title: Effects of obesity on the outcome of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer in obese patients based on the short-term outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of 561 patients with colorectal cancer treated from April 2007 to October 2010. The surgical outcomes were compared between non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the enrolled patients were classified as non-obese (n = 421) or obese (n = 140). The obese group had a significantly higher proportion of male patients (72.1 vs. 57.0 %; P = 0.002), a higher incidence of left colon cancer (49.3 vs. 36.8 %; P = 0.033), and more systematic comorbidities (P < 0.001) than did the non-obese group. The length of the surgery was significantly longer in obese than in non-obese patients (221 vs. 207 min; P = 0.025). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups; however, surgical wound infections were more common in obese patients (12.1 vs. 5.2 %; P = 0.005). Obesity was not a significant-independent risk factor for total postoperative complications (odds ratio 1.330; P = 0.289).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is technically feasible and safe for obese patients and provides all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Saitama International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan, yuji-miyamoto@live.jp.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D061646:Operative Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection; D016896:Treatment Outcome