title: Influence of obesity on early surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy in gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2005 and January 2010, 1100 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer were reviewed to evaluate the impact of obesity. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the World Health Organization classification, as normal weight [body mass index (BMI) 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m], overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m), and obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative complication rates for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients were 5.7%, 10.0%, 15.4%, respectively. Overweight and obese patients had a significantly prolonged operation time, increased intraoperative blood loss, prolonged first flatus, day of commencement of soft diet, increased number of administration of analgesics, and prolonged hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity were associated with poor early surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy. This study suggested that greater cautions and improved surgical techniques were required to improve early surgical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for overweight and obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastric Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yook
authors.forename: Kap Choong
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Beom Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Sik
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors