title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the treatment of choice for gallstones. Obesity was initially considered a contraindication to this approach. The aim of this report is to review our experience with LC, to evaluate the role of BMI in the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 1,804 patients who underwent LC for symptomatic cholelithiasis from May 1992 to January 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to their BMI: < or =24.9, 25.0-29.9, 30.0-34.9, 35.0-39.9 and > or =40 kg/m2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,804 patients [1,379 females (76.4%) and 425 males (23.6%)] who underwent LC, 431(23.9%), 924 (51.2%), 355 (19.7%), 68 (3.8%) and 26 (1.4%) had BMI values of < or =24.9, 25.0-29.9, 30.0-34.9, 35.0-39.9 and > or =40 kg/m2, respectively. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in 94 patients (5.2%), and complications occurred in 39 patients (2.2%). There was no correlation between BMI and the conversion rate (P=0.593) and complication rate (P=0.944), while the hospital stay was similar between the groups with successful LC. The only significant difference was the longer operating time in the two obesity groups (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LC is effective and safe in patients with morbid obesity. As it carried low risks of conversion and perioperative complications, we suggest that LC is the select approach for these patients. Moreover, the rapid mobilization and hospital discharge following LC may provide extra benefit to these patients.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polychronidis
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Botaitis
authors.forename: Sebachedin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perente
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitiakoudis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome