Mao D, Flynn DE, Yerkovich S, Tran K, Gurunathan U, Chandrasegaram MD. Effect of obesity on post-operative outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14(7): 1324-1336 [PMID: 36051092 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i7.1324]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Manju D Chandrasegaram, FRCS, MBChB, Attending Doctor, Senior Lecturer, Surgeon, Department of General Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Brisbane 4032, Queensland, Australia. m.chandrasegaram@uq.edu.au
Research Domain of This Article
Surgery
Article-Type of This Article
Retrospective Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2022; 14(7): 1324-1336 Published online Jul 15, 2022. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i7.1324
Table 1 Demographic and co-morbidity characteristics of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
433
182
615
Age
71 (58.0-79.0)
70 (60.0-77.0)
0.45
Sex
Male
232 (53.6)
83 (45.6)
315
0.08
Female
201 (46.4)
99 (54.4)
300
ASA grade
Low (ASA 1-2)
198 (45.7)
54 (29.7)
252
< 0.001
High (ASA ≥ 3)
235 (54.3)
128 (70.3)
363
Any cardiac comorbidity
246 (56.8)
133 (73.1)
379
< 0.001
Specified cardiac comorbidity
Ischemic heart disease
79 (18.2)
37 (20.3)
116
0.57
Coronary artery bypass graft
25 (5.8)
16 (8.8)
41
0.21
Coronary stents
25 (5.8)
15 (8.2)
40
0.28
Pacemaker
8 (1.8)
5 (2.7)
13
0.54
Valve replacement
19 (4.4)
4 (2.2)
23
0.25
Heart failure
19 (4.4)
9 (4.9)
28
0.83
Hypertension
186 (43.0)
117 (64.3)
303
< 0.001
Atrial fibrillation
54 (12.5)
29 (15.9)
83
0.25
Any respiratory comorbidity
116 (26.8)
68 (37.4)
184
0.01
Specified respiratory comorbidity
Asthma
41 (9.5)
27 (14.8)
68
0.07
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
52 (12.0)
20 (11.0)
72
0.78
Bronchiectasis
6 (1.4)
3 (1.6)
9
0.73
Obstructive sleep apnea
10 (2.3)
26 (14.3)
36
< 0.001
Any metabolic comorbidity
158 (36.5)
182 (100.0)
340
< 0.001
Specified metabolic comorbidity
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
3 (0.7)
0 (0.0)
3
0.56
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
55 (12.7)
52 (28.6)
107
< 0.001
Hyperlipidemia
116 (26.8)
59 (32.4)
175
0.17
Current smoker
67 (15.5)
25 (13.8)
92
0.71
Alcohol > 2 standard drinks/d
44 (10.2)
13 (7.1)
57
0.29
Table 2 Surgical features of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
433
182
615
Cancer location
Appendix
37 (8.5)
9 (4.9)
46
0.47
Cecum to transverse colon
205 (47.3)
92 (50.5)
297
Splenic flexure to sigmoid colon
143 (33.0)
61 (33.5)
204
Rectum
48 (11.1)
20 (11.0)
68
Operative urgency
Elective
359 (82.9)
161 (88.5)
519
0.09
Emergency
74 (17.1)
21 (11.5)
95
Operative approach
