Development of a Nomogram for Predicting Complete Intestinal Obstruction After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Postoperative ileus is a common complication in patients with gastric cancer (GC). However, previous studies have mostly focused on its prevalence and other characteristics; research on its severity and risk factors remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to create a nomogram for predicting postoperative complete ileus in patients with gastric cancer in order to provide better guidance for its diagnosis and treatment. The research population consisted of 173 patients admitted to Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from January 2015 to October 2022, with 68 cases of partial intestinal obstruction and 105 cases of complete intestinal obstruction following radical gastrectomy. The risk factors for postoperative complete ileus were identified using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. The results showed that unclosed mesenteric defects (p = 0.046), postoperative metastasis (p = 0.029), and postoperative hypochloremia (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative complete ileus. Based on these factors, we created a nomogram to predict the occurrence of postoperative complete ileus. This novel nomogram could serve as a crucial early warning indicator that would guide doctors to make informed decisions while managing patients with gastric cancer.