[Effects of increased body mass index upon laparoscopic radical rectal surgery and its clinical efficacy]

To assess the feasibility, the safety and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic radical rectal surgery for rectal cancer patients with increased body mass index (BMI) .

Retrospectively data reviews were conducted for 405 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer from June 2008 to June 2012. They were classified as normal-weight (NW, BMI 18.6-22.9 kg/m(2), n = 165), overweight (OW, BMI 23.0-24.9 kg/m(2), n = 125), and obese (OB, BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m(2), n = 115)groups according to the categories as proposed by 2007 Chinese Obesity Surgery Treatment Guidelines. The differences of oncologic, intraoperative and postoperative status, postoperative complications, number of resected lymph nodes and short-term survival rates were compared among three groups. The data were analyzed by χ(2) or Fisher exact test. The Mann-Whitney U test or analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was used for parametric comparisons. The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan Meier method and the survivals of 3 groups were by the Log-rank test.

The comorbidity of patients in the NW and OW groups were less than that in the OB group(27.9% (46/165) and 30.4% (38/125) vs 47.0% (54/115), χ(2) = 12.066, P < 0.05). No significant difference existed among the groups in terms of conversion rate (9.1% (15/165), 10.4% (13/125) and 12.2% (14/115)), the rate of postoperative complications (20.6% (34/165), 21.6% (27/125) and 24.3% (28/115) ), intraoperative volume of blood loss ((105 ± 30), (110 ± 25) and (115 ± 45) ml), first flatus( (2.8 ± 1.2), (2.9 ± 1.1) and (3.1 ± 1.4) d), postoperative hospital stays ((13.7 ± 5.5), (14.3 ± 7.5) and (14.1 ± 8.5) d, all P > 0.05), and the mean number of retrieved lymph nodes(P > 0.05). While the operation duration in the OB group were longer than that in the NW and OW groups ((250 ± 35) vs (205 ± 20) and (210 ± 30) min, F = 7.216, P < 0.05) . And 368 patients (90.9%) were followed up for a median of 24 months(2-48 months). As for survival curves, no significant difference existed among three groups (P > 0.05).

It is both safe and feasible for obese patients with increased BMI to undergo laparoscopic radical rectal cancer. And there is no effect upon immediate survival.