Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and laboratory variables associated with complications after gastrectomy for gastric cancer to predict candidates for successful early discharge.
Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing gastrectomy at Seoul National University Hospital from January through December 2013 were identified from a prospective complications database. Clinicopathologic and postoperative laboratory parameters were analyzed to determine variables associated with complications. An additional validation study was performed from March through May 2014.
Results: Overall, complications occurred in 180/855 patients (21.1 %). Age >68 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.64), use of an open approach (OR 1.9), and use of combined resection (OR 1.67) were significant independent risk factors for complications (p < 0.05). The postoperative day (POD) 5 to preoperative white blood cell count (WBC) ratio (risk ratio [RR] 2.01), C-reactive protein (CRP) level on POD 5 (RR 1.1), and maximum body temperature on POD 4 (RR 2.36) independently predicted complications in a multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). After establishing an early discharge profile (EDP) based on these six variables, 152/855 patients (17.8 %) were predicted to have an uncomplicated course. Of these, 8/152 (5.3 %) experienced complications. In a validation study of 217 patients, 43/217 (19.8 %) were candidates for early discharge on POD 5, and 3 (7.0 %) had a false-positive EDP.
Conclusions: Patients younger than 68 years of age who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy without combined resection might be candidates for early discharge on POD 5 if the POD 5 to preoperative WBC ratio is ≤1.2, POD 5 CRP level is ≤5.38 g/mL, and POD 4 body temperature is ≤37.4 °C.