OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 419 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer with complete follow-up data between March 2005 and March 2008 in the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Patients were divided into B I (138 cases with Billroth I reconstruction), M-B II (108 cases with modified Billroth II reconstruction), RY (46 cases with Roux-en-Y reconstruction) and Uncut RY (127 cases with uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction) according to reconstructive methods.

RESULTSPatients in the Uncut RY group had a larger tumor diameter, more T3, and poorer stage of disease compared to those in the B I (P<0.05). In Uncut RY group, the operative time and postoperative hospital stay were(132.6±19.2) minutes and (10.4±1.2) days respectively, shorter than those in RY group (142.5±11.7) minutes and (12.1±3.7) days(both P<0.05), alkaline reflex gastritis rate was 3.2%, lower than that in B I group (24.6%, P<0.05) and M-B II group (25.9%, P<0.05). Marginal ulcer rate in uncut RY group was lower compared to M-B II group (P=0.019), and incidence of Roux-en-Y stasis syndrome was less compared to RY group (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction is both feasible and safe. It can prevent alkaline reflex gastritis and Roux-en-Y stasis syndrome. It may be the preferred technique for reconstruction after distal gastrectomy.