Journal of minimally invasive gynecology
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J Minim Invasive Gynecol · Mar 2014
ReviewLaparoscopy in the morbidly obese: physiologic considerations and surgical techniques to optimize success.
The objectives of this review were to analyze the literature describing the benefits of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery in obese women, to examine the physiologic considerations associated with obesity, and to describe surgical techniques that will enable surgeons to perform laparoscopy and robotic surgery successfully in obese patients. The Medline database was reviewed for all articles published in the English language between 1993 and 2013 containing the search terms "gynecologic laparoscopy" "laparoscopy," "minimally invasive surgery and obesity," "obesity," and "robotic surgery." The incidence of obesity is increasing in the United States, and in particular morbid obesity in women. Obesity is associated with a wide range of comorbid conditions that may affect perioperative outcomes including hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. ⋯ Performing gynecologic laparoscopy in the morbidly obese is no longer rare. Increases in the heaviest weight categories involve changes in clinical practice patterns. With comprehensive and thoughtful preoperative and surgical planning, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery may be performed safely and is of particular benefit in obese patients.