Laparoscopic
265 (61.5)
96 (53.3)
361
0.002
Open
72 (16.7)
20 (11.1)
92
Laparoscopic-assisted
71 (16.5)
40 (22.2)
111
Laparoscopic converted to open
22 (5.1)
23 (12.8)
45
Transanal excision
1 (0.2)
1 (0.2)
2
Operation performed
Appendicectomy
31 (7.2)
8 (4.4)
39
0.18
Right hemicolectomy
170 (39.3)
74 (40.7)
244
Extended right hemicolectomy
34 (7.9)
18 (9.9)
52
Left hemicolectomy
18 (4.2)
11 (6.0)
29
Hartmann’s procedure
20 (4.6)
5 (2.7)
25
High anterior resection
76 (17.6)
37 (20.3)
113
Low anterior resection
27 (6.2)
9 (4.9)
36
Ultra-low anterior resection
28 (6.5)
5 (2.7)
33
Other
29 (6.7)
15 (8.2)
44
Stoma requirement
65 (15.0)
18 (9.9)
83
0.09
Peri-operative transfusion requirement
65 (15.0)
28 (15.4)
93
0.90
Table 3 Post-operative outcomes of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
433
182
615
Post-operative complication (CD grade)
No complication
242 (55.9)
88 (48.4)
330
0.06
Complication
191 (44.1)
94 (51.6)
285
I
31 (7.2)
17 (9.3)
48
II
99 (22.9)
42 (23.1)
141
IIIa
27 (6.2)
15 (8.2)
42
IIIb
13 (3.0)
6 (3.3)
19
IVa
13 (3.0)
10 (5.5)
23
IVb
0 (0.0)
3 (1.6)
3
V
8 (1.8)
1 (0.5)
9
No complication or low-grade complication (CD I-II)
372 (85.9)
147 (80.8)
519
0.11
High-grade complication (CD IIIa-V)
61 (14.1)
35 (19.2)
96
Any surgical complication
99 (22.9)
48 (26.4)
147
0.35
Specified surgical complications
Abdomino-pelvic collection
16 (3.7)
3 (1.6)
19
0.21
Anastomotic leak
12 (2.8)
7 (3.8)
19
0.46
Wound infection
19 (4.4)
7 (3.8)
26
0.83
Prolonged ileus
49 (11.3)
27 (14.8)
76
0.23
Post-operative hemorrhage
3 (0.7)
2 (1.1)
5
0.64
Return to theatre
13 (3.0)
7 (3.8)
20
0.62
Post-operative sepsis
16 (8.3)
8 (8.6)
24
1.00
Any medical complication
96 (22.2)
37 (20.3)
133
0.67
Specified medical complications
VTE (DVT/PE)
4 (0.9)
2 (1.1)
6
1.00
Pneumonia
19 (4.4)
8 (4.4)
27
1.00
Ischemic cardiac event
5 (1.2)
5 (2.7)
10
0.17
Cardiac arrhythmia
30 (6.9)
9 (4.9)
39
0.47
Respiratory failure
10 (2.3)
8 (4.4)
18
0.19
Renal failure
12 (2.8)
7 (3.8)
19
0.46
Unplanned ICU admission
16 (3.7)
6 (3.3)
22
1.00
Post-operative length of stay (d)
6 (IQR 5-11)
7 (IQR 5-11)
0.42
Table 4 Post-operative outcomes in the subgroup of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
336
136
472
Post-operative complication (CD grade)
No complication
204 (60.7)
71 (52.2)
275
0.05
Complication
132 (39.3)
65 (47.8)
197
I
24 (7.1)
12 (8.8)
36
II
71 (21.1)
29 (21.3)
100
IIIa
20 (6.0)
10 (7.4)
30
IIIb
6 (1.8)
6 (4.4)
12
IVa
6 (1.8)
6 (4.4)
12
IVb
0 (0.0)
2 (1.5)
2
V
5 (1.5)
0 (0.0)
5
No complication or low-grade complication (CD I-II)
299 (89.0)
112 (82.4)
411
0.07
High-grade complication (CD IIIa-V)
37 (11.0)
24 (17.6)
61
