Single-port cholecystectomy in obese patients: our experience and a review of the literature.

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to compare the postoperative outcomes between obese and normal-weight patients undergoing single-port cholecystectomy (SPC) for gallstone disease.

Methods: A prospectively maintained SPC-database was retrospectively analyzed, and the outcomes of obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2)] and normal-weight patients were compared. All patients underwent SPC using the reusable X-Cone™ device.

Results: A total of 100 patients underwent SPC between July 2009 and September 2011. Seventeen obese patients (17 %) (median BMI 33.9 kg/m², range 30.0-38.8) were compared to 83 normal-weight patients (median BMI 24.1 kg/m², range 17.3-29.5). The length of the operation (median 75.5 min, range 42-156 vs. median 72.0 min, range 42-129; p = 0.51), conversion rate (N = 2 vs. N = 0; p = 1), postoperative complication rate (9.6 vs. 11.8%; p = 0.68), and postoperative hospital stay (median 3 days, range 1-14 vs. median 3 days, range 2-5; p = 0.74), were comparable for the normal-weight and obese patients.

Conclusion: The postoperative outcome of obese patients after SPC is not inferior to that of normal-weight patients undergoing the same operation. Therefore, the BMI should not be considered a key criterion in the patient selection for single-port surgery.