title: The impact of obesity on surgical outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of obesity on surgical outcome is becoming an increasingly relevant issue given the growing rate of obesity worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the specific impact of obesity on pancreaticoduodenectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective comparative study of a prospectively maintained database was carried out to investigate the specific impact of obesity on the technical aspects and postoperative outcome of pancreaticoduodenectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2006, 92 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy using a standardized technique. The study population was subdivided according to the presence or absence of obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (20.7%) patients were obese and 73 (79.3%) patients were non-obese. The two groups were comparable in terms of demographics, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score as well as nature and type of pancreatico-digestive anastomosis. The rate of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (36.8% vs. 15.1%; P=0.050) and hospital stay (23.1+/-13.9 vs. 17.0+/-8.0 days; P=0.015) were significantly increased in obese vs. non-obese patients, respectively. Pancreatic fistula was responsible for one-half of the deaths (2/4) and two ruptured pseudoaneurysms. The incidence of the other procedure-related and general postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Intrapancreatic fat was increased in 10 obese patients (52.6%) and correlated positively both with BMI (P=0.001) and with the occurrence of pancreatic fistula (P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese patients are at increased risk for developing pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Special surgical caution as well as vigilant postoperative monitoring are therefore recommended in obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. rnoun@wise.net.lb
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noun
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riachy
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghorra
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yazbeck
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tohme
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: Samah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chalhoub
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yazbeck
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome