Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy in obese patients: outcomes and considerations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether obesity is associated with surgical outcome in Japanese patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy (RRN).


METHODS
Between November 1999 and March 2005, we performed 98 RRN procedures for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 or more were defined as obese (group A, n=33) and those with a BMI of <25.0 were defined as non-obese (group B, n=65), in accordance with the criteria of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity. Patient background, degree of surgical invasiveness, and period of convalescence were compared between groups A and B.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of age, gender, tumor laterality, tumor size, and time until resumption of oral intake and ambulation. However group A had a significantly longer insufflation time (172.1 vs. 137.4 min), greater blood loss (195.3 vs. 48.4 ml) and higher renal specimen weight (440.0 vs. 306.0 g) than group B.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity is not a factor that affects patient eligibility for RRN, but is a risk factor for longer insufflation time and greater blood loss.
Inoue
S
S
Department of Urology, Onomichi General Hospital, Onomichi, and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan. inosyogo@ybb.ne.jp
Mita
K
K
Shigeta
M
M
Mochizuki
H
H
Tanabe
T
T
Moriyama
H
H
Usui
T
T
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome