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The Globesity Challenge to General Surgery pp 141–153Cite as

Lower GI Tract in Obesity

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Abstract

Obesity and, particularly, visceral fat are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer incidence; furthermore, in the surgeon’s opinion, obesity is commonly related to higher technical difficulties and postoperative complications.

Technical problems in colorectal surgery are specially linked to a difficult exposure and vision of the pelvic and perineal site, with consequent impaired maneuvers of instruments in a restricted working area. Longer operative times and increased rate of conversions are described, but data on outcomes in obese patients are sometimes lacking or controversial. Results on supposed higher postoperative complications are difficult to evaluate: literature data on colon and rectal operations as well as different extent of obesity are often mixed.

Use of appropriate pelvic retractors in open surgery is mandatory. Laparoscopic surgery can lead to important benefits, but it is technically demanding and requires a highly standardized technique and specific surgical instruments, in order to decrease intraoperative difficulties and improve outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, 14, Corso Dogliotti, Turin, 10126, Italy

    Mauro Toppino

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  1. Mauro Toppino
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Correspondence to Mauro Toppino .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Chirurgica 1, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Padova, Italy

    Mirto Foletto

  2. Department of General Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, Florida, USA

    Raul J. Rosenthal

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Toppino, M. (2014). Lower GI Tract in Obesity. In: Foletto, M., Rosenthal, R. (eds) The Globesity Challenge to General Surgery. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5382-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5382-3_10

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  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5382-3

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