OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of obesity on short-term outcomes after laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy.

METHODSClinical data of 214 patients with gastric cancer, who underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy between May 2009 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups, consisting of obese and non-obese patients. In the obese group, the BMI was ≥ 25.0 kg/m² (n=66), and in the non-obese group was <25.0 kg/m² (n=148). Operative procedure and postoperative recovery were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe operative time was longer in obese group than that in non-obese group [(271.5 ± 51.2) min vs. (252.1 ± 53.6) min, P<0.05]. The number of retrieved lymph nodes in obese group was less than that in non-obese group (26.2 ± 10.3 vs. 30.3 ± 12.4, P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in terms of blood loss, blood transfusion rate, conversion to laparotomy and time to first flatus between these two groups (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to postoperative complications rate (25.8% vs. 20.9%, P>0.05) and perioperative mortality (1.5% vs. 0.7%, P>0.05). However, minor surgery-related complication rate was higher in obese group(16.7% vs. 6.8%, P<0.05), mainly presented as delayed gastric emptying. There was no difference in perioperative mortality between the two groups (1.5% vs. 0.7%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAlthough obesity prolongs the duration of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy, and increases the risk of minor surgery-related complications, it has no influence on the surgical safety.