Visceral fat volume and surgical outcomes of colorectal resection

As the impact of visceral fat volume on surgical outcomes in colorectal resection had not previously been assessed, this study was designed to compare the surgical outcomes of colorectal resection in obese and nonobese patients. From 2004 to 2007, 79 operative patients with colorectal cancer were examined. Of these, 25 were obese (i.e., greater than 100 cm2 visceral fat volume), and 54 were nonobese. Mean operating time was significantly longer in obese than in nonobese patients (P < 0.01). Mean blood loss was significantly greater in obese than in nonobese patients (P < 0.01). Mean blood loss/h was significantly greater in obese than nonobese patients (P < 0.01). Surgical site infection was more common in obese than in nonobese patients, but this difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, this study suggested that a visceral fat volume of greater than 100 cm2 may be one of the risk factors in colorectal resection.