To clarify the impact of postoperative complications on quality of life in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery.

Clinical data of 200 patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery from January 2021 to December 2024 were collected, and a follow-up database including clinical information and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (Chinese version, FACT-G) scale was established. The FACT-G scale consists of four domains: physical well-being (7 items), social/family well-being (7 items), emotional well-being (6 items), and functional well-being (7 items). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software. Measurement data were expressed as (mean ± standard deviation) and analyzed using the t test; enumeration data were expressed as rates and analyzed using the chi-square test. Binary Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors affecting quality of life. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Among the 200 patients, 22.5% (45/200) had no postoperative complications and 77.5% (155/200) had complications, who were assigned to the non-complication group (n=45) and complication group (n=155), respectively. There were statistically significant differences in all domain scores of quality of life at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively between the two groups (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative complications, pathological classification of gastric cancer, surgical approach, number of tumors, tumor size, and length of hospital stay were independent risk factors for postoperative quality of life (P<0.05).

Postoperative complications in gastric cancer patients adversely affect postoperative quality of life, leading to prolonged hospital stay and increased medical costs. Postoperative quality of life is influenced by multiple factors, including postoperative complications, pathological classification of gastric cancer, surgical approach, number of tumors, tumor size, and length of hospital stay. The main complications affecting quality of life include anastomotic leakage, malnutrition, intra-abdominal infection, delayed gastric emptying, and intestinal obstruction.