Investigation of Factors Influencing Post-operative Infection in Gastrectomy Patients Employing Clinical Pathways

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the factors of post-operative infection in gastrectomy patients employing clinical pathways. We examined 157 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer at the First Department of Surgery of our hospital. Significant correlations were observed between age, sex, operative time, blood loss during operation and post-operative infection. However, preoperative complications, antibiotics administered for prevention of post-operative infection and stage of gastric cancer had no bearing on post-operative infection. These findings indicate that age, sex, operative time and blood loss during operation are major factors influencing the likelihood post-operative infection in gastrectomy patients. We also found that post-operative infection resulted in extended hospitalization following gastrectomy.