Comparison of Postoperative Nutritional Status after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer Using Three Reconstructive Methods: a Multicenter Study of over 1300 Patients

Billroth-II modified with hinged anti-peristaltic afferent loop versus Roux-en-Y reconstruction after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A propensity-score match analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of modified Billroth-II with a hinged anti-peristaltic afferent loop by comparing it with the Roux-en-Y method.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 344 patients with gastric cancer who underwent distal gastrectomy between 2016 and 2021. Propensity score matching was conducted to balance baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, there were 117 patients in each group. The Billroth-II group was significantly better regarding operating time (184.7 vs 225.3 minutes), postoperative hospital stays (7.9 vs 9.2 days), and time to semi-solid diet tolerance (2.8 vs 3.8 days). The Billroth-II group demonstrated comparable results with the Roux-en-Y group in weight loss, hemoglobin changes, reflux esophagitis, food residue, and gastritis severity. Presentation of bile in gastric remnant was significantly higher in the Billroth-II group (42.9% vs 10.3%).

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences in functional outcomes between Billroth-II and Roux-en-Y reconstructions. The Billroth-II was superior to Roux-en-Y in operating time, hospital stays, and time to semi-solid diet tolerance. The Billroth-II could be considered an acceptable alternative reconstruction after distal gastrectomy.

Actuality and underlying mechanisms of systemic immune-inflammation index and geriatric nutritional risk index prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma

This editorial contains comments on the article "Correlation between preoperative systemic immune inflammation index, nutritional risk index, and prognosis of radical resection of liver cancer" in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. It pointed out the actuality and importance of the article and focused primarily on the underlying mechanisms making the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) prediction features valuable. There are few publications on both SII and GNRI together in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and patient prognosis after radical surgery. Neutrophils release cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes, degrade extracellular matrix, reduce cell adhesion, and create conditions for tumor cell invasion. Neutrophils promote the adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells, through physical anchoring. That results in the migration of tumor cells. Pro-angiogenic factors from platelets enhance tumor angiogenesis to meet tumor cell supply needs. Platelets can form a protective film on the surface of tumor cells. This allows avoiding blood flow damage as well as immune system attack. It also induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of tumor cells that is critical for invasiveness. High SII is also associated with macro- and microvascular invasion and increased numbers of circulating tumor cells. A high GNRI was associated with significantly better progression-free and overall survival. HCC patients are a very special population that requires increased attention. SII and GNRI have significant survival prediction value in both palliative treatment and radical surgery settings. The underlying mechanisms of their possible predictive properties lie in the field of essential cancer features. Those features provide tumor nutrition, growth, and distribution throughout the body, such as vascular invasion. On the other hand, they are tied to the possibility of patients to resist tumor progression and development of complications in both postoperative and cancer-related settings. The article is of considerable interest. It would be helpful to continue the study follow-up to 2 years and longer. External validation of the data is needed.

Early Outcomes of Different Reconstruction Procedures in Radical Distal Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matching Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the short-term effects of Billroth I (B-I), Billroth Ⅱ (B-Ⅱ), Billroth Ⅱ+Braun (B-B), and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction procedures in radical distal gastrectomy using propensity score matching (PSM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 1994 patients who underwent radical distal gastrectomy in the past 10 years were retrospectively analyzed. Subsequently, PSM analyses were performed 3 times on the 4 reconstruction procedures, and the matching capacity was set to 0.01. Data regarding control variables and outcome indicators obtained using PSM were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with the other reconstruction procedures, patients in the B-I group had shorter operation time ( P =0.002), fewer abdominal drainage tubes ( P <0.001), and a lower risk of postoperative gastroparesis ( P =0.001) and gastrointestinal bleeding ( P =0.034), but tended to experience a longer postoperative indwelling time of bladder catheter ( P <0.001), gastrointestinal decompression ( P <0.001), fasting ( P =0.001), and hospital stays ( P =0.005). The B-B group tended to have fewer applications of the abdominal drainage tube ( P =0.014), a lower risk of postoperative gastrointestinal fistula ( P =0.040), shorter postoperative time of gastrointestinal decompression ( P =0.043), fasting ( P <0.001), and a shorter hospital stay ( P <0.001) than the R-Y group. Furthermore, the B-B group had a shorter postoperative time for gastrointestinal decompression ( P =0.014) and fasting ( P <0.001) than the B-Ⅱ group.

