Modified techniques and early outcomes of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy with side-to-side esophagojejunostomy

Laparoscopic gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy for gastric cancer in patients among octogenarians: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Currently, there is no consensus regarding whether super-elderly (aged > 80 years) patients are suitable candidates for laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to analyse the short-term outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

Following PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines, we searched the Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Pubmed databases from inception until May 2024 and performed a meta-analysis. All published studies exploring the surgical outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with GC were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

A total of 1,085 studies were retrieved, eight of which were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 807 patients > 80 years of age with GC. The meta-analysis showed that compared with open gastrectomy, patients with GC > 80 years old who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy had a longer operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 30.48, p < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (WMD = -166.96, P < 0.001), shorter postoperative exhaust time (WMD =-0.83, p < 0.001), shorter length of stay (WMD = -0.78, p < 0.001), fewer overall complications (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.54, p = 0.003), higher 5-year overall survival rate (OR = 1.66, p = 0.03) and disease-specific survival rate (OR = 3.23, p < 0.001). Furthermore, laparoscopic gastrectomy did not significantly affect the number of lymph node dissections, the rate of D2 radical gastrectomy, major postoperative complications, or postoperative pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to open gastrectomy, patients with GC aged > 80 years who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy may have better short-term outcomes. Age should not be a contraindication for minimally invasive surgery.

Final results of a randomized controlled trial: comparison of the efficacy and safety between totally laparoscopic and laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy for advanced Siewert III esophagogastric junction cancer and upper and middle third gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of TLTG with the overlap technique to LATG in patients with advanced Siewert III Esophagogastric Junction Cancer and upper and middle third gastric cancer.

METHODS

This single-center RCT enrolled 292 patients with the mentioned cancers, randomly assigned to TLTG overlap ( n =146) or LATG ( n =146) groups. Data on demographics, pathology, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, recovery parameters, and 3-year survival were collected. Main outcome: postoperative complications within 30 days. Secondary outcomes: 3-year disease-free and overall survival.

RESULTS

TLTG versus LATG: TLTG had shorter incision, faster flatus/defecation, reduced analgesia, less opioid use, and shorter hospital stay. Similar operation time, anastomosis time, blood loss, and lymph node harvest. TLTG had a lower overall post-op complication rate (P=0.047) and no significant difference in serious complications ( P =0.310). Variances in anastomotic stenosis occurrence at 3 months. No rehospitalization or mortality at 30 days. No significant differences in 3-month disease-free survival ( P =0.058) or overall survival ( P =0.236).

CONCLUSION

The overlap method for anastomosis in TLTG is safe and feasible for advanced middle-upper-third gastric cancer, with positive short-term outcomes. This technique has the potential to be the preferred esophagojejunostomy approach in TLTG.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900025667 (registration date: 4 September 2019).

Linear- Versus Circular-Stapled Esophagojejunostomy During Total Gastrectomy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: While numerous techniques have been defined for esophagojejunostomy (EJ) during total gastrectomy including hand-sewn and stapled anastomoses, mechanical linear-stapled (LS) and circular-stapled (CS) anastomoses are widely adopted. However, there are scarce data on the optimal stapled technique for EJ during total gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PubMed were investigated up to October 30, 2022. We considered articles that appraised short-term outcomes after LS versus CS anastomosis in patients undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Anastomotic leak (AL), anastomotic stricture (AS), and anastomotic bleeding (AB) were primary outcomes. Risk ratio (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used as pooled effect size measures, whereas 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to calculate related inference. Results: Sixteen studies (3156 patients) were incorporated. Overall, 1540 (48.8%) underwent CS, whereas 1616 (51.2%) underwent LS. Compared with CS, LS was related to a condensed RR for AS (RR: 0.27; 95% CI 0.15-0.49; P < .01), whereas no differences were found for AL (RR: 0.75; 95% CI 0.51-1.10; P = .14) and AB (RR: 0.59; 95% CI 0.24-1.44; P = .25). Postoperative pneumonia (RR: 0.98; P = .94), operative time (SMD: 0.51; P = .31), days to soft diet (SMD: -0.08; P = .36), hospital stay (SMD: 0.19; P = .46), and 30-day mortality (RR: 1.76; P = .31) were comparable between LS and CS. Conclusions: For EJ during total gastrectomy, our results suggest that LS seems related to a reduced risk of AS compared with CS, although no significant differences were found for the risk of AL and AB between the two techniques. Clinical Trial Registration number: CRD42022381221.

