Successful open radical gastrectomy for locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer patients who suffered from coronavirus disease 2019 during preoperative chemotherapy: a report of three cases.

Computed tomography for preoperative evaluation was performed for all three patients and revealed that lung shadows remained post-COVID-19 infection. Despite this finding, the patients had good operative courses and were discharged as planned. Surgery after 7 weeks from the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection can be performed safely even when patients are post-chemotherapy and have residual lung findings and deep venous thrombosis. This report may contribute to the development of a consensus on performing safe gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer in patients previously infected with COVID-19.