1.Selection and application of transanal local excision techniques in the context of multimodal therapy for rectal cancer
Yanan WANG ; Ke XU ; Tingyu MOU ; Zhenghao LI ; Yang ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(11):1237-1242
In the field of rectal cancer treatment, transanal local excision techniques (such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery [TEM] and transanal minimally invasive surgery [TAMIS]) have gradually become an important therapeutic option for patients with rectal cancer at various stages, owing to their minimally invasive characteristics and organ-preserving advantages. For low-risk T1 stage tumors, local excision can achieve radical tumor control while preserving organ function. For some patients with high-risk T1 stage or T2-3 stage rectal cancer, the efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy and local excision is expected to be comparable to that of radical total mesorectal excision (TME). In patients with advanced rectal cancer who achieve clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant therapy, local excision can confirm the pathological remission status. However, it is necessary to balance the risk of surgical complications against the potential benefits of organ preservation with the "watch and wait" strategy. Currently, transanal local excision techniques have broad application prospects, and comprehensive assessment of patients' overall condition, implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration, and conduct of long-term follow-up are crucial to ensuring the safety of treatment.
2.Value of endoscopic assessment and local excision in diagnosing clinical complete response after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer
Guijun ZOU ; Rui MA ; Sijun WANG ; Chaojun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(11):1243-1247
This article systematically explores the synergistic value of endoscopic evaluation and local resection techniques in diagnosing clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. Endoscopic techniques, including high-definition narrow-band imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, and confocal laser endomicroscopy, significantly improve the detection rate of microscopic residual lesions and provide objective evidence for clinical decision-making through standardized scoring systems. Local resection techniques, serving as both pathological verification and minimally invasive treatment, offer organ preservation opportunities for patients with cCR. The integrated three-step diagnostic pathway of "endoscopic screening-radiological reassessment-local resection confirmation" enhances the specificity of cCR diagnosis while reducing unnecessary radical surgeries. However, standardizing technical implementation, deepening multidisciplinary collaboration, and integrating molecular diagnostics remain critical directions for future development.
3.Safety and efficacy of different anastomotic techniques following proximal gastrectomy: a meta-analysis
Dongyang SONG ; Zehua WANG ; Jie WANG ; Jinjie ZHANG ; Shasha LI ; Kun ZHANG ; Guohua GAO ; Wenqing HU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(10):1179-1193
Objective:This meta-analysis compares the postoperative outcomes of the double-flap technique (DFT) versus esophagogastrostomy (EG), jejunal interposition (JI), double-tract reconstruction (DTR), and gastric tube anastomosis (GTA) following proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods:Prospective and retrospective studies published from database inception until June 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. Studies reporting at least one predefined outcome with extractable data were included. Outcomes of interest consisted of incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, overall postoperative complications, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, and digestive reconstruction time. Two investigators independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated with the Cochrane ROB 2.0 tool, retrospective cohort studies with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and single-arm studies with the JBI critical appraisal tool. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled using risk ratios (RRs), and continuous variables were summarized with standardized mean differences (SMDs), using fixed- or random-effects models based on I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed via funnel plots and Egger's test.Results:A total of 55 studies published between 2007 and 2025 were included, comprising 5 RCTs and 50 retrospective studies. Among 4,380 patients, 732 underwent EG, 454 GTA, 1,480 DTR, 468 JI, and 1,246 DFT. Quality assessment indicated that all except six retrospective cohort studies (rated as moderate quality) were of high quality or had low risk of bias. Among the five reconstruction methods, DFT showed the lowest incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (6.6%, 82/1,246) and overall postoperative complications (11.6%, 144/1,246). JI had the lowest rate of anastomotic leakage (1.3%, 6/468), followed by DFT (1.4%, 18/1,246), and DTR had the lowest rate of anastomotic stenosis (2.4%, 36/1,480), followed by DFT (7.5%, 94/1,246). DFT required the longest operative time for reconstruction ([141.2 ± 597.6] minutes), and DTR required the shortest ([50.1 ± 39.0] minutes). Compared to EG, DFT was associated with a significantly lower risk of gastroesophageal reflux (RR=0.13 ,95%CI: 0.03-0.55, P = 0.01), and no significant differences were observed in overall complications (RR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.55-1.74, P = 0.93), anastomotic leakage (RR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.04-18.43, P = 0.90), or anastomotic stenosis (RR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.09-6.39, P = 0.79). Compared to JI, DFT showed no significant differences in gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.10-1.25, P=0.11), overall complications (RR=2.06, 95%CI: 0.30-14.11, P=0.46), anastomotic leakage (RR=2.05, 95%CI: 0.26-16.18, P=0.49), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.10-7.17, P=0.87). Similarly, compared to DTR, DFT had a lower risk of overall complications (RR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.50-0.98, P=0.04) but a longer reconstruction time (SMD: 2.55, 95%CI: 0.31-4.79, P=0.03). No significant differences were found in gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.35-1.30, P=0.24), anastomotic leakage (RR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.16-2.17, P=0.43), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=2.44 , 95%CI: 0.44-13.64, P=0.31). Compared to GTA, DFT was associated with a significantly lower risk of gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.33-0.88, P=0.01), but again there were no significant differences in overall complications (RR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.41-1.16, P=0.16), anastomotic leakage (RR = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.03-2.14, P=0.21), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.24-1.76, P=0.40). No significant publication bias was detected in the analysis (Egger's test P>0.05). Conclusions:Among the five common anastomotic methods after proximal gastrectomy, DFT demonstrates superior anti-reflux efficacy, outperforming EG and GTA in particular in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. DFT also exhibits a lower overall complication risk compared with DTR but maintains anastomotic safety comparable with that of the other techniques.
4.Selection of timing for endoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a discussion from an evidence-based medicine perspective
Yani GOU ; Qunbin2 SHEN ; Jinyong HAO ; Shangrui YU ; Yi YU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(10):1194-1197
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, with increasing prevalence due to obesity and lifestyle changes. Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain the first-line therapy, a proportion of patients have an unsatisfactory response, require long-term medication, or experience symptom relapse after discontinuation. Positioned between pharmacotherapy and surgery as a third therapeutic option, endoscopic therapy offers an additional choice for patients with refractory GERD. Based on current evidence, this article examines the optimal timing of endoscopic intervention, with particular attention to intervention after PPI failure, indications for endoscopic therapy, and individualized strategies for special populations. It also summarizes limitations of the existing evidence and outlines priorities for future research, including the need for long-term follow-up, robust cost-effectiveness evaluation, and exploration of biomarkers to inform timing decisions. In summary, evidence-based and individualized selection of intervention timing is essential to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of endoscopic management for GERD.
