Total gastrectomy with simultaneous pancreaticosplenectomy or splenectomy in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma
1999

Surgery Options for Advanced Stomach Cancer

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Otsuji E, Yamaguchi T, Sawai K, Okamoto K, Takahashi T

Primary Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

Hypothesis

Does adding splenectomy or distal pancreaticosplenectomy to total gastrectomy improve survival in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma?

Conclusion

Adding splenectomy or distal pancreaticosplenectomy to total gastrectomy does not improve survival but increases the risk of severe complications.

Supporting Evidence

  • No significant differences existed in 5-year survival among the different surgical approaches.
  • Neither splenectomy nor distal pancreaticosplenectomy were found to be prognostic factors.
  • Distal pancreaticosplenectomy was identified as an independent predictor of pancreatic fistula.

Takeaway

When doctors remove the stomach for cancer, taking out the spleen or part of the pancreas at the same time doesn't help people live longer, but it can make them sicker.

Methodology

A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate surgical outcomes in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6690285

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