Impact of perioperative nutrition and transfusion on postoperative complication in gastric surgery

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of perioperative nutrition and transfusion affecting postoperative complications in gastric surgery. Methods From January through December in 2013, 181 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma at Korea University Guro Hospital were included. We collected general information, nutritional parameters (serum hemoglobin, albumin, total lymphocyte counts, and body mass index), operative method, perioperative transfusion and postoperative complications. The patients were divided into two groups by Clavien-Dindo classification: group I, no complication and Grade I complication; group II, above Grade II complication. Results The mean age of patients was 62.06 years, and 119 (65.7%) patients were men. The number of patients who suffered complications was 81 (44.8%), group I was 38 (21.0%) and group II was 33 (18.2%). According to the results of univariate analysis, sex, age, comorbidities, the American Society Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification and operative method had no significant effect on postoperative complications. Also in nutritional factors, serum hemoglobin, albumin, total lymphocyte counts, body mass index had no significant correlation with postoperative complications. The only independent factor correlated with postoperative complications was perioperative transfusion (odds ratio [OR], 2.424, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.064–5.525; P=0.035) and operation time (OR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.001–1.013; P=0.027) according to univariate analysis as well as multivariate analysis. Conclusion This study suggests that perioperative transfusion may play a significant role in the development of postoperative complications.

Keywords

• nutritional status
• blood transfusion
• postoperative complication
• stomach neoplasms
• gastrectomy