Evaluation of residual stomach motility after proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer by electrogastrography

Food passage following proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction and its effect on nutritional status in early gastric cancer: a prospective single-center cohort study

Purpose

Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (LPG-DTR) expectedly results in improved nutritional status and less body weight loss than conventional total gastrectomy in upper-third gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the food passage patterns following LPG-DTR and its effect on nutritional outcomes up to 1 year after surgery.

Methods

This prospective cohort study recruited 10 patients with early gastric cancer scheduled for LPG-DTR. Nutritional indices and body composition were assessed every 3 months up to 12 months. Liquid and solid food transits were evaluated with fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal study and radionuclide scintigraphy, respectively.

Results

At 12 months, patients exhibited a body weight loss of 14.5% ± 3.6%. The main passage routes for liquid and solid foods differed, primarily via the interposed jejunum for liquids, whereas via both tracts for solids. The median half-life of solid food emptying from the remnant distal stomach was 105.1 minutes (range, 50.8-2,194.2 minutes), and duodenal passage of solid food was noted in 9 of 10 patients. Those with gastric half-emptying time >3 hours demonstrated greater weight loss (19.5% ± 1.4% vs. 12.5% ± 1.1%, P = 0.024) and more pronounced reduction in serum albumin levels (-0.5 ± 0.3 g/dL vs. 0.0 ± 0.2 g/dL, P = 0.024) after 12 months.

Conclusion

LPG-DTR demonstrated varying food passage patterns depending on the food contents and delayed solid food emptying from the remnant stomach was associated with more substantial weight loss.

Indication of Proximal Gastrectomy for Advanced Proximal Gastric Cancer Based on Lymph Node Metastasis at the Distal Part of the Stomach

Objective

To suggest the possible indication of proximal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer located at the upper third of the stomach.

Background

Proximal gastrectomy has been an alternative surgical procedure for early proximal gastric cancer due to its benefits for quality of life while maintaining oncological outcomes. However, the oncological safety of proximal gastrectomy for advanced tumors remains unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data from 878 patients who underwent radical total gastrectomy from 2003 to 2018 for pathologic T2-T4 gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach. We identified risk factors for lymph node metastasis at the distal part of the stomach, which was not dissected in proximal gastrectomy. Subsequently, we evaluated the metastasis rate and therapeutic value index of lymph nodes at the distal part of the stomach in patients with none of these risk factors.

Results

Multivariable analysis revealed that esophagogastric junction (EGJ)-tumor epicenter distance >30 mm, tumor size >70 mm, macroscopic type IV tumor, and serosal invasion were risk factors for lymph node metastasis at the distal stomach. In patients without risk factors, the therapeutic value index for any lymph nodes at the distal stomach was 0.8, suggesting that lymph node dissection could be omitted in these patients.

Conclusions

EGJ-tumor epicenter distance ≤ 30 mm, tumor size ≤ 70 mm, not a macroscopic type IV tumor, and no serosal invasion could be an indication of proximal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer located at the upper third of the stomach.

Feasibility and quality of life assessment of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy using double-tract reconstruction

PURPOSE

As the frequency of cancer in the proximal stomach or around the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) increases worldwide, the use of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) has expanded. This study evaluated the safety of LPG with double-tract reconstruction (LPG-DT) and the resulting quality of life (QOL) of patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the data of patients who underwent LPG-DT via linear-stapled esophagojejunostomy for gastric or EGJ cancer between 2013 and 2019, and outcomes were compared with those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (LTG-RY) peMME000372rformed over the same period. Surgical outcomes, changes of nutritional parameters, and chronological QOL as evaluated using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS-37) questionnaire were compared in the propensity-matched cohorts.

RESULTS

In total, 289 patients (99 LPG-DT and 190 LTG-RY) were eligible and the outcomes were evaluated in the propensity-matched cohorts (n = 75 each). Operative time and the incidence of complications (≥ grade III) were comparable. Reflux esophagitis was more frequent in the LPG-DT group (8.0% vs. 0%), whereas the incidence of anastomotic stricture did not differ. The percentage rates of body weight loss and hemoglobin reduction were lower in the LPG-DT group at any time point within postoperative 2 years but show no statistical differences. In PGSAS-37 (n = 26, n = 23), the diarrhea and quality of ingestion scores were slightly better in the LPG-DT group.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggested that our LPG-DT is feasible and safe in appropriately selected patients, and it may provide slightly better outcomes in nutrition and QOL compared with LTG-RY.

Association between gastric myoelectric activity disturbances and dyspeptic symptoms in gastrointestinal cancer patients

PURPOSE

Dyspeptic symptoms present a severe problem in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. The aim of the study was to analyze an association between gastric myoelectric activity changes and dyspeptic symptoms in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 80 patients (37 men and 43 women, mean age 61.2 ± 7.8 years) diagnosed with GI tract malignancies: colon (group A), rectal (group B) and gastric cancers (group C). Gastric myoelectric activity in a preprandial and postprandial state was determined by means of a 4-channel electrogastrography. Autonomic nervous system was studied based on heart rate variability analysis. The results were compared with the data from healthy asymptomatic controls.

