BACKGROUND: The results of studies comparing Billroth-I (B-I) with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction on the quality of life (QoL) are still inconsistent. The aim of this trial was to compare the long-term QoL of B-I with R-Y anastomosis after curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 140 patients undergoing curative distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May 2011 to May 2014 were randomly assigned to the B-I group ( N  = 70) and R-Y group ( N  = 70). The follow-up time points were 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after the operation. The final follow-up time was May 2019. The clinicopathological features, operative safety, postoperative recovery, long-term survival as well as QoL were compared, among which QoL score was the primary outcome. An intention-to-treat analysis was applied. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, and postoperative recovery between the two groups. Less estimated blood loss and shorter surgical duration were found in the B-I group. There were no statistically significant differences in 5-year overall survival (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 80% [56/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.966) and recurrence-free survival rates (79% [55/70] of the B-I group vs. 78% [55/70] of the R-Y group, P  = 0.979) between the two groups. The scores of the global health status of the R-Y group were higher than those of the B-I group with statistically significant differences (postoperative 1 year: 85.4 ± 13.1 vs . 88.8 ± 16.1, P  = 0.033; postoperative 3 year: 87.3 ± 15.2 vs . 92.8 ± 11.3, P  = 0.028; postoperative 5 year: 90.9 ± 13.7 vs . 96.4 ± 5.6, P  = 0.010), and the reflux (postoperative 3 year: 8.8 ± 12.9 vs . 2.8 ± 5.3, P  = 0.001; postoperative 5 year: 5.1 ± 9.8 vs . 1.8 ± 4.7, P  = 0.033) and epigastric pain (postoperative 1 year: 11.8 ± 12.7 vs. 6.1 ± 8.8, P  = 0.008; postoperative 3 year: 9.4 ± 10.6 vs. 4.6 ± 7.9, P  = 0.006; postoperative 5 year: 6.0 ± 8.9 vs . 2.7 ± 4.6, P  = 0.022) were milder in the R-Y group than those of the B-I group at the postoperative 1, 3, and 5-year time points. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with B-I group, R-Y reconstruction was associated with better long-term QoL by reducing reflux and epigastric pain, without changing survival outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-10001434.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/methods* ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Postoperative Complications ; Gastroenterostomy/methods* ; Pain

With the gradual increase in the diagnosis rate of early gastric cancer, clinicians must consider prevention of gastric anatomical structure and physiological function while ensuring the radical treatment of the tumor. Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy is a function- preserving operation that preserves the pylorus, inferior pyloric vessel, and the vagus nerve in patients with early middle gastric cancer. One of the major controversies at present is the thoroughness of limited lymph node dissection for pyloric-preserving gastrectomy. Various studies have reported that the lymph node metastasis rate of early middle gastric cancer was low, especially in the suprapyloric region, inferior pylorus and the upper pancreatic region. Partial lymph node dissection is required for vascular and neurological protection, which is also safe and feasible in studies reported by major centers. Many clinical studies have been carried out in Japan and Korea, and postoperative follow-up has gradually increased evidence, providing the basis for the safety of lymph node dissection. In large case studies comparing pylorus- preserving gastrectomy with traditional distal gastrectomy, the incidence of postoperative morbidity, such as dumping syndrome, bile reflux esophagitis, weight loss, and malnutrition is low. Sentinel lymph node navigation technology is gradually applied to the diagnosis and treatment of early gastric cancer, and its clinical application value still needs further research.
Humans ; Pylorus/pathology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Lymph Node Excision

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of using an endoscopic suturing instrument in laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy. Methods: A descriptive case series study was conducted to retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 5 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (Billroth II + Braun anastomosis) at Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University from October 2022 to January 2023. The common opening was closed using an endoscopic suturing instrument. The indications were as follows: (1) patients aged between 18 and 80 years; (2) patients with gastric adenocarcinoma; (3) cTNM between I-III; (4) lower-third gastric cancer and radical gastrectomy is recommended; (5) no history of upper abdominal surgery (except for laparoscopic cholecystectomy). The surgery was performed as follows: A side-to-side gastrojejunostomy was performed with endoscopic linear cutter stapler. Then the common opening was closed with endoscopic suturing instrument. During suturing and closing the common opening, a vertical mattress suture was used to completely invert and close the mucosa-to-mucosa and serosa-to-serosa of the gastric and jejunum walls. After the first layer of suture was completed, the seromuscular layer was sutured from top to bottom to embed the common opening of stomach and jejunum. Results: Laparoscopic closure of the common gastrojejunal opening with endoscopic suturing instrument was successfully completed in all 5 patients. The operative time was (308.6±22.6) minutes, while the time of gastrojejunostomy was (15.4±3.1) minutes. The operative blood loss was (34.0±10.8) ml. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in any of the patients. The first passage of gas occurred at (2.6±0.9) days, and the postoperative hospital stay was (7.0±1.9) days. Conclusion: The application of endoscopic suturing instrument in laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy is safe and feasible.
