Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. May 27, 2025; 17(5): 101047
Published online May 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i5.101047
Factors influencing postoperative complications in patients with gastric cancer: A retrospective study
Ying Xiao, Bang-Chun Ren, Tao Zhang, Dong Peng, Jiang Min
Ying Xiao, Bang-Chun Ren, Tao Zhang, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Dong Peng, Jiang Min, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Co-corresponding authors: Dong Peng and Jiang Min.
Author contributions: Xiao Y conceived the project; Ren BC, Zhang T, and Min J collected and analyzed the data; Xiao Y and Peng D wrote the first draft of the manuscript; Zhang T provided expert suggestions and revised the manuscript accordingly; All the authors contributed to the manuscript and approved the submitted version. Peng D and Min J, as co corresponding author, made equal contributions to this work. Firstly, this study was conducted as a collaborative effort, and it is reasonable to designate a co corresponding author. The author accurately reflects the distribution of responsibilities and burdens related to the time and effort required to complete the research and final manuscript; Designating two Co corresponding author will ensure effective communication and management of post submission matters, thereby improving the quality and reliability of the paper; Secondly, the co-corresponding authors of this research team possess exceptional expertise and skills in this field, and their appointment provides the most diverse insights for the manuscript. It also promotes the most comprehensive and in-depth exploration of research topics, ultimately enriching readers’ understanding by providing various expert perspectives. It also promotes the most comprehensive and in-depth exploration of research topics, ultimately enriching readers’ understanding by providing various expert perspectives; Thirdly, Peng D and Min J made substantial and equal contributions throughout the entire research process. Choosing these researchers as Co corresponding author, acknowledging and respecting their equal contributions, demonstrates the spirit of collaboration and teamwork in this study.
Supported by the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation, No. cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0288; and the Chongqing Medical University Program for Youth Innovation in Future Medicine, No. W0190.
Institutional review board statement: This study has been approved and reviewed by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (No. CYYK-2022-017).
Informed consent statement: Due to the retrospective nature of this study, the informed consent form was waived. Please review the waiver of informed consent document for details.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Dong Peng, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China. carry_dong@126.com
Received: January 10, 2025
Revised: February 22, 2025
Accepted: March 19, 2025
Published online: May 27, 2025
Processing time: 132 Days and 18.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a malignancy with high morbidity and mortality rates. Surgical intervention, particularly gastrectomy, is essential for curative treatment but carries a substantial risk of complications. Identifying key risk factors and understanding complication profiles are crucial for improving outcomes and guiding perioperative management.

AIM

To analyze the incidence of postoperative complications in patients with gastric cancer and identify potential risk factors.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 500 patients who underwent gastrectomy between January 2018 and December 2022. Postoperative complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo system.

RESULTS

The overall complication rate was 28.4% (142/500), with 15.2% (76/500) experiencing major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III). Pulmonary complications were the most frequent (10.8%), followed by surgical site infections (8.6%), and anastomotic leakage (4.2%). Age 70 years or more, body mass index of 25 kg/m² or more, advanced tumor stage, total gastrectomy, and operative time 240 min or more emerged as independent risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Focused preoperative risk assessment, targeted interventions, and reduced operative time for older or obese patients requiring total gastrectomy or presenting with advanced disease are important to improve surgical outcomes.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Postoperative complications; Risk factors; Gastrectomy; Retrospective study

Core Tip: This retrospective study examined 500 patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy and revealed an overall complication rate of 28.4 %, with 15.2% experiencing major complications. Key risk factors identified include age 70 years or more, body mass index of 25 kg/m² or more, advanced tumor stage, total gastrectomy, and prolonged operative time. Utilizing the Clavien-Dindo classification highlights the importance of identifying high-risk patients to implement targeted interventions, ultimately aiming to reduce complication rates and improve surgical outcomes in this vulnerable population.