Comparison of Dietary Intake After Gastric Cancer Gastrectomy Between Patients With and Without Postoperative Surgical Complications

Background/Aim: This study aimed to compare dietary intake (DI) after gastrectomy for gastric cancer between patients with ( C group) and without (NC group) postoperative surgical complications. Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. DI was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire with 82 food items (FFQW82) during nutritional counseling before surgery and at one and three months after surgery. Results: A total of 225 patients participated in this study. Of the 225 patients, 193 had no postoperative complications, and 32 had postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade >= 2). The median DI at 1 month postoperatively was 1508 kcal/day in the NC group and 1,470.5 kcal/day in the C group (p=0.175). The median DI at 3 months postoperatively was 1,623 kcal/day in the NC group and 1575 kcal/ day in the C group (p= 0.473). There was a significant difference between the NC and C groups in the rate of decrease in DI at one month (median: -8.44% vs. - 15.37%, p=0.032) and at three months postoperatively ( median: -3.58% vs. - 6.12%, p=0.038). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of decrease in DI after gastrectomy between the C and NC groups at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Our results suggest that patients with postoperative surgical complications require additional nutritional treatment for decreased DI.