Humans ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Gastric Bypass ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Gastroenterostomy ; Laparoscopy ; Gastrectomy

Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects* ; Cholangitis/surgery* ; Gastroenterostomy/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Pancreatitis/complications* ; Suppuration/surgery*

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and quality of life between uncut Roux-en-Y and Billroth II with Braun anastomosis in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria: (1) 18 to 75 years old; (2) gastric cancer proved by preoperative gastroscopy, CT and pathological results and tumor was suitable for D2 radical distal gastrectomy; (3) postoperative pathological diagnosis stage was T1-4aN0-3M0 (according to the AJCC-7th TNM tumor stage), and the margin was negative; (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical status score <2 points, and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1 to 3; (5) no mental illness; (6) able to answer questionnaires independently; (7) patients agreed to undergo laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and signed an informed consent. Exclusion criteria: (1) patients with severe chronic diseases and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade >3; (2) patients with other malignant tumors; (3) patients suffered from serious mental diseases; (4) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. According to the above criteria, clinical data of 200 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of General Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Of the 200 patients, 108 underwent uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis and 92 underwent Billroth II with Braun anastomosis. The general data, intraoperative and postoperative conditions, complications, and endoscopic evaluation 1 year after the surgery were compared. Besides, the quality of life of two groups was also compared using the Chinese version of the European Organization For Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and quality of life questionnaire-stomach 22 (QLQ-STO22). Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). All the 200 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy without intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery or perioperative death. There were no significant differences between two groups in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, time to flatus, time to removal of gastric tube, time to liquid diet, time to removal of drainage tube or length of postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Endoscopic evaluation was conducted 1 year after surgery. Compared to Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a significantly lower incidences of gastric stasis [19.8% (17/86) vs. 37.0% (27/73), χ(2)=11.199, P=0.024], gastritis [11.6% (10/86) vs. 34.2% (25/73), χ(2)=20.892, P<0.001] and bile reflux [1.2% (1/86) vs. 28.8% (21/73), χ(2)=25.237, P<0.001], and the differences were statistically significant. The EORTC questionnaire was performed 1 year after surgery, there were no significant differences in the scores of QLQ-C30 scale between the two groups (all P>0.05), while the scores of QLQ-STO22 showed that, compared to the Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a lower pain score (median: 8.3 vs. 16.7, Z=-2.342, P=0.019) and reflux score (median: 0 vs 5.6, Z=-2.284, P=0.022), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05), indicating milder symptoms. Conclusion: The uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis is safe and reliable in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, which can reduce the incidences of gastric stasis, gastritis and bile reflux, and improve the quality of life of patients after surgery.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/adverse effects* ; Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects* ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Gastroenterostomy/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety of Billroth I and Billroth II reconstruction in distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and short-term endoscopic findings. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Clinical data of gastric adenocarcinoma patients who received distal subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth I or Billroth II reconstruction at Department 4 of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital from January 2013 to July 2017 were collected retrospectively. Patients with stage IV gastric cancer, emergent operation, preoperative chemotherapy, combined organ resection and other malignancies were excluded. A total of 277 patients were enrolled in the study with 143 patients in the Billroth I group and 134 patients in the Billroth II group. The intra-operative conditions, postoperative early recovery, postoperative complications, and postoperative 1-year endoscopic findings were compared between the two groups. The normal distribution variables were analyzed by t test; the non-normal distribution variables were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test; sort variables were compared between groups using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In the Billroth I group, 93 (65.0%) cases were male, mean age was (58.1±10.9) years and body mass index was (23.3±3.2) kg/m. In the Billroth II group, 94 (70.1%) cases were male, mean age was (58.3±9.5) years and body mass index was (23.7±2.9) kg/m. There were no significant differences in baseline data between in the two groups (all P>0.05). As compared to the Billroth I group, the Billroth II group had significantly longer operation time [mean (230.7±44.6) minutes vs. (210.3±41.4) minutes, t=3.935, P<0.001], significantly shorter time to first diet (median 7.0 vs. 8.0 days, Z=3.376, P=0.001), to first abdominal drainage tube removing (median 8.0 vs. 8.0 days, Z=2.176, P=0.030) and significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay (median 9.0 vs. 10.0 days, Z=3.616, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between