Efficacy of panniculectomy-combined surgery in superobese patients with endometrial cancer: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Panniculectomy is regarded as an effective approach in highly obese patients with endometrial cancer to improve surgical access or space of the surgical field. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 66-year-old nulliparous woman was brought in from another hospital to our institute for newly diagnosed endometrial carcinoma. The patient was 158 cm in height and weighed 135.8 kg during the first visit to our hospital. Her body mass Index (BMI) was 54.4 kg/m(2). Unfortunately, the patient developed an umbilical hernia and strangulation before the surgery. Emergency partial ileal resection and simple closure of the umbilical hernia were performed. We were finally able to perform simple hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with panniculectomy. Her weight at the time of surgery was 115.5 kg which had been reduced by 20 kg from the time she was first brought in, and the BMI decreased from 54.4 to 45.3 kg/m(2). The patient underwent follow-up without adjuvant therapy since she was in the low-risk group, and showed no signs of recurrence 12 months after surgery. DISCUSSION: There are various risks associated with surgery in highly obese patients. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and smoking are reported to be risk factors of wound complication in panniculectomy, and it was reported that diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: The combination of panniculectomy was considered as an effective approach to perform safe surgery for obese patients.