Objective To analyze the influencing factors on postoperative complications and mortality of gastric cancer after total gastrectomy. Methods The clinical data of 622 patients with gastric cancer received total gastrectomy were collected. According to the extent of lymph node dissection, the patients were divided into 2 groups: D0/D1 group (n=35) and D2/D3 group (n=587). The risk factors influencing postoperative morbidity and mortality were determined by logistic multiple regression analysis. Results The total postoperative complication morbidity and mortality for all patients were 9.81% (61/622) and 2.89% (18/622), respectively. The postoperative complication morbidity was 8.57% (3/35) and 9.88% (58/587) in the two groups, the postoperative mortality was 2.86% (1/35) and 2.90% (17/587) in the two groups, there were no significant differences between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). The most common postoperative complication was intestinal obstruction (18.03%, 11/61). Multivariate analysis revealed that risk factors on the postoperative complications and mortality were age ≥ 70 years, TNM stage Ⅳ, preoperative complication, palliative excision, merely manual or mechanical anastomosis, and multivisceral resection (Plt;0.05), however, the extent of lymph node was not influencing factor (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions Patients with advanced gastric cancer have a high risk of postoperative complications and mortality. Multiple organ resection should be avoided for patients with gastric cancer of TNM stage Ⅳ.