Published online Jul 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i25.4060
Revised: May 11, 2013
Accepted: May 18, 2013
Published online: July 7, 2013
Core tip: The concept of perioperative complications as a risk factor for survival is well known in gastric cancer, however, the potential impact of complications for patients who survive the initial postoperative period has not been determined. We showed that the occurrence of in-hospital postoperative complications is an independent predictor of worse 5-year overall survival after radical resection of gastric cancer. In 432 patients evaluated, 61 complications occurred affecting 54 patients (12.50%). American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, body mass index, combined organ resection and median duration of operation were associated with higher postoperative complications. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 83.3%, 53.2% and 37.5%, respectively.