AIM: To investigate the risk factors associated with aspiration pneumonia (AP) during the perioperative period following ESD for gastric tumors.
METHODS: Between 2014 and 2017, 393 patients (422 lesions) underwent ESD for gastric tumors at our hospital. Of these, 15 patients (group A) developed AP during the perioperative period following ESD, and 378 patients did not show this complication. Patients’ backgrounds and course during hospitalization were retrospectively compared.
RESULTS: The number of patients with findings of cardia opening was significantly higher in group A. We observed no significant intergroup differences in age, medical history, treatment duration, antibiotic prophylaxis, or overtube use. Treatment discontinuation due to pneumonia was not observed in any patient, and there was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay.
CONCLUSION: Open cardia was a significant risk factor for AP during the perioperative period following gastric ESD. Close attention is important to monitor the onset of AP during the perioperative period in patients with the aforementioned risk factor.
