title: Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy in overweight and obese Japanese patients: complications and outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy (RN) in obese Japanese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 190 consecutive RN procedures performed from May 2002 to May 2006. We divided patients into an obese group (BMI >or=25, n = 54) and a normal group (BMI <24.9, n = 136). Operation time, estimated blood loss, and complications were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operation time was longer in the obese group than in the normal group (203 vs. 184 min, respectively; p = 0.029). The mean estimated blood loss in the obese and normal groups was 127 and 91 ml, respectively. This difference was not significant (p = 0.39). There was no significant difference in complications and the open conversion rate between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the operation time in obese patients was slightly longer than in non-obese patients, RN in obese patients was safely performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. makiya@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makiyama
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakaigawa
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kubota
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome