Preventing prolonged post-operative ileus in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy

Table 1 Clinicopathological characteristics of patients in three groups

	Group A(n = 16)	Group B(n = 16)	Group C(n = 16)	P
Sex (M/F)	11/5	12/4	10/6	NS
Age (yr)	56.8±13.2	57.5±11.7	67.5±17.7	0.048
Sub-total/total gastrectomy	11/5	10/6	10/6	NS
Operation time (min)	272±60	312±69	259±43	NS
Blood loss (mL)	216±106	235±92	196±137	NS
Meperidine use (mg/d)	83.3±21.6	91.4±31.2	79.3±15.9	NS
Primary tumor1				NS
pT3	14	13	14
pT4	2	3	2
Stage2				NS
II	4	4	3
IIIa	4	3	4
IIIb	5	6	6
IV	3	3	3

Gender was assessed by χ²-test, others were assessed by t-test. Significant difference in age (P = 0.048) between group C and groups A and B.

¹T classification according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma (22).

²Staging classification according to the 1997 TNM staging system. NS: not significant. All patients had received R0 gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection.

Table 2 Bowel motility recovery (mean days and standard deviation)

	Group Aa (n = 16)	Group Ba (n = 16)	Group Ca (n = 16)	P
First bowel flatus	4.35±0.93	4.94±1.37	4.71±1.22	NS
Time elapsed to glucose solution	5.43±1.15	6.67±2.71	5.81±1.35	NS
Time elapsed to soft diet	7.21±1.92	10.15±2.17	7.53±1.35	<0.05
NG tube reinsertion (%)	1 (6.25)	9 (56.25)	1 (6.25)	<0.01

Significant difference in days to soft diet (^aP<0.05) between group B and groups A and C. NG tube: nasogastric tube. NS: not significant.

Table 3 Postoperative complications and mortality

	Group Ab (n = 16)	Group Bb (n = 16)	Group Cb (n = 16)	P
Death	0	11	0	NS
Prolonged POI	1 (6.25)	9 (56.26)	1 (6.25)	<0.01
Wound infection	2	1	2	NS
Pneumonia	2	3	2	NS
Anastomotic leak	0	0	1	NS
Pancreatic leak	3	3	2	NS

¹The patient died of aspiration pneumonia and sepsis. Significant difference in prolonged POI (^bP<0.01) between group B and groups A and C. Prolonged POI was defined as intolerance to oral soft diet more than 7 d and generalized ileus shown in KUB. Pancreatic leakage was defined as amylase level of abdominal fluid more than 4 000 U/L POI: post-operative ileus. NS: not significant.