Any surgical complication
68 (20.2)
37 (27.2)
105
0.11
Specified surgical complications
Abdomino-pelvic collection
9 (2.7)
3 (2.2)
12
1.00
Anastomotic leak
7 (2.1)
5 (3.7)
12
0.34
Wound infection
13 (3.9)
6 (4.4)
19
0.80
Prolonged ileus
33 (9.8)
21 (15.4)
54
0.11
Post-operative hemorrhage
2 (0.6)
1 (0.7)
3
1.00
Return to theatre
6 (1.8)
6 (4.4)
12
0.11
Post-operative sepsis
12 (9.0)
4 (6.2)
16
0.59
Any medical complication
66 (19.6)
21 (15.4)
87
0.36
Specified medical complications
VTE (DVT/PE)
3 (0.9)
1 (0.7)
4
1.00
Pneumonia
13 (3.9)
2 (1.5)
15
0.25
Ischemic cardiac event
3 (0.9)
3 (2.2)
6
0.36
Cardiac arrhythmia
23 (6.8)
7 (5.1)
30
0.68
Respiratory failure
7 (2.1)
6 (4.4)
13
0.21
Renal failure
7 (2.1)
4 (2.9)
11
0.52
Unplanned ICU admission
6 (1.8)
3 (2.2)
9
0.72
Post-operative length of stay (d)
6 (IQR 4-9)
6 (IQR 5-10)
0.15
Table 5 Post-operative outcomes in the subgroup of patients with right sided colon cancer
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
205
92
297
Post-operative complication (CD grade)
No complication
94 (45.9)
44 (47.8)
138
0.61
Complication
111 (54.1)
48 (52.2)
159
I
21 (10.2)
9 (9.8)
30
II
58 (28.3)
23 (25.0)
81
IIIa
19 (9.3)
7 (7.6)
26
IIIb
3 (1.5)
1 (1.1)
4
IVa
8 (3.9)
5 (5.4)
13
IVb
0 (0.0)
2 (2.2)
2
V
2 (1.0)
1 (1.1)
3
No complication or low-grade complication (CD I-II)
173 (84.4)
76 (82.6)
249
0.73
High-grade complication (CD IIIa-V)
32 (15.6)
16 (17.4)
48
Any surgical complication
52 (25.4)
22 (23.9)
74
0.88
Specified surgical complications
Abdomino-pelvic collection
7 (3.4)
3 (0.0)
10
0.10
Anastomotic leak
7 (3.4)
0 (0.0)
7
1.00
Wound infection
10 (4.9)
3 (3.3)
13
0.76
Prolonged ileus
26 (12.7)
14 (15.2)
40
0.58
Post-operative hemorrhage
1 (0.5)
2 (2.2)
3
0.23
Return to theatre
3 (1.5)
1 (1.1)
4
1.00
Post-operative sepsis
2 (1.0)
1 (1.1)
3
1.00
Any medical complication
55 (26.8)
25 (27.2)
80
1.00
Specified medical complications
VTE (DVT/PE)
2 (1.0)
1 (1.1)
3
1.00
Pneumonia
14 (6.8)
6 (6.5)
20
1.00
Ischemic cardiac event
2 (1.0)
3 (3.3)
5
0.17
Cardiac arrhythmia
20 (9.8)
6 (6.5)
26
0.51
Respiratory failure
4 (2.0)
5 (5.4)
9
0.14
Renal failure
7 (3.4)
6 (6.5)
13
0.23
Unplanned ICU admission
8 (3.9)
4 (4.3)
12
1.00
Post-operative length of stay (d)
7 (IQR 5-11)
6 (IQR 5-11)
0.91
Table 6 Post-operative outcomes in the subgroup of patients with left sided colon cancer
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
143
61
204
Post-operative complication (CD grade)
No complication
90 (62.9)
32 (52.5)
122
0.09
Complication
53 (37.1)
29 (47.5)
82
I
7 (4.9)
6 (9.8)
13
II
32 (22.4)
12 (19.7)
44
IIIa
3 (2.1)
6 (9.8)
9
IIIb
5 (3.5)
2 (3.3)
7
IVa
3 (2.1)
2 (3.3)
5
IVb
0 (0.0)
