Background/aims: The metabolic effects of gastrectomy and the reduction of visceral adiposity through omentectomy for gastric cancer are unknown.
Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed of prospectively collected data of 67 patients over one year who underwent radical gastrectomy with either a complete or partial omentectomy for gastric cancer. The change in Body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and hematological profile were evaluated.
Results: In the group of 67 patients changes were observed after 1 year follow-up for BMI (23.7±3.1 versus 21.3±2.5kg/m2; p<0.001), triglyceride (155.2±136.1 versus 89.7±41.2mg/dL, p=0.011), low density lipoprotein (107.4±45.4 versus 95.8±27.5mg/dL, p=0.020), vitamin B12 (681.4±297.4 versus 558.1±338.6pg/mL, p=0.076). High density lipoprotein (41.4±12.6 versus 52.8±10.5mg/dL) increased after surgery (p<0.001). There were no changes between the complete and partial omentectomy groups for BMI, albumin, triglyceride, lipoprotein, and hemoglobin.
Conclusions: Gastrectomy with or without omentectomy induced a decrease of BMI and improvements in metabolic parameters such as triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein. Omentectomy had no significant impact on any measured parameter in this group.