Feasibility of a "Stomach-preserving Strategy" for Perforated Gastric Cancer in Patients With Distant Metastasis

Gastrectomy is often performed for perforated gastric cancer in patients receiving treatment with curative intent. However, gastrectomy is not a curative procedure, precludes oral intake, and may hinder palliative chemotherapy in patients with metastatic disease. The present study assessed the feasibility of a "stomach-preserving strategy" comprising peritoneal lavage and repair surgery for the management of gastric cancer perforation in patients with distant metastasis.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgical treatment at our hospital from 2013 to 2021. The clinical courses of patients who had undergone peritoneal lavage and repair surgery for perforated gastric cancer with distant metastasis were reviewed to evaluate postoperative outcomes.

During the study period, 3,862 patients underwent radical gastrectomy. Additionally, nine patients with stage IV gastric cancer with distant metastasis prior to treatment underwent emergency surgery due to gastric perforation. Of the nine patients that underwent emergency surgery, seven patients underwent peritoneal lavage and repair surgery and two underwent peritoneal lavage only. No cases of secondary leakage were observed. Seven patients (78%) had a good postoperative course including the resumption of meals and continuation of chemotherapy. The remaining two died of sepsis. The median overall survival time was five months from surgery and 12 months from the initiation of palliative chemotherapy.

A "stomach-preserving strategy" for the management of perforated gastric cancer is safe in patients with stage IV gastric cancer with distant metastasis and allows continuation of oral intake and palliative chemotherapy.