Evaluation of anemia as a postoperative risk factor in the evolution of patients with gastric resection for malignancies

Introduction. Gastric cancer remains among the top three digestive diseases with the highest mortality rates in the world. Treatment of gastric cancer is multidisciplinary, gastric resection being essential for the best result. Anemia is one of the most common comorbidities present in patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective analytical study over a period of 6 years (2014-2019). It is based on 114 consecutive gastric resections for cancer performed by a single team using exclusively resection and reconstruction stapling methods. The study aims to investigate a correlation between the presence of preoperative anemia and the incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Results. Preoperative anemia was found in 70% of patients, with about half of these patients presenting with mild anemia. Most postoperative complications were grade I and II according to the Clavien Dindo scale. Anemia was correlated with an increase in infectious complications, anastomotic leaks and secondary peritoneal abscesses, pancreatic complications after multivisceral resection and length of hospital stay. Conclusions. Preoperative anemia is a risk factor that exposes the cancer patient to an increased incidence of life-threatening postoperative complications. In addition, it also extends the length of hospital stay and costs. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the identification and reduction of anemia before extensive gastric surgery in order to obtain the best possible therapeutic result.