OBJECTIVE  To analyze the risk factors for infectious complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancer and their impact on short-term postoperative recovery and survival outcomes.

METHODS  Elderly patients (＞60 years) with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy at the General Surgery Department of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2022 were enrolled. Case data were analyzed to identify risk factors for postoperative infectious complications. After excluding tumor pathological characteristics, the impact of infectious complications on short-term recovery and survival prognosis of elderly patients with gastric cancer was further investigated.

RESULTS  Preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR=2.680, 95% CI: 1.384–5.190, P=0.003), diabetes (OR=2.641, 95% CI: 1.324–5.267, P=0.006), surgery onset time (afternoon) (OR=2.366, 95% CI: 1.302–4.300, P=0.005) and operative duration ＞220 min (OR=2.611, 95% CI: 1.394–4.891, P=0.003) were identified as risk factors for infectious complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in elderly patients. After excluding the influence of tumor pathological characteristics, it was found that the incidence of infectious complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy could prolong fasting duration (P=0.001) and hospital stay (P＜0.001), and increased the 1-year (P＜0.001) and 3-year (P=0.019) mortality risks.

CONCLUSIONS  Infectious complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy delay postoperative recovery and worsen survival outcomes in elderly patients. Targeted preventive measures should be implemented for elderly patients with gastric cancer who have related risk factors, so as to reduce the incidence risk of infectious complications and improve prognosis.