Effects of obesity on the outcome of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer

Purpose

This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer in obese patients based on the short-term outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 561 patients with colorectal cancer treated from April 2007 to October 2010. The surgical outcomes were compared between non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m²) and obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) patients.

Results

All of the enrolled patients were classified as non-obese (n = 421) or obese (n = 140). The obese group had a significantly higher proportion of male patients (72.1 vs. 57.0 %; P = 0.002), a higher incidence of left colon cancer (49.3 vs. 36.8 %; P = 0.033), and more systematic comorbidities (P < 0.001) than did the non-obese group. The length of the surgery was significantly longer in obese than in non-obese patients (221 vs. 207 min; P = 0.025). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups; however, surgical wound infections were more common in obese patients (12.1 vs. 5.2 %; P = 0.005). Obesity was not a significant-independent risk factor for total postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.330; P = 0.289).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is technically feasible and safe for obese patients and provides all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.