Influence of postoperative surgical complications after gastrectomy on body weight and body composition changes in gastric cancer patients

Background: The influence of postoperative surgical complications after gastrectomy on body weight and body composition changes remains unclear. Methods: The body weight and composition were evaluated by a bioelectrical impedance analyzer within one week before surgery, at one week after surgery, at one month after surgery, and at three months after surgery. Patients were classified as those with surgical complications (C group) or those without surgical complications (NC group). Results: 888 patients were entered into the present study. The % body weight loss values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, defined as the proportion of the difference between the preoperative measurement and each measurement after surgery, were -3.8%, -7.0%, and -10.4%, respectively, in the C group and -3.3%, -5.6%, and -6.8%, respectively, in the NC group, with p-values of 0.001, 0.002, and 0.001, respectively. The % lean body mass loss values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery were-3.7%, -6.5%, and -6.8%, respectively, in the C group and -3.2%, -4.2%, and -3.5%, respectively, in the NC group, with p-values of 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively. Conclusions: Decreases in the body weight and lean body mass after gastrectomy were more serious in the patients with surgical complications than in those without surgical complications. To maintain the body weight and the lean body mass among the patients with surgical complications, additional care and/or treatments are needed.