Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy in obese patients: outcomes and considerations.

Objective: To determine whether obesity is associated with surgical outcome in Japanese patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy (RRN).
Patients and Methods: Between November 1999 and March 2005, we performed 98 RRN procedures for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 or more were defined as obese (group A, n=33) and those with a BMI of <25.0 were defined as non-obese (group B, n=65), in accordance with the criteria of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity. Patient background, degree of surgical invasiveness, and period of convalescence were compared between groups A and B.
Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of age, gender, tumor laterality, tumor size, and time until resumption of oral intake and ambulation. However group A had a significantly longer insufflation time (172.1 vs. 137.4 min), greater blood loss (195.3 vs. 48.4 ml) and higher renal specimen weight (440.0 vs. 306.0 g) than group B.
Conclusion: Obesity is not a factor that affects patient eligibility for RRN, but is a risk factor for longer insufflation time and greater blood loss.
(Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)