Surgical Therapy for Gastric Cancer with Hepatic Cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prognosis following surgery for gastric cancer has been markedly improved as a result of early diagnosis and advancements both in operative techniques and perioperative management. However, gastrointestinal surgery in the presence of hepatic cirrhosis has shown high operative morbidity and mortality due to severe perioperative complications, such as bleeding, lymphorrhea, anastomosis leakage, hepatic failure, fluid retention, acute renal failure and multiple organ failure. Recently, the frequency of gastric cancer involving liver cirrhosis has been increasing, especially early gastric cancer cases. METHODS: From June 1995 to December 1997, a total of 410 patients with gastric cancer were treated surgically. Among them, 9 cases with liver cirrhosis underwent gastric resection. RESULTS: Three major postoperative complications occurred in 2 patient, anastomosis leakage in one, and bleeding in both. CONCLUSIONS: The purposes of this study were to assess the causes of complications and to decide the appropriate operation type for improving the prognosis for these patients with liver cirrhosis.