Background/aim: We aimed to assess the risk factors for postoperative complications and long-term outcome of patients aged ≥80 years after curative resection for gastric cancer (GC).
Patients and methods: Patients aged ≥80 years who underwent curative gastrectomy for stage I-III GC between 2013 and 2020 were included. Clinical factors were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Of all 109 patients, 29 (26.6%) had 33 postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2). The rate of postoperative complications was higher in those with greater blood loss (≥170 ml, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, greater blood loss was confirmed as an independent predictor of postoperative complications (p<0.001). The 30-day, 180-day, 1-year, and 3-year cumulative overall survival rates were 100%, 97.0%, 91.6%, and 74.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed postoperative complications (p=0.014) and low prognostic nutritional index (PNI, p=0.044) were independent prognostic factors for poor overall survival.
Conclusion: Performing operations with less bleeding is important to reduce postoperative complications. According to the analysis of long-term survival, patients who experience postoperative complications and patients with a low preoperative PNI require special attention in the follow-up period. Nutritional support should be considered in patients with malnutrition.
Keywords: Gastric cancer; elderly; postoperative complication.
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