title: Comparison of complications after D2 and D3 dissection for gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  D3 dissection is accepted as having higher rates of mortality and morbidity than D2 dissection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mortality and morbidity rates of D3 dissection in our department and to compare these with mortality and morbidity after D2 dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent radical gastric resection with lymph node dissection for gastric adenocarcinoma between June 1999 and June 2002 were evaluated. Clinicopathologic features of the tumour, the resection and lymphadenectomy, the postoperative mortality and morbidity were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 359 patients admitted for the treatment of gastric cancer. One hundred twenty four underwent palliative resection and 134 underwent resection with curative intent. Of 34/134 patients, underwent gastric resection with D3 dissection, and 100 underwent D2 dissection. The overall operative mortality rate of D2 and D3 dissections was 1 and 8.8%, respectively (p<0.05). The relaparotomy rate was almost doubled in D3 dissection group (11.8% vs. 6%) but this difference was not statistically significant. D3 dissection was also associated with an increase in morbidity (35.3% vs. 10%, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that D3 dissection can be performed with reasonable safety. It may be a useful alternative procedure in advanced cases for which additional risks of surgical morbidity and mortality are felt to be outweighed by potential benefits to patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ebb@e-kolay.net
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bostanci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kayaalp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozogul
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atalay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akoglu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate