OBJECTIVETo investigate factors associated with postoperative complications after laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy in gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 506 patients with gastric cancer undergoing laparoscopic-assisted radical resection from January 2007 to May 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Risk factors associated with postoperative complications were assessed by univariate and multivariable analyses. Postoperative recovery, survival, and recurrence rate were also investigated.

RESULTSPostoperative complications occurred in 56 patients(11.1%). On univariate analysis, postoperative complication was associated with age, preoperative comorbidity, lymph node metastasis, surgeon experience, and operative time. Logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative comorbidity, lymph node metastasis and surgeon experience were independent risk factors for postoperative complications. The time to first flatus and postoperative hospital stay were longer in patients with postoperative complications(both P<0.05). Follow up was available in 482 patients (95.2%), with a median follow up of 13 months (range, 2-37 months). Differences in survival and recurrence rate between patients with and without postoperative complications were of no statistical significance(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative comorbidity, lymph node metastasis and surgeon experience are independent risk factors for postoperative complications in laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy. Although patients with postoperative complications have slower recovery, survival in these patients is not compromised.