Newsletter

[ Vol. 7 No. 1 ] (January - April 2006 )
Serum iron, vitamin B1, B2, levels after radical gastrectomy

Objective: The concern of Quality of Life (QOL) after gastrectomy has been increased. Especially the importance of nutritional therapy which influences QOL was emphasized recently. The vitamin B12 and iron defeciency led to anemia after radical gastrectomy is well know, but the study of vitamin B1 level in patients who undergone radical gastrectomy is rare relatively to its importance. We investigated the serum Hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B1, B12 levels in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy.

Methods: From January 2000 to January 2005, 537 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer were divided into the three groups according to the extent of gastrectomy and type of the reconstruction. (Billroth I group=284, Billroth II group=113, Total gastrectomy (TG) group=140) We investigated serum Hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B1, B12 levels postoperatively.

Results: Hemoglobin levels were 11.8g/dl in mean, above 10.0g/dl in most cases. There were significant difference in serum iron levels and iron defeciency from 6 months postoperatively between the subtotal gastrectomy (SG) group and TG group. There were significant difference in serum vitamin B12 levels between the SG and TG group. Serum vitamin B1 defeciency has incidence 15.3%, developed within 6 months after the operation in most cases. Especially there was statistically significant reduction of vitamin B1 levels in patients who done 5-FU based chemotherapy.

Conclusions: Serum iron and vitamin B12 should be measured periodically from 6 months after the operation and vitamin B1 was measured within 6 months after operation. Especially, attention should be paid to reduced vitamin B1 levels of the gastrectomized patients who was done 5-FU based chemotherapy.

*Contact person email: ghkang@schch.co.kr

 

From
The 11th PENSA Congress
October 1-4 2005
Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel, Seoul, Korea
Page: 275