two groups in proportion of laparoscopic surgery, intra-operative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes and the first flatus time (all P>0.05). In the Billroth I group, 1 case developed anastomotic bleeding, 3 cases anastomotic leakage, 4 cases emptying disorder, 4 cases peritoneal cavity infection, and all of them healed after conservative treatment. In the Billroth II group, 1 case developed anastomotic bleeding, 1 case peritoneal cavity bleeding, 3 cases emptying disorder, 3 cases peritoneal cavity infection, and all of them healed after conservative treatment, while 1 case developed postoperative duodenal stump leakage and underwent a second operation. Morbidity of postoperative complication was 8.4% (12/143) and 6.7% (9/134) in the Billroth I group and Billroth II group respectively (χ²=0.277, P=0.599) without statistically significant difference. Postoperative one-year endoscopy was performed in 78 cases of the Billroth I group and 57 cases of the Billroth II group. Endoscopic findings revealed that ratio of food retention [21.8% (17/78) vs. 33.3% (19/57), χ²= 2.242, P=0.134], ratio of residual gastritis [48.7% (38/78) vs. 47.4% (27/57), χ²=0.024, P=0.877] and incidence of bile reflux [12.8% (10/78) vs. 10.5% (6/57), χ²=0.166, P=0.684] were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSIONS For distal gastrectomy, Billroth I reconstruction is easier to operate, while Billroth II reconstruction presents faster recovery of gastrointestinal function and shorter hospital stay. The morbidity of postoperative complication and short-term endoscopic findings between two groups are comparable.
Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and cosmetic effect of dual-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (DPLDG) for gastric cancer. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients underwent DPLDG at the Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital from November 2016 to August 2018. INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) age of 18 to 75 years; (2) primary gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed pathologically by endoscopic biopsy; (3) tumor located at middle-low stomach and planned for distal gastrectomy; (4) cT1b-2N0-1M0 at preoperative staging; (5) tumor diameter ≤3 cm; (6) US Eastern Cancer Cooperative Group(ECOG) score 0 to 1 points; (7) American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I to II; (8) perioperative management based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principle. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: previous upper abdominal surgery (except laparoscopic cholecystectomy), history of other malignant disease, and body mass index ≥30 kg/m². A self-developed single-incision, multiport, laparoscopic surgery Trocar (Surgaid Medical, Xiamen, China, comprising 3 channels for observation, main surgeon and assistant surgeon) was placed through a 3-4 cm incision under or at the left side of the umbilicus. An additional 5 mm Trocar was inserted under the rib margin of the right clavicle to serve as the secondary operating hole and the position of the drainage tube. The liver was suspended to expose the surgical field clearly. Surgical procedure was as follows: conventional laparoscopic instruments were used. After entering the omental sac, dissection was performed along the transverse colon to the spleen flexure. Left gastroepiploic vessels were identified and then ligated at the root. No.4sb lymph nodes were dissected. The No.4d lymph nodes were dissected along the greater curvature of the stomach. Then the dissection was continued rightward to the hepatic flexure to separate mesogastrium and mesocolon. The right gastroepiploic artery was ligated at the root to allow the removal of No.6 lymph nodes. The duodenal bulb was transacted by liner stapler, the right gastric artery was ligated at the root and the No.5 lymph nodes were removed. Peritoneal trunk, common hepatic artery, splenic artery and left gastric artery and vein in posterior pancreatic space at upper pancreas were separated, then left gastric vessels were ligated, and No.9, No.8a, No.11p and No.7 lymph nodes were dissected. The left side wall of portal vein was exposed and No.12a lymph nodes were removed. No.1 and No.3 lymph nodes were dissected along the lesser curvature. The stomach corpus was transacted by liner stapler at 4-5 cm proximal end of the tumor. Roux-en-Y anastomosis or Billroth II anastomosis was performed in the cavity. A drainage tube was placed near the gastrojejunal anastomosis through the right upper abdomen secondary operating hole. Postoperative short-term efficacy (operation time, blood loss, 5-port conversion rate, open conversion rate, number of retrieved lymph nodes, time to postoperative first flatus, time to first soft diet intake, time to removal of drainage tube, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative analgesics use, and postoperative 30-day complication rate) and cosmetic scale (questionnaire: degree of satisfaction with scar, description of scar, grade of scar; total score ranged from the lowest 3 to the highest 24; the higher the better) were evaluated in all 30 patients. RESULTS: No serious complication and death were observed intraoperatively. The mean operative time was (197.8±46.9) minutes. The median blood loss was 30 ml (quartile 31.25 ml). The mean number of retrieved lymph node was 38.7±14.1. Five-port conversion rate was 3.3% (1/30), and no open conversion occurred. Mean time to postoperative first flatus, time to first soft diet intake, time to removal of drainage tube and postoperative hospital stay were (45.3±18.9) hours, (87.6±35.6) hours, (101.8±58.0) hours and (6.1±2.1) days, respectively. Twenty-four (80%) of patients had no additional analgesics use. The postoperative complication rate within 30 days was 16.7% (5/30). Postoperative overall cosmetic score was 22.1±1.3, and cosmetic score of 96.7%(29/30) of patients was 18 to 24. CONCLUSION DPLDG is safe and feasible with advantages of faster postoperative recovery, reducing pain and better cosmetic outcomes.
Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Feasibility Studies ; Gastrectomy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Lymph Node Excision ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Billroth I anastomosis is one of the most common reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Intracorporeal Billroth I (ICBI) anastomosis and extracorporeal Billroth I (ECBI) anastomosis are widely used in laparoscopic surgery. Here we compared ICBI and ECBI outcomes at a major gastric cancer center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 2,284 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy between 2009 and 2017. We divided the subjects into ECBI (n=1,681) and ICBI (n=603) groups, compared the patients’ clinical characteristics and surgical and short-term outcomes, and performed risk factor analyses of postoperative complication development. RESULTS: The ICBI group experienced shorter operation times, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays than the ECBI group. There were no clinically significant intergroup differences in diet initiation. Changes in white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels were similar between groups. Grade II–IV surgical complication rates were 2.7% and 4.0% in the ECBI and ICBI groups, respectively, with no significant intergroup differences. Male sex and a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 were independent risk factors for surgical complication development. In the ECBI group, patients with a BMI ≥30 experienced a significantly higher surgical complication rate than those with a lower BMI, while no such difference was observed in the ICBI group. CONCLUSION: The surgical safety of ICBI was similar to that of ECBI. Although the chosen anastomotic technique was not a risk factor for surgical complications, ECBI was more vulnerable to surgical complications than ICBI in patients with a high BMI (≥30).
Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diet ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Although linear-shaped gastroduodenostomy (LSGD) was reported to be a feasible and reliable method of Billroth I anastomosis in patients undergoing totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG), the feasibility of LSGD for patients undergoing totally robotic distal gastrectomy (TRDG) has not been determined. This study compared the feasibility of LSGD in patients undergoing TRDG and TLDG.MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALL C: onsecutive patients who underwent LSGD after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 2009 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce the selection bias between TRDG and TLDG. Short-term outcomes, functional outcomes, learning curve, and risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed.RESULTS: This analysis included 414 patients, of whom 275 underwent laparoscopy and 139 underwent robotic surgery. PSM analysis showed that operation time was significantly longer (163.5 vs. 132.1 minutes, P<0.001) and postoperative hospital stay significantly shorter (6.2 vs. 7.5 days, P<0.003) in patients who underwent TRDG than in patients who underwent TLDG. Operation time was the independent risk factor for LSGD after intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy. Cumulative sum analysis showed no definitive turning point in the TRDG learning curve. Long-term endoscopic findings revealed similar results in the two groups, but bile reflux at 5 years showed significantly better improvement in the TLDG group than in the TRDG group (P=0.016).CONCLUSIONS: LSGD is feasible in TRDG, with short-term and long-term outcomes comparable to that in TLDG. LSGD may be a good option for intracorporeal Billroth I anastomosis in patients undergoing TRDG.
Bile Reflux ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Selection Bias ; Stomach Neoplasms

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) and endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) have been performed all around the world over several decades for the treatment of common bile duct stone. EPBD using small dilation balloon catheter can preserve sphincter of Oddi function and reduce the recurrence rate of bile duct stone compared to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). EPBD is a procedure with low risk of bleeding, which is appropriate for patients with coagulopathy, hepatic cirrhosis, end-stage of renal disease, and surgically altered anatomy such as Billroth II gastrectomy and periampullary diverticulum. However, it has a higher risk of postprocedure pancreatitis than EST. EPLBD using large balloon catheter (12 mm or more of diameter) is proper for more than 10 mm of common bile duct stone. The advantages of EPLBD are reduced need for mechanical lithotripsy with decreased procedure time and radiation exposure time irrespective of the precedence of EST. EPLBD also requires fewer endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions and is more cost-effective. The incidence of post-procedure pancreatitis is lower in EPLBD than EST. If EPBD and EPLBD are done under the guidelines, these would be safe and effective and may be alternatives to EST for common bile duct stone.
Bile Ducts ; Catheters ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Diverticulum ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lithotripsy ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Pancreatitis ; Radiation Exposure ; Recurrence ; Sphincter of Oddi ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic