PREDICTORS FOR POSTOPERATIVE RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC CANCER OVER 80 YEARS OLD

Abstract

In order to clarify the predictors of postoperative respiratory complications in patients over 80 years old who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer with lymph node dissection to the extent of group 1 or 2, 21 patients were divided into two groups according to postoperative respiratory complications, eight with and 13 without complications. Univariate analysis revealed %VC, VC/m2 and FEV1.0/m2 as the predictor for respiratory complications, and Nutritional Risk Index or performance status (PS) had a tendency to be the predictor. The following formula which means possibility of postoperative respiratory complications, Y=1.184+0.186×curability-0.645×VC/m2+0.216×PS was elicited by stepwise logistic analysis. Y value of 0.47 established as the cut off point obtained accuracy in 90.5%, sensitivity in 90.5% and specificity in 92.3%. In order to prevent postoperative respiratory complications, preoperative exercise of respiratory function to raise vital capacity should be involved and an adequate method of operation should be selected by taking PS and stage of gastric cancer into consideration.