Postoperative Delayed Emptying after Total, Subtotal, or Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer : a Population-based Study

Background: To examine the rate of delayed emptying and other 90-day postoperative complications after total, subtotal, and distal gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma in a population-based setting.

Methods: This study included all patients undergoing total, subtotal, or distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in Finland in 2005-2016, with follow-up until December 31, 2019. Logistic regression provided odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of 90-day mortality. Results were adjusted for age, sex, year of surgery, comorbidities, pathological stage, surgical approach, and neoadjuvant therapy.

Results: A total of 2,058 patients underwent total (n=1,227), subtotal (n=450), or distal (n=381) gastrectomy. The rate of delayed emptying was 1.7% vs. 1.3% vs. 2.1% in the whole cohort and 1.6% vs. 1.8% vs. 3.5% in the subgroup analysis of R0 resections, respectively. Resection type was not associated to the risk of delayed emptying. Subtotal gastrectomy was associated with lower risk of major complications and re-operations and distal gastrectomy was associated with lower risk of anastomotic leak.

Conclusions: The extent of resection did not affect delayed emptying while less postoperative complications were seen after subtotal or distal gastrectomy compared to total gastrectomy.