[Total parenteral nutrition in patients undergoing total gastrectomy in cancer of the stomach. A clinical study].

Total gastrectomy is the elective therapy for gastric cancer, but anastomotic dehiscences often improve the results of this surgery, performed in patients with malnutrition due to the neoplasy. The authors present a group of 27 patients treated with total gastrectomy and a routine postoperative TPN; the incidence of dehiscences and postoperative complications is very low. The preoperative evaluation of surgical risk and the choice of pre- and/or postoperative, parenteral and/or enteral nutritional therapy, are discussed.