J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc.  2010 Mar;10(1):5-12.

Changes of the Preoperative and Postoperative Nutritional Statuses in Patients with Gastric Cancer and Assessment of the Nutritional Factors That Are Correlated with Short-Term Postoperative Complications

• Oh CA
• Kim DH
• Oh SJ
• Choi MG
• Noh JH
• Sohn TS
• Kim S
• Bae JM

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative nutritional statuses of patients with gastric cancer and to investigate the nutritional factors that are correlated with perioperative complications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 2008 to Jun 2008, 669 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy were enrolled in a retrospective study. To evaluate the changes of their nutritional status preoperatively and postoperatively, we measured the total lymphocyte count, the serum albumin, the body weight change and the BMI. The nutritional factors correlated with short-term postoperative complications were analyzed.
RESULTS
The total lymphocyte count and serum albumin decreased from the first preoperative day to the 5th day after operation, but they tended to increase and approach the normal range 6 months after operation. The only factor correlated with the short-term postoperative complications (defined as the ones that occurred for 30 days) was the serum albumin checked on the 5th day after operation.
CONCLUSION
Low serum albumin on the 5th day after operation was correlated with postoperative short-term complications. Serum albumin can be the preoperative statistical parameter that can predict the occurrence of postoperative complications.

Keyword

Gastric cancer; Nutritional assessment; Complication; Serum albumin

MeSH Terms

Body Weight Changes
Gastrectomy
Humans
Lymphocyte Count
Nutrition Assessment
Nutritional Status
Postoperative Complications
Reference Values
Retrospective Studies
Serum Albumin
Stomach Neoplasms
Serum Albumin