The effect of the body mass index on the short-term surgical outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy: A propensity score-matched study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data of patients who underwent LTG for gastric cancer at six institutions between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. The patients were classified into three groups: low BMI (<18.5 kg/m(2)), normal BMI (≥18.5 and <25 kg/m(2)) and high BMI (≥25 kg/m(2)). In these patients, clinicopathological variables were analysed using propensity score matching for age, sex, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical state, clinical stage, surgical method, D2 lymph node dissection, combined resection of other organs, anastomosis method and jejunal pouch reconstruction. The surgical results and post-operative outcomes were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were matched in the analysis of the low BMI and normal BMI groups. There were no differences in operative time (P = 0.693), blood loss (P = 0.150), post-operative complication (P = 0.762) and post-operative hospital stay (P = 0.448). In the analysis of the normal BMI and high BMI groups, 208 patients were matched. There were also no differences in blood loss (P = 0.377), post-operative complication (P = 0.249) and post-operative hospital stay (P = 0.676). However, the operative time was significantly longer in the high BMI group (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the association with a longer operative time in the high BMI group, BMI had no significant effect on the surgical outcomes of LTG. LTG could be performed safely regardless of BMI.