RESULTS

In a fasted state, GI cancer patients presented with lesser percentages of normogastria time (A:44.23 vs. B:46.5 vs. C:47.10 vs. Control:78.2%) and average percentage slow wave coupling (ACSWC) (A:47.1 vs. B:50.8 vs. C:47.2 vs. Control:74.9%), and with higher values of dominant power (A:12.8 vs. B:11.7 vs. C:12.3 vs. Control:10.9) than the controls. Patients did not show an improvement in the percentage of normogastria time, dominant power, dominant frequency and ACSWC in response to food. The severity of dyspeptic symptoms correlated with the values of electrogastrography parameters. Patients showed lower values of heart rate variability parameters than the healthy controls, that indicate abnormal autonomic nervous system activity.

CONCLUSION

GI cancers affect the gastric myoelectric activity, decreasing normogastria and slow wave coupling. These patients do not show adequate gastric motility response to food. Impaired gastric electric motility may result from cancer-induced autonomic disturbances.

Current status of multichannel electrogastrography and examples of its use

Electrogastrography (EGG) is a non-invasive diagnostic motility for recording gastric myoelectrical activity. Gastric myoelectrical activity was first recorded in 1922. Advances in recording equipment enabled widespread use of cutaneous EGG after 1985. Later, introduction of multichannel EGG (M-EGG) enabled measurement of electrical activity transmission. At present, M-EGG findings are used as objective indicators of gastric motility disorders caused by various diseases. EGG measures two categories of gastric electrical activity: electrical response activity, or spike potentials; and electrical control activity, or slow waves. The appearance of abnormal rhythmic electrical activity is indicative of abnormalities in gastric motility. The normal frequency range of gastric electrical activity (normogastria) is around 3 cycles per min. Multiple EGG parameters assist in the assessment of gastric myoelectrical activity, and significant correlations between EGG and other gastric motility tests have been demonstrated in many studies. In Japan, however, EGG remains in the exploratory stage, and its clinical use is limited. There are large variations in procedures and systems used in previous studies, thus there is a need for standardization of EGG procedures and technical terminology. Here, we outline the current status of EGG and report the M-EGG procedures used in our department in addition to our M-EGG findings.

The abstract of this manuscript was presented during an educational seminar titled "Current status of gastrointestinal motility tests and keys for immediate implementation" at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Smooth Muscle Research

Clinical application of electrogastrography in patients with stomach cancer who undergo distal gastrectomy

Purpose

Electrogastrography is a method of measuring action potentials of the stomach. The purpose of this study was to investigate early postoperative changes in the electrogastrography and determine the correlation between electrogastrography and quality of life of patients with stomach cancer who underwent distal gastrectomy.

Materials and Methods

This study analyzed 20 patients with stomach cancer who underwent electrogastrography and quality of life was measured 1, 12, and 24 weeks after the operation. Quality of life-C30 version 3.0 and quality of life-STO22, were used.

Results

Fasting and postprandial mean dominant frequency at 1 week after the operation was 2.7 and 2.7 cycles per minute, and 2.8 and 2.7 cycles per minute at 12 weeks, 2.6 and 2.8 cycles per minute at 24 weeks. Fasting and postprandial mean dominant power at 1 week was 36.5 and 36.4 dB, 36.3 and 40.1 dB at 12 weeks and 40.9 and 42.3 dB at 24 weeks. The percentage of tachygastria was increased whereas the percentage of bradygradia was decreased during the postoperative periods (P<0.05). Global health, physical, emotional and social functioning scales were improved, but role and cognitive functioning were not changed. Pain, insomnia, diarrhea and financial difficulties were significantly improved according to the postoperative periods (P<0.05). The correlation between the STO22 and electrogastrography parameters was not significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions

These may suggest that electrogastrography is a simple and noninvasive method and may be applicated for evaluating motility and autonomic functions of the remnant stomach.

Electrogastrographic characteristics in subjects with stomach remnant

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Slow wave (SW) is an essential component in mediating stomach motility. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the SW characteristics in subjects with stomach remnant.

METHODS

We consecutively enrolled 58 distal radical subtotal gastrectomy (RSG) patients (male/female: 44/14, age: 33-79 years) to receive an electrogastrographic (EGG) measurement. Their Helicobacter pylori status and dyspeptic score were simultaneously assessed. In addition, EGG data of 58 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were compared. Based on power spectral analysis, the following EGG parameters were derived: dominant frequency (DF)/power (DP), percentage of normal rhythm (2-4 cpm), power ratio (PR) referring the postprandial power change, etc.

RESULTS

Visual analysis occasionally found a short period of approximately 11 cpm myoelectricity-like rhythm. Distal RSG patients had lower fasting (1.90 +/- 0.69 vs 2.97 +/- 0.58 cpm, P < 0.001) and postprandial (2.03 +/- 0.72 vs 3.35 +/- 0.27 cpm, P < 0.001) DF values, while their fasting (36.2 +/- 22.3% vs 67.1 +/- 23.4%, P < 0.001) and postprandial (33.4 +/- 19.9% vs 82.2 +/- 16.7%, P < 0.001) percentages of normal rhythms were diminished. In contrast, fasting DP, its meal response and PR (2.99 +/- 2.40 vs 2.45 +/- 2.63, NS) were comparable to those of controls. Neither gender, age, type of gastroenterostomy, Helicobacter pylori colonization, dyspeptic score nor elapsed time after surgery had an obvious influence on EGG parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Distal RSG patients may have decreased SW frequency and less meal ingestion changed EGG parameters in terms of SW frequency, normality and stability, whereas their EGG power remained unchanged irrespective of meal ingestion.