PURPOSE: As the prevalence of obesity has been rising during the past decades worldwide and especially in Greece, surgeons have faced significant challenges concerning the treatment of morbidly obese women with gynecologic cancer. Panniculectomy is a safe procedure that offers better visualization of pelvic anatomy and prevention of major complications in these women. METHODS: Aim of this study is to describe a single-center experience of surgical treatment of morbidly obese women with gynecologic cancer and concurrent panniculectomy. We, also, review the literature for articles that report concurrent gynecologic surgery and panniculectomy, to summarize the complications that were encountered. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2018, 38 obese women were treated with concurrent panniculectomy at the time of gynecologic surgery for cancer in a single institution. Median age was 55.62 years old, median BMI 43.79 kg/m2, median blood loss 243.75 ml and median operative time approximately 200 min. Twenty-nine patients had endometrial cancer, one patient had concurrent endometrial cancer and fallopian tube cancer, six patients had borderline ovarian cancer, and two had adult granulosa ovarian tumour. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were documented. Five patients suffered from wound infection and were treated with antibiotics and one patient died after wound infection, wound dehiscence, and renal failure. CONCLUSION: For selected obese patients, concurrent panniculectomy with surgical treatment of gynecological cancer is a safe and efficient procedure.
PURPOSE: As the prevalence of obesity has been rising during the past decades worldwide and especially in Greece, surgeons have faced significant challenges concerning the treatment of morbidly obesewomen with gynecologic cancer. Panniculectomy is a safe procedure that offers better visualization of pelvic anatomy and prevention of major complications in these women. METHODS: Aim of this study is to describe a single-center experience of surgical treatment of morbidly obesewomen with gynecologic cancer and concurrent panniculectomy. We, also, review the literature for articles that report concurrent gynecologic surgery and panniculectomy, to summarize the complications that were encountered. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2018, 38 obesewomen were treated with concurrent panniculectomy at the time of gynecologic surgery for cancer in a single institution. Median age was 55.62 years old, median BMI 43.79 kg/m2, median blood loss 243.75 ml and median operative time approximately 200 min. Twenty-nine patients had endometrial cancer, one patient had concurrent endometrial cancer and fallopian tube cancer, six patients had borderline ovarian cancer, and two had adult granulosa ovarian tumour. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were documented. Five patients suffered from wound infection and were treated with antibiotics and one patientdied after wound infection, wound dehiscence, and renal failure. CONCLUSION: For selected obesepatients, concurrent panniculectomy with surgical treatment of gynecological cancer is a safe and efficient procedure.