5.Application of esophageal-tubular gastric asymmetric anastomosis in esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer
Liqun PANG ; Jian JI ; Chenglin LI ; Chao LIU ; Jie ZHANG ; Yan QIAN ; Cong PANG ; Song CHEN ; Shangnong WU ; Yunyun CHEN ; Yanran QIN ; Congxue XIE
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(10):1198-1202
Objective:To evaluate the anti-reflux effect of digestive tract reconstruction using esophageal-tubular gastric asymmetric anastomosis after radical resection of esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer.Methods:The main steps were as follows:(1)oblique incision of the lower esophagus;(2)curved incision of the tubular anterior gastric wall;(3)the lower end of the esophagus was anastomosed to the tubular gastric incision with a 90-degree torsion; (4)The anterior wall of the anastomosis was reinforced with a transverse-inverted suture,the posterior wall with a folded suture,and the corners of the gastric stump were buried with sutures.The anastomosis operation time,postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay were recorded;the reconstructed structure and anti-reflux effect of the anastomosis were observed by digestive tract radiography,gastroscopy and follow-up investigation.Results:The Department of Gastrointestinal and Thoracic Surgery of Huaian First People's Hospital, affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, treated 5 patients of esophagogastric junction cancer and 20 esophageal cancer cases between August 2022 and November 2024, including 19 men and 6 women, with a mean age of (66.7±7.4) years. The mean anastomosis time was (35.4±5.9) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss was (117.6±33.4) ml and the mean postoperative hospital stay was(16.6±5.2) days, with no complications such as anastomotic leakage and bleeding. Postoperative digestive tract radiography (Trendelenburg position)showed that all the patients had no contrast reflux,gastroscopy showed no signs of reflux esophagitis and bile reflux gastritis, the anastomosis showed an inverted whiskers valve-like structure. The median follow-up time was (16.8±6.3) months, and all patients had no reflux symptoms such as acid reflux and belching,and no acid suppressive medication was needed.Conclusion:The esophageal-tubular gastric asymmetric anastomosis is a safe and effective antireflux reconstruction technique.
6.Evaluation of the application and selection of surgical methods for gastroesophageal reflux caused by anatomical and functional abnormalities of the gastroesophageal junction
Jin GOU ; Chen LU ; Tianyu LIU ; Tiancheng ZHANG ; Chunzhao YU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(10):1203-1209
The esophagogastric junction serves as a natural anti-reflux barrier and possesses a complex anatomical configuration composed of several key components, including the lower esophageal sphincter, diaphragmatic crura, His angle, and phrenoesophageal ligament. Alterations in these anatomical structures or dysfunction thereof may predispose individuals to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In response to such structural and functional impairments, various therapeutic strategies have been developed. Surgical intervention is currently regarded as an effective approach for fundamentally addressing GERD, with commonly employed techniques including laparoscopic fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation, and endoscopic radiofrequency ablation. The author classifies the anti-reflux mechanisms at the esophagogastric junction into intramural and extramural components, and based on this classification, systematically reviews and evaluates the indications and clinical applications of major surgical interventions for GERD, aiming to provide clinicians with evidence-based guidance for selecting appropriate therapeutic modalities.
7.Clinical value of local excision in locally advanced rectal cancer under the context of neoadjuvant immunotherapy
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(11):1232-1236
The integration of immunotherapy into neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer has markedly increased complete response rates, offering greater potential for organ preservation. However, the reduced restaging accuracy after immunotherapy has limited the applicability of the watch-and-wait strategy. As an organ-preserving approach that enables residual lesion removal and pathological assessment, local excision not only reduces the risk of local regrowth associated with watch-and-wait, but also enables full-thickness tumor bed sampling to determine pathological stage, regression pattern, and molecular characteristics, thereby supporting risk stratification and individualized decision-making. Moving forward, local excision is expected to achieve precise, risk-adapted organ preservation by optimizing surgical timing and techniques, and integrating multimodal parameters including imaging, pathology, and the tumor microenvironment, ultimately attaining the dual aim of maximizing both oncologic efficacy and functional preservation.
