Zhan PW, Wang T. Letter to the Editor: Comparable outcomes of sevoflurane vs propofol anesthesia in gastrectomy for gastric cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(7): 116791 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.116791]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Tao Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Protein Structure and Function, Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, No. 333 BuKui northern Street, Jianhua District, Qiqihar 161006, Heilongjiang Province, China. wangtao@qmu.edu.cn
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Anesthesiology
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letter
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Zhan PW, Wang T. Letter to the Editor: Comparable outcomes of sevoflurane vs propofol anesthesia in gastrectomy for gastric cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(7): 116791 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.116791]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2026; 18(7): 116791 Published online Jul 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i7.116791
Letter to the Editor: Comparable outcomes of sevoflurane vs propofol anesthesia in gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Pei-Wen Zhan, Tao Wang
Pei-Wen Zhan, Tao Wang, Laboratory of Protein Structure and Function, Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, Heilongjiang Province, China
Pei-Wen Zhan, Tao Wang, School of Medical Technology, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, Heilongjiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zhan PW wrote the original draft; Wang T contributed to conceptualization, writing, reviewing, and editing.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, No. PL2025C097; the Education Department Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, No. 2024-KYYWF-0339; the Scientific Technology Project of Qiqihar City, No. LSFGG-2024099; the Qi-qihar Medical Institute Foundation, No. 2025-ZDPY-001; and the Construction Project of Dominant Characteristic Disciplines of Qiqihar Medical University, No. QYZDXK-003.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Tao Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Protein Structure and Function, Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, No. 333 BuKui northern Street, Jianhua District, Qiqihar 161006, Heilongjiang Province, China. wangtao@qmu.edu.cn
Received: November 25, 2025 Revised: January 26, 2026 Accepted: March 9, 2026 Published online: July 15, 2026 Processing time: 223 Days and 19.5 Hours
Abstract
A recent study published in World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology by Wang et al compared sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia for gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy. The results demonstrated that both techniques achieved largely equivalent long-term survival and overall perioperative safety. However, specific short-term differences were noted: The propofol group exhibited higher average pain scores at 24 hours postoperatively, a greater incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and more pronounced transient increases in blood pressure and heart rate during surgery. While these findings provide practical insights for individualized anesthesia selection, the study’s retrospective design is a significant limitation, introducing potential confounding biases from non-randomized allocation and unmeasured factors. The higher postoperative nausea and vomiting incidence with propofol is particularly notable as it contradicts its established antiemetic properties, warranting further investigation. The authors consequently recommend future prospective, multicenter randomized trials to enhance the robustness and generalizability of the evidence.
Core Tip: For gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy, sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia yield comparable long-term survival outcomes and overall perioperative safety, with neither agent demonstrating obvious oncologic superiority. Therefore, anesthesia selection for these patients should be personalized based on their unique individual clinical characteristics and specific perioperative risk factors, making such tailored clinical choices the optimal anesthesia strategy for gastric cancer patients receiving radical gastrectomy.
