Management of postoperative complications in gastric cancer.

Surgery is the only curative strategy for gastric cancer management and radical resection with free margins and extended lymphadenectomy seems to be the best option. Morbidity rate is usually associated with surgical treatment in about 24% of patients, and mortality in about 3%. These rates are influenced by tumor staging, patient condition, surgical strategies and surgeon experience. Their management is mostly conservative and outcome is favorable in the majority of cases. Improvement in gastric cancer treatment must consider experienced surgeons and adequate patient selection.