Abstract

OBJECTIVE

In Western world, 60 to 65% of the gastric cancer cases are in locally advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and in these patients, extended resections may increase the risk of complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the resectability rates and to determine early morbidity and mortality rates after resections for locally advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS

Consecutive non-metastatic locally advanced gastric cancer patients treated between October 2002 and September 2006 were included in this retrospective exploratory analyses study.

RESULTS

One hundred and ten patients (49.8%) had additional organ resection due to adjacent organ involvement. R0 resection was achieved in 181 patients (82%), R1 resection in 29 patients (13%), and R2 resection in 11 patients (5%). The morbidity and mortality rates of the all series were 21,7% and 4.5% respectively. More than two additional organ resections (p=0.001), eryhtrocyte transfusions of more than 2 units (p=0.001) and low total protein levels (p=0.008) were determined as the parameters which increase complication rates according to multivariate analysis. The parameters which increase mortality rates were as follows; having two or more additional organ resections (p=0.001), cardiovascular and respiratory comorbidities (p=0.002) and total gastrectomy (p=0.028).

CONCLUSION

Additional organ resection rates of the patient with locally advanced gastric cancers that not given neo-adjuvant treatment is high and this occurance increases the morbidity and mortality rates. Altough total gastrectomy has been found to be a factor for increased mortality in locally advanced gastric cancer, D2 dissection is safe for these patients