THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENTS' NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLICATIONS AFTER GASTRECTOMY FOR GASTRIC CANCER

surgical treatment plays a key role in its management. However, various postoperative complications may develop after gastrectomy, negatively affecting patients’ general condition and treatment outcomes. Recent studies indicate that the preoperative nutritional status of patients plays an important role in the development of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of patients’ nutritional status in the development of complications after gastrectomy performed for gastric cancer. In this study, patients’ preoperative nutritional status was evaluated based on body mass index (BMI), serum albumin levels, and the degree of weight loss. Postoperative complications were analyzed based on clinical observations. The results showed that the frequency of postoperative complications was higher among patients with preoperative nutritional deficiency. Low BMI, decreased albumin levels, and preoperative weight loss were associated with an increased risk of postoperative infectious complications and anastomotic leakage. The obtained results indicate that evaluating the nutritional status of patients with gastric cancer and correcting it when necessary is an important step in preparing patients for surgical treatment.