Perirenal fat surface area as a risk factor for perioperative difficulties and 30‐day postoperative complications in elective colon cancer surgery

Aim Visceral obesity is associated with perioperative and postoperative complications in colorectal surgery. We aimed to investigate the association between the perirenal fat surface area (PRF) and postoperative complications. Method Data on 610 patients undergoing curative, elective colon cancer resection between 2006 and 2016 at Stockholm South General Hospital were retrieved from a local quality register. We assessed perioperative and postoperative outcomes using a multinomial regression model adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and surgical approach (open/laparoscopy) in relation to PRF. Results PRF could be measured in 605 patients; the median area was 24 cm2. Patients with PRF ≥ 40 cm2 had longer operation time (median 223 vs 184 min), more intra‐operative bleeding (250 vs 125 ml), reoperations (11% vs 6%), surgical complications (27% vs 13%) and nonsurgical infectious complications (16% vs 9%) than patients with PRF < 40 cm2, but there were no differences in the need for intensive care or duration of hospital stay. The multivariate analyses revealed an increased risk of any complication [OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.1–2.6)], which was even more pronounced for moderate complications [Clavien–Dindo II, OR 2.14 (CI 1.2–2.4]; Clavien–Dindo III, OR 2.35 (CI 1.0–5.5)] in patients with PRF ≥ 40 vs < 40 cm2. The absolute risk of complications was similar in men and women with PRF ≥ 40 cm2. Conclusion PRF, an easily measured indirect marker of visceral obesity, was associated with overall and moderate complications in men and women and could serve as a useful tool in the assessment of preoperative risk.