Purpose: 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).
Conclusion: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is technically feasible and safe for obese patients and provides all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.