Modified -shaped esophagojejunostomy in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy: a report of 40 consecutive cases from a single center

Objective

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy remains a challenging technique in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) because of the lack of an established standard anastomosis method. However, π-shaped esophagojejunostomy in TLTG is reportedly safe and feasible. Therefore, we evaluated the short-term surgical outcomes of our modified π-shaped esophagojejunostomy in TLTG.

Methods

This study involved patients without neoadjuvant therapy diagnosed with gastric cancer who underwent TLTG by the same surgeon with modified π-shaped esophagojejunostomy from April 2018 to October 2019. Clinicopathologic data were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Forty patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were included. The mean operative time and estimated blood loss were 264.6 ± 56.9 minutes and 68.5 ± 53.3 mL, respectively. Postoperative flatus occurred at 4.6 ± 1.7 days. The mean time to resumption of diet was 7.4 ± 1.7 days postoperatively. One patient was diagnosed with anastomotic leakage and managed with conservative therapy. Pleural effusion was the most common complication, occurring in four (10%) patients. One patient developed intra-abdominal bleeding that required reoperation. Other complications were atrial fibrillation and wound infection. No mortality occurred during the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Modified π-shaped esophagojejunostomy is safe and feasible for intracorporeal anastomosis in TLTG and showed favorable surgical outcomes in this study.

Technical details of and prognosis for the "China stitch", a novel technique for totally laparoscopic hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy

The current study describes the technical details of and the clinical prognosis for the "China stitch", a novel technique for hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy. This study also explores the feasibility and safety of the technique. Clinical data of 20 patients with esophagogastric junction cancer in Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All 20 patients underwent esophagojejunostomy via a novel hand-sewn technique that uses traction to turn the left or right wall of the esophagus into an anterior wall. This avoids the difficulty of suturing the posterior wall. All patients were followed until June 2019. All 20 patients successfully underwent the procedure. The mean operating time was 216.5 ± 24.9 (176-254) min, the mean hand-sewn reconstruction time was 44.4 ± 9.4 (26-61) min, intraoperative bleeding was 141.2 ± 24.9 (130-160) mL, and the number of resected lymph nodes was 23 ± 8 (14-33). After surgery, there was one case of anastomotic leakage and one case of anastomotic stenosis, but both were alleviated with conservative treatment. The mean duration of follow-up was 15 (4-33) months. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications of and short-term oncologic prognosis for the 20 patients who underwent hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy and the 21 patients who underwent mechanical esophagojejunostomy during the same period. In conclusion, the "China stitch", a novel hand-sewn technique, is a cost-effective, safe, and reliable method for esophagojejunostomy in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

Overlap method versus functional method for esophagojejunal reconstruction using totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy (EJ) is a useful method in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for treating upper-third gastric cancer. The two methods of laparoscopic intracorporeal EJ-functional and overlap-have not been compared side-by-side in terms of safety and feasibility.

METHODS

Retrospective review and analysis of the data of 490 consecutive patients who underwent TLTG by either functional method (n = 365) or overlap (n = 125) method for upper- or middle-third gastric cancer was conducted between January, 2011 and May, 2018 at Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea). One-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologist score, the presence of comorbidity, number of comorbidities, clinical T stage, clinical nodal stage, clinical TNM stage, history of previous abdominal surgery, and combined surgery. After PSM, 244 patients were divided into functional method group and overlap method group (n = 122, each). The surgical outcomes and EJ-related complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of early surgical outcomes such as operative time, time to first flatus, postoperative hospital stay, transfusion during surgery, transfusion after surgery, and administration of analgesics. However, the pain score was significantly lower in overlap method group (6.21 ± 1.83) than functional method group (6.97 ± 2.09, p < 0.05). The overlap method was also associated with significantly fewer late complications (3.28% vs. 12.30%; p < 0.05), lower Clavien-Dindo classification grade (p < 0.05), and fewer EJ-related complications (0.82% vs. 6.56%; p < 0.05), as compared with the functional method.

CONCLUSION

The overlap method was safer and more feasible than the functional method for TLTG in gastric cancer patients, based on the finding of significantly lower incidence of EJ-related complications.

