The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative nutritional statuses of patients with gastric cancer and to investigate the nutritional factors that are correlated with perioperative complications.

From January 2008 to Jun 2008, 669 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy were enrolled in a retrospective study. To evaluate the changes of their nutritional status preoperatively and postoperatively, we measured the total lymphocyte count, the serum albumin, the body weight change and the BMI. The nutritional factors correlated with short-term postoperative complications were analyzed.

The total lymphocyte count and serum albumin decreased from the first preoperative day to the 5th day after operation, but they tended to increase and approach the normal range 6 months after operation. The only factor correlated with the short-term postoperative complications (defined as the ones that occurred for 30 days) was the serum albumin checked on the 5th day after operation.

Low serum albumin on the 5th day after operation was correlated with postoperative short-term complications. Serum albumin can be the preoperative statistical parameter that can predict the occurrence of postoperative complications.