations undergoing GABS. The goal of this study is to identify sociodemographic and clinical risk factors for determining 30-day postoperative complications in patients undergoing GABS. Methods The ACS-NSQIP database from 2010 to 2020 was used to identify patients undergoing gender affirmation surgery (GAS) using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes included in transfeminine and transmasculine bottom surgery. IBS-SPSS software was used to perform a multivariate analysis to determine risk factors for increased 30-day postoperative complications including unplanned reoperation and readmission rates. Results A total of 1809 GABS were performed in the NSQIP database from 2010 to 2020. There was an upward trend in GABS procedures throughout the years, with 2017 having the most GABS (n = 629). Transmasculine patients with a BMI of 29 and over were at a greater risk for wound complications (P < 0.05). Diabetic transfeminine patients were also at a greater risk for wound complications (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study identified that several sociodemographic and clinical risk factors, such as BMI and diabetes mellitus type 2, had increased postoperative complications for patients undergoing gender-affirming bottom surgeries. Wound care management and patient education are essential in GABS to prevent long-term complications. Physician awareness of risk factors and social determinants of health can help prevent and improve postoperative care education and patient compliance.