Surgical Outcomes and Follow-Up Results of 100 Cases of Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy Using the Overlap Method with Stapled Closure

Purpose

The overlap method is one of the most popular procedures for construction of an esophagojejunostomy and its common entry is usually closed with sutures. This study aimed to report long-term complications and surgical outcomes of the overlap method with stapled closure (OMSC), to compare them with those of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG), and to analyze a learning curve.

Methods

Between January 2015 and August 2017, 100 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with OMSC for gastric cancer and the patients’ medical records were reviewed. Their clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, and long-term complications were investigated and compared with those of the LATG group. A learning curve of OMSC was analyzed using the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average chart.

Results

The overall duration of surgery was shorter in the LATG group; however, there was no difference in patients with early gastric cancer. Hospital admission was shorter and the pain scale was lower in the OMSC group. There was no difference in the number of harvested lymph nodes, date of flatus, or incidence of postoperative morbidity. Both groups showed no duodenal stump leakage, anastomosis-related complications, recurrence, or mortality during the follow-up period. Petersen hernia was a notable long-term event following OMSC compared with LATG. At least 27 cases of surgery were required to reach a plateau in terms of surgery duration for OMSC.

Conclusion

OMSC is a safe option for the treatment of gastric cancer and has favorable long-term results and surgical outcomes. Closure of mesenteric defects and Petersen space should be considered.

Comparison of the safety and efficacy between linear stapler and circular stapler in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Total gastrectomy is often recommended for upper body gastric cancer, and totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) is deemed to be a promising surgical method with the well-known advantages such as less invasion and fast recovery. However, the anastomosis between oesophagus and jejunum is the difficulty of TLTG. Although staplers have promoted the development of TLTG, the choice of suitable staplers to complete oesophagojejunostomy is controversial and unclear. Therefore, a higher level of research evidence is needed to compare the two types of staplers in terms of safety and efficacy for oesophagojejunostomy in TLTG among patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Databases will be comprehensively searched from January 1990 to July 2019. All eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs or observational studies comparing the two types of staplers will be included. A meta-analysis will be performed using Review Manager V.5.3 software to compare the safety and efficacy of linear and circular staplers for oesophagojejunostomy in TLTG. The primary outcomes are anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture, anastomotic haemorrhage. The secondary outcomes include time to first instance of passing gas after surgery, first feeding time, total operation time, reconstruction time, estimated blood loss. The heterogeneity of this study will be assessed by p values and I² statistic. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses will be used to explore and explain the heterogeneity. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane tool or the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval will not be required because this proposed systematic review and meta-analysis is based on previously published data, which does not include intervention data on patients. The findings of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and will be presented at a relevant congress.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018111680.

Clinical Outcomes of Esophagojejunostomy in Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy: A Multicenter Study

PURPOSE

To examine the short-term outcomes of intracorporeal anastomosis during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy retrospectively at multiple institutions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We collected data of the patients who had undergone totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy at 4 institutions. All patients received an intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy.

RESULTS

Of the 215 patients evaluated, 147 underwent functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA) as the intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy (FEEA group), and 68 patients received a circular stapler anastomosis (Circular group). The rate of tumor invasion to the esophagus was significantly higher in the Circular group than in the FEEA group (33% vs. 6%, respectively; P<0.0001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the circular stapler anastomosis and high preoperative BMI were statistically significant risk factors for postoperative leakage. However, the rates of complications and mortality were not significantly different between groups.

CONSIDERATION

Our results showed that each type of esophagojejunostomy is safe and feasible for patients with gastric cancer with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Digestive tract reconstruction using isoperistaltic jejunum-later-cut overlap method after totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: Short-term outcomes and impact on quality of life

AIM

To evaluate the short-term outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in gastric cancer patients undergoing digestive tract construction using the isoperistaltic jejunum-later-cut overlap method (IJOM) after totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG).

METHODS

A total of 507 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy (D2) from January 2014 to March 2016 were originally included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups to undergo digestive tract construction using either IJOM after TLTG (group T, n = 51) or Roux-en-Y anastomosis after laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) (group A, n = 456). The short-term outcomes and QoL were compared between the two groups after 1:2 propensity-score matching (PSM). We used a questionnaire to assess QoL.

