Vision

GASTRODATA 2.0 arises from the necessity to provide a collaborative working platform for the development and implementation of projects organized within the European Chapter of the International Gastric Cancer Association.

The History: GASTRODATA Complication project

Perioperative complications influence long- and short-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The absence of a standardized system for defining and recording complications and quality measures after gastrectomy has generated a wide variation in evaluating their impact on critical outcomes such as mortality, morbidity, cancer recurrence, survival, readmission rates, length of hospital stay, costs and resource utilization, and quality of life.

To address this issue, in 2015 a group of European surgeons belonging to the International Gastric Cancer Association (IGCA) designed and launched the project “International Consensus on a Complications List after Gastrectomy for Cancer”.

The Gastrectomy Complications Consensus Group (GCCG) comprises more than 30 specialist gastric cancer surgeons from 13 countries in Europe.

In 2017, through Delphi surveys and group meetings, the GCCG reached a consensus on a comprehensive list of items, including the name and definition of each complication. The proposed list of 27 defined complications was published in Gastric Cancer in 2018 (click here to download the article), marking the first step in developing an essential clinical tool for the postoperative assessment of gastric cancer patients and quality improvement projects.

The use of the Complications Recording Sheet has enabled the Gastrectomy Complications Consensus Group to conduct several studies on a shared database and a prospective collection of cases.

The Gastro Data platform was also used as a support platform for a multicenter randomized study regarding the use of drainage in gastrectomy for cancer: the Adige Trial.

GASTRODATA 2.0

GASTRODATA 2.0 serves as a cross-platform website designed to highlight the initiatives of the European Chapter of IGCA, encompassing congress activities, diverse projects, and study protocols. Additionally, the site provides access to the comprehensive list of complications as previously agreed by the GCCG.

Through a secure login, users can access a shared database for prospective recording of cases operated on by individual centers. Consistent with the previous version, this database enables recording of numerous patient parameters, with a specific focus on perioperative complications.

Distinct access levels are planned, each varying in complexity and number of required parameters. The first level provides access to the comprehensive database and is granted by direct invitation from the European Chapter Board to expert centers with high volumes of gastric surgery. The aim is to record prospective data from high-volume centers, establishing benchmarks for perioperative morbidity and disease management outcomes.

A second entry level provides a streamlined version of the database upon request for all European centers, aimed at facilitating data collection and encouraging active participation in IGCA-European Chapter activities among Upper GI centers. The analysis of this data will provide valuable insights into real-world evaluations.

Further eventual entry levels could be set in the future, if needed, for other studies.

To ensure data quality and completeness, GASTRODATA incorporates preset reminders at 30 and 90 days after surgery, accompanied by warnings for incomplete data entries. Each participating center retains ownership of its data and the discretion to participate in various study protocols. Basic data analysis is accessible to each center at any time. For convenient access, a mobile version for smartphones or tablets is available.

Ultimately, GASTRODATA aspires to serve as a repository for multicenter studies proposed by the European Chapter.

GASTRODATA 2.0 is a continuously evolving tool designed to support any new initiative, provide a bulletin board for professional collaboration, and function as an open and easily accessible meeting place.