Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2010; 16(1): 98-103
Published online Jan 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i1.98
Reoperation for early postoperative complications after gastric cancer surgery in a Chinese hospital
Birendra Kumar Sah, Ming-Min Chen, Min Yan, Zheng-Gang Zhu
Birendra Kumar Sah, Ming-Min Chen, Min Yan, Zheng-Gang Zhu, Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai 200025, China
Author contributions: Sah BK designed the study, collected the data, and drafted the manuscript; Chen MM and Yan M assisted in interpretation of data and assisted in drafting the manuscript; Zhu ZG participated in the design and final approval of the study and critical revision of the article.
Correspondence to: Zheng-Gang Zhu, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, 197 Ruijin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China. rjzhuzhenggang@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-64370045 Fax: +86-21-53821171
Received: October 24, 2009
Revised: November 21, 2009
Accepted: November 28, 2009
Published online: January 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the occurrence of postoperative complications of gastric cancer surgery, and analyze the potential causes of reoperation for early postoperative complications.

METHODS: A total of 1639 patients who underwent radical or palliative gastrectomies for gastric cancer were included in the study. The study endpoint was the analysis of postoperative complications in inpatients.

RESULTS: About 31% of patients had early postoperative complications, and complications of infection occurred most frequently. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage and anastomotic leak were the main causes of reoperation, which accounted for about 2.2%. Mortality was 11.1% in the reoperation group, but was only 0.8% in other patients. The duration of postoperative stay in hospital was significantly longer and the total expenditure was markedly higher in the patients who underwent reoperation (P < 0.001). There was no significant association of any available factors in this study with the high rate of reoperation.

CONCLUSION: Reoperation significantly increases the mortality rate and raises the burden of the surgical unit. More prospective studies are required to explore the potential risk factors.

Keywords: Reoperation, Gastric cancer, Surgery, Postoperative complications