OBJECTIVETo determine the value of medical adhesive products for decreasing abdominal effusion after clearing up lymph nodes in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSSeventy patients with gastric cancer and undergoing D(2 ) or D(2 )(+) radical excision were randomly divided into group A and B based on envelope method from June 2002 to December 2003. In group A (n=35),medical adhesive products was dripped on the retroperitoneal regions where perigastric lymph nodes were cleared up, while not in group B(n=35). Four items including the volume of intraperitoneal drainage, the loss of protein, erythrocyte and hemoglobin were compared between group A and B from the first day to the 5th day after operation.

RESULTSNo patients died in group A and B. The volume of intraperitoneal drainage and loss of protein in group A were less than those in group B (P< 0.01) from the first day to the 3th day after operation,but there was no significant difference at the 4th day and 5th day after operation(P > 0.05). The total volume of intraperitoneal drainage and loss of protein in group A were less than those in group B (P< 0.01) from the first day to the 5th day after operation. The loss of erythrocyte and hemoglobin reached the peak at the first day after operation both in group A and B, then gradually decreased, so there was no significant difference between group A and B later.

CONCLUSIONThe medical adhesive products can decrease abdominal effusion effectively after clearing up perigastric lymph nodes and facilitate patients' recovery from operation.