The effect of obesity on the outcomes of laparoscopic hysterectomy: a literature overview

In the last decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the world (40% in certain countries). It predisposes to many diseases and morbidities in both males and females. In the latter, obesity predisposes to multiple gynecological conditions requiring hysterectomy such as endometrial cancer. Over the years, technical improvements have allowed surgeons to perform a hysterectomy in a minimally invasive approach (laparoscopically) with clear benefits, safety and better outcomes compared to the abdominal approach. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of obesity on the outcomes of laparoscopic hysterectomy performed both for benign and malignant gynecological pathologies. We performed literature research on the electronic database PubMed from the database inception through June 29, 2019. Obesity does not seem to increase adverse outcomes in laparoscopic hysterectomy as compared to the increased postoperative complication rate after open surgery. Therefore, laparoscopic hysterectomy can be performed safely in this population and represent the approach of choice.