The impact of body mass index on outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard of care for gallstone disease. Some cases will be converted to open surgery and others will have complications, both leading to worse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased rates of conversion or complication.

A retrospective chart review of 1,027 patients who underwent an attempted LC between January 2006 and December 2009 was performed. Patients were divided into five groups depending on their BMI: 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, 30–34.9, 35–39.9, and ≥40. The primary endpoints were conversion rates, complication rates, and postoperative length of stay (LOS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for worse outcomes.

There were 211 (20.5%), 325 (31.6%), 268 (26.1%), 135 (13.1%), and 88 (8.6%) patients in the groups with BMI values of 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, 30–34.9, 35–39.9, and ≥40, respectively. Seventy-three patients (7.1%) required conversion to open surgery, and 64 patients (6.2%) developed complications. The rate of conversion was similar amongst all the BMI groups (P = 0.366), as was the rate of complication (P = 0.483). Mean (±SD) postoperative LOS was 1.74 ± 3.87 days, and there was no difference between the BMI groups (P = 0.596). Male gender and emergent cholecystectomy were independent predictors of increased conversions and complications. Diabetes was a risk factor for conversion, whereas age >65 years was a risk factor for complications.

Increased BMI was not associated with worse outcomes after LC. Compared with normal weight patients, obese and even morbidly obese patients have no increased risk of conversion to open surgery, nor is there an increased risk of perioperative complications. Obese and morbidly obese patients who require a cholecystectomy should be considered in the same category as normal weight patients, and LC should be the standard of care.