RESULTS

Before matching, age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, preoperative albumin and blood loss were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). After PSM, the patients were well balanced in terms of their clinicopathological characteristics, although both blood loss and in-hospital postoperative days in group T were significantly lower than those in group A (P < 0.05). After matching, group T reported better QoL in the domains of pain and dysphagia. Among the items evaluating pain and dysphagia, group T tended to report better QoL ("Have you felt pain" and "Have you had difficulty eating solid food") (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The IJOM for digestive tract reconstruction after TLTG is associated with reduced blood loss and less pain and dysphagia, thus improving QoL after laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy using the overlap method; early outcomes of 50 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

Construction of an esophagojejunostomy is still a challenging procedure in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG), and there is no standard anastomosing method. The aims of this study were to describe our TLTG with the overlap method using a linear stapler and report surgical outcomes.

METHODS

From January 2015 to April 2016, 50 patients underwent TLTG using the overlap method for gastric cancer. The procedures were performed by a single surgeon, and the patients' medical records were reviewed. Their clinicopathologic characteristics, operation time, date of flatus, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median age and body mass index were 56 years and 23.5, respectively. Stage 1A tumors were the most common. Mean operating time was 144.6 min, and no cases required changing to open laparotomy during surgery. On average, flatus occurred 3.5 days after surgery, and patients were discharged 6.8 days after surgery. No patient experienced anastomosis leakage, stricture, duodenal stump leakage, luminal bleeding, pancreatic fistula, or wound problems. There were two cases of intra-abdominal bleeding that required additional surgery. Intra-abdominal fluid collection and mechanical ileus occurred in two patients, respectively, and were successfully managed with conservative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported favorable surgical outcomes of TLTG using the overlap method. It is a feasible and safe option for treatment of gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) comparing with open gastrectomy (OG) in elderly population.

Methods

Studies comparing LG with OG for elderly population with gastric cancer, published between January 1994 and July 2015, were identified in the PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science databases. Operative outcomes (intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and the number of lymph nodes harvested) and postoperative outcomes (time to first ambulation, time to first flatus, time to first oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity) were included and analyzed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the pooled study. A funnel plot was used to evaluate the publication bias.

Results

Seven studies totaling 845 patients were included in the meta-analysis. LG in comparison to OG showed less intraoperative blood loss (weighted mean difference (WMD) −127.47; 95 % confidence interval (CI) −202.79 to −52.16; P < 0.01), earlier time to first ambulation (WMD −2.07; 95 % CI −2.84 to −1.30; P < 0.01), first flatus (WMD −1.04; 95 % CI −1.45 to −0.63; P < 0.01), and oral intake (WMD −0.94; 95 % CI −1.11 to −0.77; P < 0.01), postoperative hospital stay (WMD −5.26; 95 % CI −7.58 to −2.93; P < 0.01), lower overall postoperative complication rate (odd ratio (OR) 0.39; 95 % CI 0.28 to 0.55; P < 0.01), less surgical complications (OR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.32 to 0.69; P < 0.01), medical complication (OR 0.35; 95 % CI 0.22 to 0.56; P < 0.01), incisional complication (OR 0.40; 95 % CI 0.19 to 0.85; P = 0.02), and pulmonary infection (OR 0.49; 95 % CI 0.26 to 0.93; P = 0.03). No significant differences were observed between LG and OG for the number of harvested lymph nodes. However, LG had longer operative times (WMD 15.73; 95 % CI 6.23 to 25.23; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

LG is a feasible and safe approach for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Compared with OG, LG has less blood loss, faster postoperative recovery, and reduced postoperative morbidity.

The overlap method is a safe and feasible for esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic procedures are increasingly being applied to gastric cancer surgery, including total gastrectomy for tumors located in the upper gastric body. Even for expert surgeons, esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) can be technically challenging. We perform the overlap method of esophagojejunostomy after LATG for gastric cancer. However, technical questions remain. Is the overlap method safer and more useful than other anastomosis techniques, such as methods using a circular stapler? In addition, while we perform this overlap reconstruction after LATG in a deep and narrow operative field, can the overlap method be performed safely regardless of body habitus? This study aimed to evaluate these issues retrospectively and to review the literature.

METHODS

From October 2005 to August 2013, we performed LATG with lymph-node dissection and Roux-en-Y reconstruction using the overlap method in 77 patients with gastric cancer. This study examined pre-, intra- and postoperative data.

