Association Between Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Short-Term Postoperative Complications Following Abdominoplasty: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Study.

Background: Abdominoplasty is a common procedure, especially among patients with obesity, a group in which proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is highly prevalent. Although there are growing concerns regarding PPI-related complications, there is a lack of data on their effects in aesthetic surgery. Objectives: This study aims to assess the association between preoperative use of PPIs and the risk of short-term postoperative complications after abdominoplasty. Methods: This multicenter cohort study used the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network. Individuals aged 18 years or older who had abdominoplasty were identified and categorized into 2 groups based on preoperative PPI exposure: patients with a documented prescription before surgery and those without any recorded history of PPI prescription. To reduce baseline differences between groups, propensity score matching was conducted to achieve balance in demographic and clinical characteristics. Postoperative outcomes focused on complication rates evaluated at 30, 60, and 90 days after surgery. Results: After 1:1 propensity score matching, both groups comprised 2031 patients each. At 30 days following abdominoplasty, patients who received PPIs before surgery exhibited significantly higher risks of surgical-site infections (risk ratio [RR] 2.467; 95% CI, 1.358-4.48), wound dehiscence (RR 2; 95% CI, 1.079-3.706), opioid prescription (RR 1.368; 95% CI, 1.269-1.475), and any surgical-site complications (RR 2.545; 95% CI, 1.806-3.588) compared with the control group. These risks persisted at 60 and 90 days postsurgery. Conclusions: Preoperative exposure to PPIs may increase the risk of short-term postoperative complications following abdominoplasty. Additional studies are needed to define clinical guidelines regarding the perioperative management of these medications. Level of Evidence3 Therapeutic: