Preoperative body mass index, 30-day postoperative morbidity, length of stay and quality of life in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery for recurrent and locally-advanced rectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of developing complications following gastrointestinal surgery, especially following radical surgeries such as pelvic exenteration. This study aims to determine if preoperative body mass index (BMI) is associated with 30-day morbidity, length of hospital stay and/or quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery for recurrent and locally-advanced rectal cancer prior to a prospective trial.


METHODS
A review of all patients who underwent pelvic exenteration surgery prior to 2008 was performed. Patients were included if they had a documented BMI as well as a QoL measurement (Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy - Colorectal questionnaire).


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients, with a mean age of 56 years, had preoperative height and weight data, as well as measures of postoperative QoL, and formed the study group. The numbers of patients with recurrent (n = 17) or locally-advanced rectal cancer (n = 14) were similar. The mean length of stay was 21 days while the mean BMI of the patients was 24.3 (± 5.9) kg/m(2). The majority of the patients were either of normal weight (n = 15) or overweight/obese (n = 11). The average length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients who were underweight compared to those who were of normal weight (F = 6.508, P = 0.006) and those who were overweight and obese (F = 6.508, P = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a lower body mass index preoperatively is associated with a longer length of hospital stay. BMI is not associated with long-term QoL in this patient group. However, further prospective research is required.
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Jessica
J
Beaton
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Sharon
S
Carey
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. ; Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Michael J
MJ
Solomon
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Ker-Kan
KK
Tan
Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Jane
J
Young
Body mass index; Pelvic exenteration; Rectal neoplasms; Treatment outcome