CONCLUSION

Billroth I reconstruction has the advantages of simple operation, short operative time, and few early complications, but tends to result in a long recovery time during postoperative hospitalization. The B-B operation is associated with faster postoperative recovery than the R-Y or B-Ⅱ operation.

Prognostic nutritional index as a prognostic biomarker for gastrointestinal cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Objective

Our study represents the first meta-analysis conducted to evaluate the prognostic utility of the baseline prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) who received immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

Methods

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar until April 23, 2023, to obtain relevant articles for this study. Our analysis examined several clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR).

Results

In this analysis, a total of 17 articles with 2883 patients were included. Our pooled results indicated that patients with high PNI levels had longer OS (HR: 0.530, 95% CI: 0.456-0.616, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR: 0.740, 95% CI: 0.649-0.844, p < 0.001), as well as higher ORR (OR: 1.622, 95% CI: 1.251-2.103, p < 0.004) and DCR (OR: 1.846, 95% CI: 1.428-2.388, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that PNI cutoff values of 40 to 45 showed greater predictive potential. Subgroup analysis also confirmed that the above findings still hold true in patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinomas.

Conclusion

The PNI were reliable predictors of outcomes in GIC patients treated with ICIs.

Prognostic nutritional index for predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

Although the application of immunotherapy in gastric cancer has achieved satisfactory clinical effects, many patients have no response. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the predictive ability of the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) to the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants were 146 gastric cancer patients with ICIs (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) or chemotherapy. All patients were divided into a low PNI group and a high PNI group based on the cut-off evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We contrasted the difference in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in two groups while calculating the prognosis factors for PFS and OS by univariate and multivariate analyses. Moreover, the nomogram based on the results of the multivariate analysis was constructed to estimate the 1- and 3-year survival probabilities.

RESULTS

There were 41 (28.1%) cases in the low PNI group and 105 (71.9%) cases in the high PNI group. The median survival time for PFS in the low PNI group and high PNI group was 12.30 months vs. 33.07 months, and 18.57 months vs. not reached in the two groups for OS. Patients in low PNI group were associated with shorter PFS and OS in all patients [Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.913, p = 0.013 and HR = 2.332, p = 0.001]. Additionally, in subgroup analysis, low PNI group cases also had poorer PFS and OS, especially in patients with ICIs. In addition, the multivariate analysis found that carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for PFS. At the same time, indirect bilirubin (IDBIL), CA724, PNI, and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSION

Prognostic nutrition index was an accurate inflammatory and nutritional marker, which could predict the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer who received ICIs. PNI could be used as a biomarker for ICIs to identify patients with gastric cancer who might be sensitive to ICIs.

Effects of different gastrointestinal reconstruction techniques on nutrition, anemia, and quality of life in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Purpose:

To explore the effect of different gastrointestinal reconstruction techniques on laparoscopic distal gastrectomy of gastric cancer on the nutritional and anemia status, and quality of life (QoL) of patients.

Methods:

Eligible patients were randomly divided into three groups (n=36/group): Billroth I anastomosis group, Billroth II combined with Braun anastomosis group, and Roux-en-Y anastomosis group. Related indicators were compared and analyzed.

Results:

The general data were comparable among the three groups (all P>0.05). Among the surgical-related indicators and postoperative recovery indicators, only the comparison of the operation time was statistically significant (P=0.004). The follow-up time was 5~36 months (average 27.9 months). In terms of nutritional and anemia indicators, only the differences in the levels of prealbumin, hemoglobin and serum ferritin in 24 months after operation showed significant differences (P=0.015, P=0.003, P=0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in hospital readmission rate, overall survival, and QoL among the three groups (all P>0.05).

