[Selective R3 operation in the treatment of gastric cancer]

From 1981 to 1984, 369 gastric cancer patients were operated, of whom 135 (36.6%) received selective R3 operation. Of these 369 cases, 10 died within 1 month after operation, giving an operative mortality of 2.7%. The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 29.5% (106/359) and 17.3% (43/248). Of the 135 cases operated by R3, 5 died from operation with a mortality of 3.7%. The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 64.6% (84/130) and 42.1% (40/95), indicating that the selective R, operation improved the survival rate. According to the stage of disease, the 5 year survival rate for selective R3 operation was 83.3% in Stage I, 66.7% in Stage II, 37.0% in Stage III and 12.5% in Stage IV.