A Novel Nomogram for Prediction of Early Postoperative Complications of Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND: Accurate prediction of postoperative complications is especially important for the formulation of treatment plans for patients with total gastrectomy (TG) for gastric cancer (GC). The purpose of this study was to establish a risk assessment model for early postoperative complications. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 363 patients with GC who underwent TG from January 2019 to December 2020. The influencing factors were explored by univariate and multivariable logistic regression; then, a nomogram was established and verified by internal verification. RESULTS: Linear stapler (OR=2.501, P=0.030), age (OR=1.052, P =0.024), blood transfusion (yes) (OR=2.450, P =0.021), one-time consumables for surgery (or=1.000, P =0.022), number of total lymph nodes (OR=1.060, P =0.011) and number of positive lymph nodes (OR=1.054, P =0.029) were independent risk factors for early postoperative complications in TG, and nomogram model was constructed. The C-index of primary cohort, modeling cohort and validation cohort was 0.787, 0.754 and 0.912. The calibration curves showed good accuracy. CONCLUSION: This study used the indicators available before and during surgery to establish a nomogram model for early postoperative complications of total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, which found that linear stapler (LS), blood transfusion, one-time consumables for surgery, number of total lymph nodes and number of positive lymph nodes were factors.