Laparoscopic surgical staging of endometrial cancer: does obesity influence feasibility and perioperative outcome?

Laparoscopic treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer is the gold standard to reduce perioperative morbidity. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for endometrial cancer and anesthesiological and surgical complications. The authors' aim was to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on perioperative parameters and complications in laparoscopically-treated patients with endometrial cancer.

A consecutive series of patients affected by endometrial cancer and their demographic and clinicopathological data were collected. Patients were divided in 41 non-obese (BMI or= 30) groups. All patients had been preoperatively evaluated with hysteroscopic procedures and toraco-abdominal computed tomography (CT) and had been submitted to laparoscopic radical hysterectomy according to Querleu-Morrow, pelvic lymphadenectomy, peritoneal washing, and bilateral adnexectomy.

There was no statistically significant difference in blood loss, number of lymph nodes removed, and hospital stay between the groups, but there was a trend towards a lengthening of surgical time in the obese women. There were no major intraoperative and postoperative complications.

This study demonstrates that laparoscopic approach is feasible and safe in obese women evaluating the anesthesiological risk.