Objective: The objective was to report the utility and morbidity of panniculectomy in obese gynecologic oncology patients undergoing exploratory laparotomy.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 41 consecutive women who had a panniculectomy as part of an abdominal gynecologic oncology procedure between July 1996 and May 2000 was performed. Obese patients possessing a large pannus, the majority with a BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2), were included. Demographic, preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were obtained. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Version 6.13.
Results: Panniculectomy was performed on 41 patients with a mean age of 55, weight of 126 kg, and BMI of 48 kg/m(2). The most common comorbidities in this population were hypertension, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Wound infection occurred in 4 (9.8%) patients; 88% of the patients received a hysterectomy. The average EBL was 358 cc. Operative time and length of hospital stay were on average 203 min and 5.5 days, respectively. A prior history of diabetes increased the risk of early complications (P = 0.03). Late complications were more likely to occur in older women (P = 0.05). Wound complications were increased in patients with larger BMI's (P = 0.05).
Conclusions: This study supports the safety of the panniculectomy procedure in this high-risk group of morbidly obese patients for whom a technical advantage may be achieved by improved operative exposure.