Role of Distal Pancreatectomy on the Prognosis of Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Total Gastrectomy

Abstract

PURPOSE: A distal pancreatectomy was often simultaneously performed with splenectomy and total gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric carcinoma for complete removal of lymph nodes around the splenic artery. However, pancreatic juice leakage, subphrenic abscess, and postoperative diabetes were common complications in patients treated by pancreas resection. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the role of distal pancreatectomy on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of distal pancreatectomy on survival was studied by examination of the records of 120 patients who underwent splenectomy and total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma with serosal invasion. Of these, 75 underwent pancreas preserving splenectomy and 45 underwent pancreaticosplenectomy. Prognostic factors and postoperative complications were evaluated according to the operation types. RESULTS: The addition of distal pancreatectomy to splenectomy with total gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer was not associated with severe complications. And patients underwent pancreaticosplenectomy showed similar survival as those underwent pancreas preserving splenectomy. CONCLUSION: Distal pancreatectomy for the gastric cancer patients with suspected metastatic lymph nodes around the splenic artery could be recommended for the purpose of radical lymph node dissection.