Hepato Gastroenterol
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Hepato Gastroenterol · Jul 1997
Comparative StudyQuality-of-life after curative surgery for gastric cancer: a comparison between total gastrectomy and subtotal gastric resection.
Quality-of-Life has become an increasingly important factor for long term survivors after surgery for gastric cancer. Quality-of Life also includes social and psychological aspects. Many gastric carcinomas are located in the distal two thirds of the stomach. In these cases, a subtotal gastric resection may be adequate if a proximal safety margin of 5 cm in intestinal type tumors according to Laurén and 10 cm in diffuse type cancers respectively can be achieved. On the other hand total gastrectomy "de principe" has been advocated for all gastric malignancies because of high local recurrence rates after subtotal resection. The aim of the present study was to assess the Quality-of-Life in long term survivors after resection for gastric cancer comparing subtotal gastric resection with total gastrectomy. ⋯ In those cases where an adequate proximal safety margin can be achieved by a subtotal gastric resection, this procedure is preferable to a total gastrectomy. However preservation of the gastric stump should never be allowed to compromise oncological radicality.