8.Predictive value of different obesity indicators for colorectal cancer in different sex populations
Chao MA ; Jiaxing LI ; Kuan LIU ; Wanchao WANG ; Yuan TIAN ; Taixian JIANG ; Zhigang DONG ; Wenqiang WEI ; Shouling WU ; Siqing LIU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(1):75-80
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of different obesity indicators for colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in different gender populations.Methods:This observational study was conducted within the Kailuan Study (Registration Number: ChiCTR-TNC-11001489). From July 2006 to October 2007, a total of 101,510 employed and retired individuals underwent health examinations, including gastrointestinal disease screening, hematological tests, and questionnaires, at Kailuan General Hospital and its 10 affiliated hospitals. After excluding those with incomplete data, 93,606 participants were included in this study and divided into male (74 852) and female (18 754) groups. CRC incidence was collected through physical examinations and questionnaires every two years. Each participant's follow-up period began at the time of the questionnaire and ended upon CRC diagnosis, death, or December 31, 2021. Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were quartiled (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), with Q1 serving as the control group. After adjusting for traditional risk factors such as age, total cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetes, hypertension, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical exercise, Cox regression models were used to calculate the correlations between BMI, waist circumference, WHR, WHtR, and CRC incidence in both male and female populations.Results:The age of all patients was (51±12) years, BMI was (25.06±3.49) kg/m 2, waist circumference was (86.94±9.97) cm, hip circumference was (97.30±8.81) cm, WHR was 0.89±0.07, and WHtR was 0.52±0.06.Female participants had significantly lower BMI, waist circumference, WHR, and WHtR compared to males, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The mean follow-up duration for all participants was 15.01 (14.10±2.66) years, during which 718 CRC cases were identified, including 626 males (0.83%) and 92 females (0.49%). Cox proportional hazards models for males showed that CRC risk increased with waist circumference from Q3 (HR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.13-1.79, P=0.003) to Q4 (HR=1.45,95%CI: 1.14-1.82, P=0.002). Similarly, CRC risk increased with WHR from Q3 (HR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.01-1.53, P=0.007) to Q4 (HR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.14-1.79, P=0.002) and with WHtR from Q3 (HR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.08-1.74, P=0.009) to Q4 (HR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.33-2.12, P<0.001). For females, CRC risk increased with waist circumference from Q2 (HR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.20-4.67, P=0.012) to Q3 (HR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.21-4.84, P=0.013) but decreased in Q4 ( HR=2.08, 95%CI: 1.02-4.25, P=0.043). CRC risk increased significantly with WHR from Q2 (HR=2.20, 95%CI: 1.11-4.39, P=0.024) to Q3 (HR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.48-5.67, P=0.002) in females but was not statistically significant in Q4 ( P=0.074). Among females, CRC risk also increased significantly with WHtR in Q2 (HR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.16-4.56, P=0.017) and Q4 (HR=2.64, 95%CI: 1.32-5.29, P=0.006). There were no statistically significant differences in CRC risk associated with BMI in either male or female populations (both P>0.05). Conclusion:Waist circumference, WHR, and WHtR were better predictors of CRC risk than BMI in both male and female populations.
9.The opportunities and challenges brought by the age of we media
Minhua ZHENG ; Xiaosheng XU ; Xuan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(1):36-40
In recent years, surgical research has entered the digital era, and the dissemination of medical knowledge has also begun to confront the challenge posed by we media. When we media first emerged, most doctors in public hospitals, who focused on "medicine, education, and research", held a reserved attitude towards it. However, we media has demonstrated remarkable resilience and has continuously evolved to align with the trend of social development. Faced with the future development direction and the existing sore points, how surgeons comprehend and respond to the surging current of the times is a conundrum before us. In this article, the author has sorted out the rise and development of we media, the status of its application in the medical field, and the predicaments faced by medical we media, and has looked forward to its development to broaden the thinking of surgeons for more comprehensive innovation and development.
10.Prevention and treatment strategies of anastomotic leakage in laparoscopic low anterior resection in locally advanced rectal cancer
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(1):90-94
Anastomotic leakage is a common complication in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, which can significantly impact patient recovery. This issue becomes even more critical in the context of the widespread application of standardized and procedural neoadjuvant patterns, as well as the increasing feasibility of anal-preserving surgery for ultra-low rectal cancer. Therefore, strategies to reduce or prevent anastomotic leakage are of paramount importance. Anastomotic tension and blood supply are two key factors that contribute to the success of anastomosis. In laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, minimizing anastomotic tension and optimizing blood supply are essential to preventing or mitigating the occurrence of anastomotic leakage. This article would discuss the risk factors, preventive measures, and treatment approaches for postoperative anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer surgery.

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