Effect of body mass index on robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Abstract

Study objective: To estimate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Henry Ford Health System academic medical center (Henry Ford and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospitals)

Patients: A total of 135 patients who underwent scheduled robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications, without concomitant urogynecologic procedures between January 2008 and June 2010.

Interventions: Patients underwent robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy as the intention to treat. Two cases were converted to laparotomy. MEASUREMENTS & MAIN RESULTS: Electronic medical records of all patients that underwent robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy at Henry Ford Health System were reviewed. Data on demographics, BMI (kg/m(2)), estimated blood loss, perioperative hemoglobin change, procedure duration, hospital length of stay, specimen weight, pathology, and postoperative complications were obtained. The women's median age was 45 years (range 30-68), 61.5% were black, and BMI ranged from 14.8-56.2 kg/m2; 23.4% of women were normal weight or less (BMI <25, n = 31), 52.7% of women were obese (BMI >30, n = 70) and 36 of these patients (27.1%) were morbidly obese (BMI ≥35). BMI did not correlate with procedure duration (Spearman r = .12, p = .16), length of stay (Spearman r = .10, p = .24), or estimated blood loss (Spearman r = .12, p =.18). Our analysis did not identify any meaningful associations between BMI and absolute change in hemoglobin. In addition BMI was not associated with an increase in major or minor complications.

Conclusion: BMI is not associated with blood loss, duration of surgery, length of stay, or complication rates in patients undergoing robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Robotic assistance may help surgeons overcome adverse outcomes sometimes found in obese patients.