The procedures in case of ascites in patients with an advanced stage of gastric cancer

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in Poland. Most patients come to see the doctor in the III and IV stage of the development of the disease. One of the symptoms of the advanced stage of gastric cancer is ascites. The occurence of ascites’ symptoms causes not only a considerable worsening of the quality of life but difficult psychological and physiological problems as well.
Objectives: The objectives of this research was to establish an effective method of treating an advanced gastric cancer.
Material and methods: The research was conducted on a group of 25 patients with an inoperable gastric cancer and ascites, all of whom were being treated in the Department of Surgical Oncology of the Medical University of Lodz in the years 2000-2006. In this research the analyses of individual cases were based on interviews and patients’ histories were used.
Results: All the patients with an operable gastric cancer and ascites were admitted to hospital in not a good condition, prostrated, with symptoms of elevated pressure in the abdominal cavity and marked discomfort caused by ascites. All the patients had metastases to the peritoneum and 6 of them metastases to the liver. The area affected by a gastric cancer spread over the entire wall of the stomach with an infiltration to the neighbouring organs. On opening the abdominal cavity the volume of liquid ranged from 1 liter to 15 liters. Once the liquid was removed the patients revealed a considerable sense of comfort as well as a lower pressure.
Conclusions: Results of this study show, that ascites in gastric cancer is observed in an advanced stage of neoplasm disease and is correlated with unfavorable prognosis for patient. Palliative character of doctors treatment should be mainly concentrated to improve quality of life and decrease suffering from pain caused by liquid in the abdominal cavity. The best and one of the most safer method of treatment in ascites caused by a gastric cancer is the puncture of the peritoneum.