RESULTS

Mean operation time, time to perform anastomosis, and estimated blood loss were 391.4 min, 36.3 min, and 146.9 ml, respectively. There were no deaths, and morbidity rate was 13%, including one patient (1%) who developed anastomotic stenosis. Mean postoperative hospitalization was 13.4 days. Surgical outcomes did not differ significantly by body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

First, the overlap method for esophagojejunostomy after LATG is safe and useful. Second, this method can be performed irrespective of the body type of the patient. In particular, in a deep and narrow operative field, the overlap method is more versatile than other anastomosis methods. We believe that the overlap method can become a standard reconstruction technique for esophagojejunostomy after LATG.

Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: literature review and comparison of the procedure of esophagojejunostomy

There has been a recent increase in the use of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for gastric cancer. However, there is no scientific evidence to determine which esophagojejunostomy (EJS) technique is the best. In addition, both short- and long-term oncological results of TLTG are inconsistent. We reviewed 25 articles about TLTG for gastric cancer in which at least 10 cases were included. We analyzed the short-term results, relationships between EJS techniques and complications, long-term oncological results, and comparative study results of TLTG. TLTG was performed in a total of 1170 patients. The mortality rate was 0.7%, and the short-term results were satisfactory. Regarding EJS techniques and complications, circular staplers (CSs) methods were significantly associated with leakage (4.7% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.001) and stenosis (8.3% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001) of the EJS as compared with the linear stapler method. The long-term oncological prognosis was acceptable in patients with early gastric cancers and without metastases to lymph nodes. Although TLTG tended to increase surgical time compared with open total gastrectomy and laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy, it reduced intraoperative blood loss and was expected to shorten postoperative hospital stay. TLTG is found to be safer and more feasible than open total gastrectomy and laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy. At present, there is no evidence to encourage performing TLTG for patients with advanced gastric cancer from the viewpoint of long-term oncological prognosis. Although the current major EJS techniques are CS and linear stapler methods, in this review, CS methods are significantly associated with leakage and stenosis of the EJS.

Laparoscopy-assisted versus open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It remains controversial whether laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) is a safe or better alternative to open total gastrectomy (OTG) for the treatment of gastric cancer. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LATG by pooling comparative studies of LATG and OTG in a meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Original articles comparing LATG and OTG for gastric cancer, published in the English language since 1990, were searched for in PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. The outcome variables analyzed were number of harvested lymph nodes, postoperative complications, postoperative mortality, 5-year survival, operative time, blood loss, time of analgesic use, first flatus day, and postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Eight studies were considered suitable for the meta-analysis, for a total of 1161 patients (409 LATG and 752 OTG). Compared with OTG, LATG showed a similar number of lymph nodes harvested, morbidity, and postoperative mortality. There was also no difference in 5-year overall and disease-specific survival between groups, according to two enrolled studies where such data were available. LATG required longer operative times than OTG but also resulted in significantly less blood loss, earlier return of bowel function, less time of analgesics use, and shorter postoperative hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests that LATG in the treatment of gastric cancer is similar in safety and efficacy to OTG. LATG has the advantages of less blood loss and faster postoperative recovery, at the expense of a longer operative time.

Outcome of functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy

Purpose

Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) is unpopular because reconstruction is difficult. In fact, esophagojejunostomy is the most difficult surgical technique in TLTG. We adopted functional end-to-end anastomosis for esophagojejunostomy to simplify the procedure. The present study assesses the feasibility and surgical outcomes of TLTG with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy.

Methods

We assessed the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of 65 consecutive patients who underwent TLTG with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy at Tonan Hospital between January 2006 and August 2011.

Results

The mean surgical duration was 271.5 ± 64.7 min, and the mean blood loss was 85.2 ± 143.2 g. One patient (1.5 %) was converted to open surgery, and two patients (3.1 %) required reoperation due to ileus because of an internal hernia and jejunojejunostomy leakage. No reoperation was associated with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy. The mean hospital stay was 21.4 ± 13.5 days. Ten patients (15.4 %) developed postoperative complications, of which three (4.6 %) were anastomotic stenosis associated with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy. All of these were resolved by endoscopic dilation.

Conclusion

Functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy in TLTG is safe and feasible.