Conclusions:

In laparoscopic gastrectomy for stage II~III distal gastric cancer, Billroth I anastomosis has shorter operation time than Billroth II combined with Braun anastomosis and Roux-en-Y anastomosis and advantages in the improvement of nutritional status and anemia recovery.

Persistent Postgastrectomy Hypoglycemia Unawareness in Patients With Gastric Cancer Unveiled by a Prospective Study

Objective

Late dumping syndrome is a common postgastrectomy complication characterized by reactive hypoglycemia. This study aimed to explore the glycemic trend in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and clarify its changes over time in association with postgastrectomy symptoms.

Summary Background Data

Changes over time in glycemic trend in association with postgastrectomy symptoms have not been evaluated.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of 71 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between November 2017 and April 2020. The patients underwent continuous glucose monitoring twice-at 1- and 12-month postgastrectomy-and were assessed using the Post-Gastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale 37-item questionnaire (PGSAS-37) at 1-, 6-, and 12-month postgastrectomy.

Results

Our results revealed that hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), especially nocturnal hypoglycemia (00:00-06:00), frequently occurred even at 12-month postgastrectomy. Hypoglycemia improved in total gastrectomy patients but remained unchanged in distal gastrectomy patients, which was still high in both groups at 12-month postgastrectomy. Glycemic variability (SD of the glycemic trend) was exacerbated in both gastrectomy groups. However, the PGSAS-37 symptom scores remained unchanged, and the living status and quality of life tended to improve. Hypoglycemia unawareness, including postprandial hypoglycemia without symptoms and nocturnal hypoglycemia, was evident even 12-month postgastrectomy.

Conclusions

Persistent postgastrectomy hypoglycemia unawareness, including late dumping syndrome without symptoms and nocturnal hypoglycemia, should be recognized as an important issue in postgastrectomy syndrome. Therefore, meticulous long-term evaluation for glycemic trends and care of patients is required.

Geriatric nutritional risk index predicts prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy: a propensity score matching analysis

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is widely used for nutritional assessment in older inpatients and is associated with postoperative complications and cancer prognosis. We investigated the use of GNRI to predict long-term outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma of all etiologies after hepatectomy. Overall, 346 patients were examined after propensity score matching. We dichotomized the GNRI score into high GNRI (> 98: N = 173) and low GNRI (≤ 98: N = 173) and evaluated recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) between both groups. Clinicopathological characteristics between the low- and high-GNRI groups were similar after propensity score matching except for the components of the GNRI score (body mass index and serum albumin level), Child–Pugh score (comprising serum albumin level), and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0030, and p = 0.0007, respectively). High GNRI was associated with significantly better RFS and OS (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0211, respectively; log-rank test). Multivariate analysis revealed that GNRI is an independent prognostic factor of RFS and OS (low vs. high; hazard ratio [HR], 1.8284; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3598–2.4586; p < 0.0001, and HR, 1.5452; 95% CI 1.0345–2.3079; p = 0.0335, respectively). GNRI is an objective, inexpensive, and easily calculated assessment tool for nutritional status and can predict prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

Postoperative Changes in Nutritional and Functional Status of Gastroesophageal Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVE

Disease-related malnutrition is a debilitating condition frequently observed in patients with cancer. The aim of the current study was to prospectively examine postoperative changes in nutritional and functional status of patients undergoing surgery for gastric, esophageal, and gastroesophageal junction cancer.

