Outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in obese and nonobese patients: a case-matched study of 180 patients.

Background: Because it has been suggested that obese patients may be at higher risk of morbidity and mortality after surgery, we conducted a prospective case-matched study to compare outcomes of elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery in obese and nonobese patients.

Methods: Sixty-two consecutive nonselected obese patients (body mass index > or =30 kg/m(2)) were matched with 118 nonobese patients. Postsurgical mortality and morbidity were defined as in-hospital death and complications.