Abstract

Loco - regional control of gastric tumors through linfadenectomy remains the best option for the treatment of gastric cancer. Despite all the breakthroughs in this field, morbidity and mortality still stand high, and the extension of linfadenectomy is claimed to be one of the major reasons for this. The authors have followed up cases of patients who underwent gastrectomy with D2 expanded linfadenectomy for three years, looking closely into factors likely to lead to surgical morbidity and mortality. It was found that morbidity rates reached 30% and that only one death was recorded (tantamount to 0,8% mortality toll). The albumin serum level and the extension of the gastrectomy were considered the most relevant independent factors related to surgical morbidity and mortality.

Key words: stomach neoplasms; surgery; gastrectomy; lymph node excision; morbidity; mortality