Long-Term Nutritional Outcomes of Near-Total Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Treatment: a Comparison with Total Gastrectomy Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis

PURPOSE: This study sought to examine whether near total gastrectomy (nTG) confers a long-term nutritional benefit when compared with total gastrectomy (TG) for the treatment of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent nTG or TG for gastric cancer were included (n=570). Using the 1:2 matched propensity score, 25 patients from the nTG group and 50 patients from the TG group were compared retrospectively for oncologic outcomes, including long-term survival and nutritional status. RESULTS: The length of the proximal resection margin, number of retrieved lymph nodes and tumor nodes, metastasis stage, short-term postoperative outcomes, and long-term survival were not significantly different between the groups. The body mass index values, and serum total protein and hemoglobin levels of the patients decreased significantly until postoperative 6 months, and then recovered slightly over time (P<0.05); however, there was no difference in the levels between the groups. The prognostic nutritional index values and serum albumin levels decreased significantly until postoperative 6 months and then recovered (P<0.05); the levels decreased more in the nTG group than in the TG group (P<0.05). The mean corpuscular volumes and serum transferrin levels increased significantly until postoperative 1 year and then recovered slightly over time (P<0.05); however, there was no difference between the groups. Serum vitamin B(12), iron, and ferritin levels of the patients did not change significantly over time, and no difference existed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A small remnant stomach after nTG conferred no significant nutritional benefits over TG.