Complications of total gastrectomy for gastric cancer : with special reference to anastomotic failure

We have reviewed the data on patients totally gastrectomized for gastric cancer during a 12 year period at our hospital. Our findings are summarized, as follows: 1. Advanced cases (stage III, IV) accounted for 85.4% (276/323) of them. Combined resection of other orangs was performed on 87.6% of them. Twelve percent of the patients had peritoneal dissemination of P 2 or higher grade and 5.9% hepataic metastases of H 1 or higher grade. 2. Roux-en Y anastomosis was the most frequent (83.3%) reconstructive procedure