The Effects of Obesity on Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Conventional Open Gastrectomy in Patients with Early Gastric Cancer

Lee, Hee Jeong; Kim, Kwang Hee; Kim, Woon Won; Oh, Sang Hoon

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term results of conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG) and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) in obese patients with early gastric cancer.
METHODS
This study included 28 consecutive patients who underwent LADG and 33 patients who underwent ODG for early gastric cancer. The patients were divided into two groups: obese (body mass index, BMI> or =25) and non-obese (BMI<25). Patient characteristics, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The operation time was longer in LADG patients than in ODG patients. In the LADG group, the high BMI subset required significantly longer operative time than the low BMI subset. The number of retrieved lymph nodes, average perioperative hemoglobin concentration, serum albumin, first flatus, and postoperative WBC count were similar between the two groups. Regarding ODG patients, the mean perioperative decrease in hemoglobin concentration was significantly greater in the high BMI subset. The difference in operative time between the ODG/high BMI subset and the ODG/low BMI subset was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Obesity has differing effects on LADG and on ODG, and this should be considered when deciding what procedure to utilize in patients with early gastric cancer. Further research is needed to better elucidate the relationship between obesity and gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.