In this study, we evaluate hematologic change of iron and vitamin B12 on post-operative anemia after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
The patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy between January 2013 and December 2013 in Dankook university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The 62 patients were followed up for 36 month postoperatively.
The incidences of anemia in female patients were turned out to be higher than those in male patients but there were no statistical difference; (44.4% vs 40.9%, P=0.399) at 6 month, (33.3% vs 25.0%, P=0.252) at 12 month, (22.2% vs 15.9%, P=0.277) at 18 month, (27.8% vs 15.9%, P=0.142) at 36 month after surgery. Patients with distal gastrectomy after the surgery showed decreasing incidence of anemia while patients with total gastrectomy showed decreasing incidence of anemia until 12 months but increasing incidence after that time.
Anemia, Vitamin B12 and iron deficiency must be evaluated after surgery for gastric cancer and active treatment is necessary as needed.