Symptomatic outcome following resection of gastric cancer

The extent to which the different resections relieve the symptoms of gastric cancer is poorly defined. The symptoms of 57 consecutive patients undergoing standard resection of gastric adenocarcinoma by oesophagogastrectomy (n = 19), total gastrectomy [16] or partial gastrectomy [22] were studied prospectively. Common symptoms were relieved in 80% of cases and this was independent of tumour stage. Symptoms were significantly more frequent after total gastrectomy than after partial gastrectomy or oesophagogastrectomy, the difference being attributable principally to the development of new symptoms after total gastrectomy. While abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were largely relieved by resection, dyspepsia or dysphagia worsened in 31% of patients following surgery, especially total gastrectomy (P < 0.05). Resection relieves the symptoms of gastric cancer adequately but outcome is influenced by operation type. As total gastrectomy gives a poorer symptomatic outcome, it should be avoided when the performance of an alternative procedure does not compromise established principles of resection.