CHSU Discovery

Abstract

Gastric carcinoma remains a major global health concern concern, with over 769,000 deaths worldwide in 2020.¹ Prognosis has a 5-year survival >50% in localized disease and <1 year in distant metastases.² In advanced stages, malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a complication and often managed palliatively through diverting ostomy.³⁴ While ostomy reversal is typically avoided in metastatic settings due to poor prognosis, recent advances in systemic therapy—including immunotherapy—have led to remission in select patients.5 This raises new questions about surgical candidacy and quality-of-life outcomes in a previously untreatable population.