METHODS

Participants were prospectively recruited from September 2015 to September 2019. The assessment of malnutrition was based on the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment tool. The functional assessment included the evaluation of muscle strength and physical performance, while muscle mass assessment was based on Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) derived from the analysis of computed tomography scans. The follow up of patients was scheduled at six months postoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients were analyzed. Mean patient age was 60.79 ± 10.19 years and 80.6% were males. The mean unintentional weight loss at 6 months was 11.7 ± 8.0%. Patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy reported the greatest weight loss postoperatively (16.2 ± 9.6%), whereas the lowest rate of weight loss was observed in patients who underwent partial gastrectomy (5.6 ± 6.7%). The rate of severe malnutrition declined at six months postoperatively (39.7% vs 27%). Muscle strength and physical performance were significantly deteriorated at 6 months postoperatively, except for the group of partial gastrectomy, while SMI significantly decreased in all groups of patients except for McKewon esophagectomy group. Finally, the prevalence of low muscle mass increased significantly from 43.5% in the preoperative period to 66.7% at the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a significant deterioration in gastroesophageal cancer patient nutritional and functional status at six months postoperatively. The high prevalence of malnutrition and low muscle mass requires systematic follow-up and multidirectional monitoring in order to ensure the successful rehabilitation of these patients.

Analysis of factors contributing to postoperative body weight change in patients with gastric cancer: based on generalized estimation equation

Aims

The study aimed to explore factors contributing to body weight change over time in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy, in order to find risk factors to implement nutritional intervention beforehand.

Methods

A cohort of gastric cancer patients who were treated with gastrectomy from January to March 2019 at a university affiliated hospital in Shanghai were consecutively identified in this study. Demographics, disease related information, nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice score were collected before gastrectomy. In addition, body weight before surgery (T0), body weight at one month (T1), two months (T2), and three months (T3) after gastrectomy were recorded. Generalized estimation equation was used to describe body weight change and analyze factors contributing to body weight change after surgery.

Results

There were 49 patients recruited in the study. Patient body weight decreased by 9.2% at T1 (Wald χ = 271.173, P <0.001), 11.0% at T2 (Wald χ² = 277.267, P <0.001), and 11.4% at T3 compared to baseline at T0 (Wald χ = 284.076, P <0.001). The results of GEE for multivariable analysis showed that surgery type (Wald χ = 6.027, P = 0.014) and preoperative BMI (Wald χ = 12.662, P = 0.005) were contributing factors of body weight change. Compared with distal gastrectomy patients, total gastrectomy patients experienced greater body weight loss (β = 2.8%, P = 0.014). Compared with patients with BMI&λτ; 18.5 kg/m², patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²experienced greater body weight loss (β = 4.5% P = 0.026).

Conclusion

Gastric cancer patients experienced significant weight loss during 3 months after gastrectomy. Total gastrectomy and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²were risk factors to postoperative body weight loss for GC patients. The results suggested hinted that clinician should pay attention to postoperative nutrition status of patient undergoing total gastrectomy and obesity patients.

Geriatric nutritional risk index as a prognostic marker of pTNM-stage I and II esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after curative resection

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is associated with mortality in several malignancies. We retrospectively analyzed whether the GNRI can predict long-term outcomes in 191 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after curative esophagectomies by evaluating their cancer-specific survival (CSS). In multivariate analyses, serum albumin (hazard ratio [HR], 2.498; p = 0.0043), GNRI (HR, 1.941; p = 0.0181), pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage (HR, 3.884; p < 0.0001), and tumor differentiation (HR, 2.307; p = 0.0066) were independent prognostic factors for CSS.

In pTNM stage I, multivariate analysis identified C-reactive protein (HR, 7.172; p = 0.0483) and GNRI (HR, 5.579; p = 0.0291) as independent prognostic factors for CSS. In univariate analyses in pTNM stages II and III, only low GNRI (p = 0.0095) and low serum albumin levels (p = 0.0119), respectively, were significantly associated with worse CSS. In patients with low GNRI, CSS was significantly worse than in those with normal GNRI (p = 0.0011), especially in pTNM stages I (p = 0.0044) and II (p = 0.0036) groups, but not in stage III group (p = 0.5099).

Preoperative GNRI may sort patients into low- or high-risk groups for shorter CSS, especially in those with pTNM stage I and II ESCC.