OBJECTIVETo explore the exfoliated cancer cell contamination in different surgical materials during the malignant gastrectomy.

METHODSNinety gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy were prospectively enrolled in this study. The operation materials of these 90 gastrectomy were divided into 5 groups: surgical instruments (A), gloves for surgeons (B), gloves and gauzes of scrub nurse (C), gauzes for hemostasis (D), anastomosis instrument (E). The rinse fluid of materials was cultured to verify positive cancer cells. Associations among different pathological stages, differentiations, materials and positive cancer cells rates were examined.

RESULTSStage II and III patients had higher positive rates of exfoliated cancer cell contamination than stage I patients [26.5 (9/34) and 47.5% (21/46) vs. 10.0% (1/10),P=0.046]. Low differentiated adenocarcinoma group had higher positive rate than moderately and well differentiated adenocarcinoma groups [44.8% (26/58) vs. 16.7% (4/24) and 12.5% (1/8), P=0.020]. Positive cancer cell rates of 5 kinds of materials were as follows: 12.2% (11/90) in A group, 6.7% (6/90) in B group, 22.2% (20/90) in C group, 15.6% (14/90) in D group and 3.3% (3/90) in E group, and the differences were significant (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONDifferent operation materials have different risks to be contaminated by cancer cells, which is associated with the contact frequency, cancer staging and pathological classification.