Practicality and short-term outcomes of intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A single-centre retrospective study.

Abstract

Objective:Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with intracorporeal anastomosis is feasible because of improved approaches to laparoscopic surgery and the availability of a variety of surgical instruments. This study was designed to evaluate the practicality, safety and short-term operative outcomes of intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in TLDG for gastric cancer.Materials and Methods:Medical records of patients with primary distal gastric cancer undergoing Billroth I (B-I) (n = 37) or B-II anastomosis (n = 41) in TLDG from February 2010 to November 2015 were retrospectively analysed. Perioperative data including the extent of lymph node dissection, number of stapler cartridges used, time required to create the anastomosis, operative time, estimated blood loss, proximal and distal margin length, and number of lymph nodes harvested were collected. Short-term post-operative outcomes evaluated during the initial 30 days after surgery included time to first flatus and earliest liquid consumption, length of post-operative hospital stay and incidence of post-operative complications.Results:B-I anastomosis was mainly applied to patients with carcinoma in the lower third of the gastric body (B-I, 81.08% vs. B-II, 31.71%; P < 0.001). Mean operating (B-I, 153.57 ± 18.25 min vs. B-II, 120.17 ± 11.74 min; P = 0.004) and anastomosis (B-I, 31.92 ± 6.10 min vs. B-II, 25.29 ± 3.84 min; P = 0.01) times were significantly longer for B-I anastomosis compared to B-II anastomosis. There were no significant differences in the number of stapler cartridges used, estimated blood loss, time to first flatus and liquid consumption, length of hospital stay or incidence of complications between these groups.Conclusions:TLDG with B-I or B-II anastomosis is safe and feasible for gastric cancer. B-II anastomosis may require less time than B-I anastomosis.