Morbid obesity is adversely associated with perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) may be more challenging in obese individuals. This study aimed to evaluate whether obesity had an adverse effect on perioperative outcomes following RALRP. METHODS: Hospitalized patients who underwent RALRP from 2008-2014 were identified using the National Inpatient Sample database. We grouped RALRP patients into non-obese, obesity class I-II, and obesity class III (morbid obesity). Rates of blood transfusion, intraoperative and postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay, and total costs were compared among the three groups by univariate regression, multivariate regression, and propensity score weighting analysis. RESULTS: Of 53 301 patients identified, 48 725 were non-obese, 3572 were diagnosed with obesity class I-II, and 1004 were diagnosed with morbid obesity. Compared to non-obesity (7.62%), overall postoperative complications were commonly observed in obesity class I-II (10.55%) and morbid obesity (17.11%). Multivariable analyses suggested that morbid obesity was associated with increased overall postoperative (odds ratio [OR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65-2.42), cardiac (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03-2.58), respiratory (OR 4.03, 95% CI 3.04-5.36), genitourinary (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.90), miscellaneous medical (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.58-2.39) complications, prolonged hospitalization (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.57-2.21), and 12% higher total cost. Propensity score weighting analysis yielded similar results. Adequate covariate balance was achieved for all variables after weighting. CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity is adversely associated with perioperative outcomes in RALRP. Close management is required in patients undergoing RALRP with morbid obesity for potential worse prognosis.