1 (1.6)
1
V
3 (2.1)
0 (0.0)
3
No complication or low-grade complication (CD I-II)
129 (90.2)
50 (82.0)
179
0.11
High-grade complication (CD IIIa-V)
14 (9.8)
11 (18.0)
25
Any surgical complication
29 (20.3)
17 (27.9)
46
0.27
Specified surgical complications
Abdomino-pelvic collection
7 (4.9)
2 (3.3)
9
0.73
Anastomotic leak
4 (2.8)
2 (3.3)
6
1.00
Wound infection
4 (2.8)
3 (4.9)
7
0.43
Prolonged ileus
17 (11.9)
9 (14.8)
26
0.65
Post-operative hemorrhage
1 (0.7)
0 (0.0)
1
1.00
Return to theatre
5 (3.5)
3 (4.9)
8
0.70
Post-operative sepsis
3 (2.1)
0 (0.0)
3
0.56
Any medical complication
28 (19.6)
6 (9.8)
34
0.10
Specified medical complications
VTE (DVT/PE)
1 (0.7)
1 (1.6)
2
0.51
Pneumonia
5 (3.5)
2 (3.3)
7
1.00
Ischemic cardiac event
1 (0.7)
0 (0.0)
1
1.00
Cardiac arrhythmia
6 (4.2)
0 (0.0)
6
1.00
Respiratory failure
4 (2.8)
2 (3.3)
6
1.00
Renal failure
4 (2.8)
0 (0.0)
4
0.32
Unplanned ICU admission
5 (3.5)
2 (3.3)
7
1.00
Post-operative length of stay (d)
7 (IQR 5-10)
7 (IQR 5-10)
0.89
Table 7 Post-operative outcomes in the subgroup of patients with rectal cancer
BMI < 30 (% of group)
BMI ≥ 30 (% of group)
Total
P value
Patients
48
20
68
Post-operative complication (CD grade)
No complication
22 (45.8)
6 (30.0)
28
0.68
Complication
26 (54.2)
14 (70.0)
40
I
3 (6.3)
2 (10.0)
5
II
8 (16.7)
5 (25.0)
13
IIIa
5 (10.4)
2 (10.0)
7
IIIb
5 (10.4)
3 (15.0)
8
IVa
2 (4.2)
2 (10.0)
4
IVb
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
V
3 (6.3)
0 (0.0)
3
No complication or low-grade complication (CD I-II)
33 (68.8)
13 (65.0)
46
0.78
High-grade complication (CD IIIa-V)
15 (31.2)
7 (35.0)
22
Any surgical complication
18 (37.5)
7 (35.0)
25
1.00
Specified surgical complications
Abdomino-pelvic collection
2 (4.2)
1 (5.0)
3
1.00
Anastomotic leak
1 (2.1)
2 (10.0)
3
0.20
Wound infection
5 (10.4)
0 (0.0)
5
0.31
Prolonged ileus
6 (12.5)
3 (15.0)
9
1.00
Post-operative hemorrhage
1 (2.1)
0 (0.0)
1
1.00
Return to theatre
5 (10.4)
3 (15.0)
8
0.68
Post-operative sepsis
1 (2.1)
0 (0.0)
1
1.00
Any medical complication
13 (27.1)
5 (25.0)
18
1.00
Specified medical complications
VTE (DVT/PE)
1 (2.1)
0 (0.0)
1
1.00
Pneumonia
0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)
0
Ischemic cardiac event
2 (4.2)
2 (10.0)
4
0.58
Cardiac arrhythmia
4 (8.3)
2 (10.0)
6
1.00
Respiratory failure
2 (4.2)
1 (5.0)
3
1.00
Renal failure
1 (2.1)
1 (5.0)
2
0.50
Unplanned ICU admission
3 (6.3)
0 (0.0)
3
0.55
Post-operative length of stay (d)
9 (IQR 6-14)
10 (IQR 5-21)
0.91
Citation: Mao D, Flynn DE, Yerkovich S, Tran K, Gurunathan U, Chandrasegaram MD. Effect of obesity on post-operative outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14(7): 1324-1336