Surgical management of advanced gastric carcinoma in Zaria, Nigeria

In Zaria, Nigeria, 47 men and 37 women aged 25 to 70 years were operated upon for advanced carcinoma of the stomach between 1971 and 1982. In 1971-1976, gastric resection was performed in 33% of the 42 patients and by-pass in 31% compared to 67% and 17% respectively in the other 42 patients treated in 1977-1982. Increased resection of tumours of the corpus, cardia and fundus and of involved adjacent organs accounted for this increase. The in-hospital death rate (29%) was the same for gastric resection and by-pass operations. In this part of the world where reliable chemotherapy and radiation technology are not yet available, the role of the surgeon in securing palliation from gastric cancer remains very prominent.