Obesity does not adversely affect outcomes after laparoscopic splenectomy.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Bariatric Surgery

Background:

• Obesity is often considered a contraindication for laparoscopic splenectomy (LS).
• Limited data exists on the safety and efficacy of LS in obese patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in obese versus non-obese patients.
• To determine if obesity affects key surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 370 patients undergoing LS.
• Patients classified as obese (BMI >30) or non-obese (BMI <30).
• Comparison of conversion rates, complications, operative time, length of stay, and estimated blood loss (EBL).

Main Results:

• Obese (n=127) and non-obese (n=243) groups had similar baseline characteristics.
• Conversion rates (9% vs 11%) and morbidity (16% vs 16%) were comparable.
• Mean operative time was significantly increased in obese patients (170 vs 151 minutes, P=.021).

Conclusions:

• Obesity does not adversely affect outcomes after laparoscopic splenectomy.
• The laparoscopic approach is a safe and optimal technique for splenectomy across weight categories.