A technique for esophagojejunostomy following robot-assisted gastrectomy: a liner stapler and barbed suture device-based technique: a case series.

Abstract

For esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction, we choose the "overlap method," in which entry holes were made at the left of the esophageal stump and at 5cm of the anal side in antimesentric area of the jejunum, followed by anastomosis on the left of the esophagus using SureForm (blue 45mm) and hand-sewing closure of the common entry hole with V-Loc. We analyzed the short-term surgical outcomes of all patients. 23 patients underwent this reconstruction technique. None of the patients required any further open surgeries. The mean time to perform anastomosis was 24.7±2.8min. The postoperative course was uneventful in 22 patients; a single patient developed minor anastomotic leakage (Clavien-Dindo grade 3), which was treated with conservative therapy employing a drainage tube. Our esophagojejunostomy method following robot-assisted gastrectomy is simple and feasible, with acceptable short-term outcomes, and could represent the procedure of choice for esophagojejunostomy.