PURPOSE: The effectiveness of D2 lymph node dissection in gastric cancer operation is controversial in Western countries because of the relatively high complication and mortality rates in contrast to those of Japanese studies. A generally high body mass index (BMI) of the European patients was assumed to be one of the major causes for postoperative complication. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between patient BMI and operative outcomes.
METHODS: We studied 201 consecutive Korean patients who had undergone gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer between Jan 2002 and Apr 2003. They were assigned to four groups according to BMI: group A, with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; group B, with BMI of 18.5 to 23 kg/m2; group C, with BMI of 23 to 25 kg/m2; and group D, with BMI > 25 kg/m2. We analyzed differences in the length of operation time, numbers of examined lymph nodes, numbers of transfused patients, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications in the four groups.
RESULTS: No significant differences were found with regard to the length of operation time, the numbers of examined lymph nodes, the numbers of transfused patients, the postoperative hospital stay, and the postoperative complications in four groups.
CONCLUSION: High BMI was not associated with increased operative risk or morbidity.
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