[Prognostic value of nutritional parameters in gastrectomy for cancer: a study of 203 cases]

Two hundred and three patients underwent a gastrectomy for 1981 to 1985, as a treatment for gastric carcinoma. This retrospective study focuses on survival and the prognostic value of oncological features as topography, local involvement and size of the tumour, and nutritional features as albuminemia, prealbuminemia and weight loss. Although prealbuminemia and weight loss have a prognostic value, albuminemia has not this classical value. These results show the great importance of the peri-operative nutrition, and lead to criticisms about albuminemia, which is modified by deshydratation and extra-vascular diffusion.