Treatment of gastric cancer often requires major surgery and carries the risk of postoperative complications and fatal outcomes. Mortality rates after gastrectomy due to gastric cancer have been reported as 2-5%, while the incidence of postoperative complications was 10 to over 40%.~Immunomodulating enteral nutrition in the perioperative period may reduce postoperative complications in cancer patients. Little is known if this effect translates to the better survival.~The aim of study was to assess the impact of postoperative immunomodulating enteral nutrition on postoperative complications and survival of gastric cancer patients.~The group of 98 gastric cancer patients were randomly assigned for postoperative immunomodulating enteral nutrition n=44 or standard enteral nutrition n=54. Following the initial randomization, the patients received either standard nutrition (oligopeptide, low-fat, isocaloric, non-residue diet - Peptisorb, Nutricia) or immunomodulating nutrition (protein rich, isocaloric, no-residue diet including arginine, glutamines and omega-3 fatty acids - Reconvan, Fresenius Kabi). Postoperative complications, mortality, 6-month, 1-year and 5-year survival were analyzed.
Immunomodulating enteral nutrition in the perioperative period may reduce postoperative complications in cancer patients. Little is known if this effect translates to the better survival.~The aim of study was to assess the impact of postoperative immunomodulating enteral nutrition on postoperative complications and survival of gastric cancer patients.~The group of 98 gastric cancer patients were randomly assigned for postoperative immunomodulating enteral nutrition n=44 (Reconvan ,Fresenius Kabi), or standard enteral nutrition n=54 (Peptisorb, Nutricia). Postoperative complications, mortality, 6-month, 1-year and 5-year survival were analyzed.