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"Cutting Through Risk: Panniculectomy Outcomes in A High-Risk West Virginia Patient Population"
Feno Monaco MS2,1
Yaheya Idris MS2,1
Veronica Gibbons MS2, 1
Vrishak Duriseti, 2
Vardhan Avasarala MD, 3
Zachary Koenig MD, 3
Kerri Woodberry, MD, MBA, FACS, 3
1 West Virginia University School of Medicine
2 Connecticut College
3 West Virginia University Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery
West Virginia University School of Medicine
2026-01-10
Presenter: Feno Monaco
Affidavit:
This student has my permission to submit the abstract and I have confirmed the percentages of work in each category: conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, and draft and revision.
I have no financial conflicts.
Director Name: Kerri M. Woodberry, MD, MBA January 8, 2026
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Background: Panniculectomy is a functional procedure that removes excess abdominal skin and has a significant impact on patient lives. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia are known risk factors increasing complications in surgery. West Virginia has among the highest rates of these comorbidities in the US.
Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the surgical outcomes of panniculectomy in a high-risk Appalachian population.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent panniculectomy between 2003 and 2023 at a major healthcare system in Appalachia was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.
Results: A total of 234 patients (204 female and 30 male) were included in the study. Mean age was 51.16 years old (22-80), and mean pannus resection weight was 9.52lbs (0.26-76.6). Common comorbidities included high BMI with mean of 38.64 (21.32-79.4), diabetes (35.90%), history of smoking (41.81%), prior bariatric surgery (54.94%), hyperlipidemia (40.6%), and hypertension (60.26%). Mean follow up time was 21.42 weeks (1-192). Overall complication, readmission, and reoperation rates were 25%, 10.3%, and 13.36% respectively. Complications included infection (11.21%), wound dehiscence (6.90%), seroma (5.17%), hematoma (3.45%), cellulitis (1.72%), small bowel obstruction (.43%), pulmonary embolism (.43%), and bleeding (.43%). There were no DVTs or deaths observed.
Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrated that panniculectomy can be safely performed in a high-risk patient with presurgical optimization. Optimization included DVT prophylaxis, obtaining cardiac and pulmonary clearance, nutrition consults, primary care comorbidity management, evaluation by anesthesiology, and smoking cessation for greater than four weeks.
