Panniculectomy with simultaneous gynecologic oncology surgery.
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.
Tillmanns
T D
TD
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73190, USA. todd-tillmans@ouhsc.edu
Kamelle
S A
SA
Abudayyeh
I
I
McMeekin
S D
SD
Gold
M A
MA
Korkos
T G
TG
Johnson
P R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies