BMI and surgical outcomes after prostate removal

This study evaluated the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the outcomes of surgical removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy) among prostate cancer patients.

Radical prostatectomy is often employed in the treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer. The effects of body weight on the outcomes of prostate surgery have not yet been thoroughly investigated despite previous studies demonstrating increased surgical complications among obese patients undergoing the procedure. A deeper understanding of BMI's effect on surgical outcomes may contribute to better patient selection and a reduced rate of complications.

This study reviewed the records of 2,471 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and who underwent open surgical removal of the prostate. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to their BMI: normal weight patients with BMI under 25 (795 patients), over-weight patients with BMI between 25 and 30 (1,305 patients), and obese patients with BMI above 30 (371 patients). The study evaluated success in achieving complete tumor resection (removal of the entire tumor without leaving behind residual cancer cells), a crucial factor in the prevention of cancer recurrence and for patient survival. Recovery of continence and erectile function one year following surgery was also assessed.

Complete tumor resection was successfully achieved in 77.4% of normal weight patients, compared to 71.3% of over-weight patients and 69.8% of obese patients. Both duration of surgery and blood loss during surgery were also found to be increased in association with the patient BMI. One year after surgery, continence rates did not differ significantly between BMI groups. However, the probability of erectile function recovery was found to be significantly affected by patient BMI. Among normal weight patients, 37.7% recovered complete erectile function within one year of surgery, compared to 31.4% of over-weight patients and 27.7% of obese patients.

This study concluded that patient BMI significantly affects surgical outcomes following prostatectomy.

Information regarding additional medical conditions and relevant patient characteristics was missing from this analysis, and may have influenced the reported results.