A Case of Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer with Direct Infiltration Causing a Gastropericardial Fistula

Key Points

• This report details a rare case of gastric cancer directly invading the pericardium, leading to a gastropericardial fistula, and the subsequent surgical intervention.
• 76-year-old male diagnosed with gastric cancer and gastropericardial fistula.
• Initial pericardial drainage was performed, followed by total gastrectomy 8 days post-operation due to infection control issues.
• Surgical procedures included total gastrectomy (D2 dissection), resection of liver segments, and resection of the transverse colon, all completed without thoracotomy.
• The intraoperative findings revealed tumor infiltration into the diaphragm and pericardium.
• Postoperative recovery was relatively smooth, with the patient able to resume oral intake.
• The patient transferred to another hospital 48 days post-surgery, indicating a favorable recovery trajectory.