A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may reduce post-operative complications in the majority of patients, but it remains a challenge for obesity patients. We aimed to examine the postoperative outcome in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Method: Each author conducted a search form PubMed, EuropePMC, and Sciencedirect databases from on 30 November 2022. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses we conducted this study. All types of studies, laparoscopy cholecystectomy in obese patients, English papers, older than 18 years old were included in these studies. Abstract only articles, no fully published English papers were excluded from this study. Results: Nine publications including 7138 patients from 1999 to 2022 were identified. Compared with normal weight patients, adult obese patient had higher conversion rates (P=0.002), blood loss (P=0.009), intraoperative complication (P=0.08), postoperative complication (P=0.04), mortality (P=0.45), longer need of surgical time (P<0.00001). No significance difference in length of stay were found (P=0.98). Conclusion: This study found that laparoscopic cholecystectomy for obese patients has a higher conversion rates, the need of longer surgical time, and blood loss compared to normal weight individual. Intraoperative, postoperative complication, and mortality were found but not statically significance. Further prospective studies are required to maximize outcome.