The Impact of Obesity on Operative Results and Postoperative Courses in Laparoscopic-assisted Distal Gastrectomy (LADG).
- Author:
Oh CHEONG
1
;
Byung Sik KIM
;
Sung Tae OH
;
Jeong Hwan YOOK
;
Jung Taek LIM
;
Gun Chun PARK
;
Ji Eun CHOI
;
Kap Jung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bskim@amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Stomach neoplasms;
Laparoscopic surgery;
Obesity;
Body mass index
- MeSH:
Body Mass Index;
Gastrectomy;
Humans;
Laparoscopy;
Length of Stay;
Lymph Nodes;
Obesity;
Overweight;
Retrospective Studies;
Stomach Neoplasms
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2008;74(2):115-120
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Despite known advantages of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) over open surgery, including less blood loss, less pain, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays, many surgeons still hesitate to perform LADG in overweight patients due to concerns about increased perioperative morbidity. We investigated whether surgical outcomes in LADG differ in overweight patients and normal patients, as well as the influence of surgical experience. METHODS: Between April 2004 and December 2006, 331 consecutive patients underwent LADG for preoperatively diagnosed early gastric cancer. Using the definition of overweight by western criteria, patients were classified into a low (n = 187, BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) and a high (n=144, BMI > 25 kg/m(2)) group. We retrospectively analyzed surgical outcomes, including operation time, retrieved lymph nodes, hospital courses, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The only differences in overweight and normal patients were longer operation time, incision length, and fewer retrieved lymph nodes. As our surgical team accumulated experience (after 250 cases in our study), there were no differences at all between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Technical difficulty in overweight patients could hamper some surgical outcomes but didn't worsen the post- operative courses or complications. Moreover, those difficulties can be overcome as the surgical team accumulates experience.
