Objective To investigate the comparison of clinical effects between two models of alimentary reconstruction after total gastrectomy in the elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods 70 patients receiving alimentary tract reconstructions of Orr-type Roux-en-Y reconstruction (Orr-type, 40 cases) and modified Brawn Ⅰ (30 cases) from January 2007 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.The operative time, amount of bleeding, early postoperative complications and mortality, food intake, nutritional status and alimentary tract function were compared at 6 months after surgery. Results There were no significant differences between the two methods in the operative time [(198.8±14.0)min vs 233.5±30.7)min, t=-1.697, P>0.05)], amount of bleeding [(420±43)ml vs (340±25)ml t=-1.956, P>0.05], and early postoperative complications [(17.5% vs 16.7% ), χ2 = 0.008, P>0.05]. However, times of liquid diet intake and semi liquid diet intake of the Orr-type reconstruction method was comparatively shorter than that of the modified Brawn Ⅰ[(4.8±2.1) d vs (7.6±2.4) d, and (9.5±3.6) d vs (11.5±3.7) d, t=-5.192, P 0.05). Conclusions Orr-type Roux-en-Y reconstruction method can avoid reflux esophagitis, and the procedure is more simple than the modified Brawn Ⅰmethod. Therefore, Orr-type Roux-en-Y reconstruction should be recommended as an adoptable method of digestive reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer in the elderly patients. Key words: Gastric cancer; Total gastrectomy; Alimentary reconstruction