Abstract
Background: Morbid obesity is generally regarded as a risk factor for laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to increases in operative time, morbidity, and conversion rate to open cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in morbidly obese patients. Methods: A total of 864 consecutive patients underwent LC at our institution between 1990 and 1997. This series represents a continuing policy of LC for all comers. Data were collected prospectively. There were 659 nonobese (NO: BMI <30 kg/m2), 188 obese (OB: BMI30-40 kg/m2), and 17 morbidly obese patients (MO: BMI >40 kg/m2). Laparoscopic bile duct exploration was performed in 28 (4.2%), nine (4.8%), and one (5.9%) patients, respectively. Results: Obesity and morbid obesity were associated with trends toward an increased conversion rate (2.3% NO; 4.3% OB; 5.9% MO), a longer operative time (median, 80, 85, and 107 mins, respectively), greater postoperative morbidity (4.7%, 5.9%, and 11.8%, respectively), and a reduced ability to obtain cholangiography (86.1%, 80.1%, and 71.4%, respectively). None of these differences, however, were statistically significant (c2 test, p > 0.05). Postoperative hospital stay for LC was similar for all three groups (median, 1 day). Conclusion: LC in morbidly obese patients is a safe procedure, but it may be associated with increased operative difficulty and morbidity, as compared with nonobese and obese patients.
Laparoscopic surgery may be kinder to the patient, but it is more demanding on the surgeon. Fixed trocar positions often require the surgeon to work with instruments at awkward angles to their body. We studied the effect of horizontal and vertical laparoscopic instrument working angle on the surgeon’s thumb, forearm, and shoulder muscle work.Electronyographic (EMG) signals were collected from the thenar compartment (TH), flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), and deltoid (DEL) muscles of the dominant arm of eight surgeons while they were closing a standard pistol-grip disposable laparoscopic grasper against a fixed resistance of 3 N. With the aid of a special testing bench, the instruments’ position was randomly changed among 15°, 45°, and 75° of horizontal angulation relative to the surgeons’ sagital plane, and 15°, 45°, and 75° degrees of vertical angulation relative to a horizontal plane. EMG signals were rectified and smoothed using analogue circuitry and digitally sampled at 10 Hz using a National Instruments DAQCard-700 connected to a Macintosh PowerBook 5300c running LabVIEW software. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA).The effects of vertical and horizontal working angles on the muscle effort were as follows: TH (horizontal, N.S.; vertical, N.S.), FDS (horizontal, p<0.001; vertical, N.S.), and DEL (horizontal, p<0.001; vertical, p<0.01).These results suggest that working with laparoscopic instruments at a horizontal angle of >45° to the surgeon’s sagital plane significantly increases the workload of the flexor digitorium superficialis and deltoid muscles. The deltoid muscle is also adversely affected by vertical angulation of the instrument. The instrument working angle has no effect on the thenar muscles. Whenever possible, laparoscopic surgeons should strive to place their instruments and trocars so as to minimize extreme horizontal or vertical displacement of their hands away from a resting position of comfort.