BACKGROUND: Splenectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer is employed to achieve an adequate lymph nodal resection; however, its benefits has been questioned by studies relating it with a higher mortality and morbidity. AIM: To evaluate the results associated with total D2 gastrectomy and splenectomy, correlating these with the average results obtained from patients without this procedure. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from a prospective database of the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma submitted to total gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectopmy plus splenectomy between 1985 and 2005 in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Division of the Medical School of São Paulo University. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were enrolled in this study. Resection of other organs was performed in 43 patients (41 pancreatectomies, 5 transverse colectomies and 3 hepatectomies). The incidence of post-operative complications was 39%, higher than the expected from our overall morbidity (24%). Intra cavitary abscesses were found on 10 patients (9.1%). Ten patients died (9.1%), all due to septic complications significantly different of the overall mortality of 3.7%, registered in our Division. Metastasis to station 10 and 11d were observed on 13 patients (11.9%), with higher risk related to T4 lesions (20%) and tumors of the upper third (19.5%). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer is related to a higher morbidity and mortality rates, and should be reserved to advanced tumors in the upper part of the stomach.
Gastric cancer; Splenectomy; Morbidity; Mortality