Background: The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Study design: Between January 2005 and January 2010, 1100 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer were reviewed to evaluate the impact of obesity. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the World Health Organization classification, as normal weight [body mass index (BMI) 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m], overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m), and obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m).
Results: The postoperative complication rates for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients were 5.7%, 10.0%, 15.4%, respectively. Overweight and obese patients had a significantly prolonged operation time, increased intraoperative blood loss, prolonged first flatus, day of commencement of soft diet, increased number of administration of analgesics, and prolonged hospital stay.
Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were associated with poor early surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy. This study suggested that greater cautions and improved surgical techniques were required to improve early surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for overweight and obese patients.