STUDY OF TRANSVERSE INCISION IN THE OPERATIONS FOR GASTRIC CANCER

Abstract

In the operation for gastric cancer, reversed T-shaped incision and mountain-shaped trnasverse incision (which are regarded as transverse incision in the following description) were compared with the conventional epigastric midline incision for the efficacy. Subjects were 62 resectable cases of gastric cancer undergoing transverse incision at the department in a recent 4-year period from January 1991 and 1990 resectable cases of gastric cancer undergoing midline incision in the same period. Both patients groups were compared for background, operative, and postoperative factors. Transverse incision, especially reversed T-shaped incision was often employed when expanded dissection was performed for advanced gastric cancers. The patients subjected to transverse incision predomonantly had an advanced cancer before surgery. There were no other significant background factors. As to operative factors, extended operation, prolonged operating time, and increased bleeding volume were noted in the transverse incision group compared to the other. Postoperative pain control could be easily done in the transverse incision group. Although observation period was still short, no postoperative intestinal obstruction or peritoneal hernia due to intestinal adhesion to the surgical wound in the abdominal wall occurred in the patients of transverse incision group.