Comparison of Complications in End-to-side and Side-to-side Esophagojejunostomy after Laparoscopy-assisted Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare end-to-side with side-to-side esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) for gastric cancer in terms of complications. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy for gastric cancer with curative intent from June 2003 to February 2010 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Comparative analysis of short term outcomes including complications was performed to compare the end-to-side esophagojejunostomy (EJ) and side-to-side EJ groups. RESULTS: Overall morbidity and mortality rates after LATG were 17.5% (20 patients) and 0%, respectively. Comparing the end-to-side EJ group (93 patients) with the side-to-side EJ group (21 patients), there was no significant difference in operating time (242.3 versus 250.7 minutes), estimated blood loss (176.6 versus 133.3 ml), time to first flatus (3.8 versus 4.0 days), time to first soft diet (5.3 versus 5.7 days), postoperative morbidity (15.1% versus 28.6%), and mortality. However, there was a difference in postoperative hospital stay (9.0 versus 12.9 days, p=0.045). Also, the EJ leakage rate of the side-to side EJ group was higher than that of end-to-side EJ group (14.3%, 3 patients, versus 2.2%, 2 patients; p=0.043). CONCLUSION: End-to-side EJ can be recommended after LATG because the EJ leakage rate after end-to-side EJ was lower than that after side-to-side EJ.

Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: The medical records of 863 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer from January 2007 to December 2008 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred forty five patients with COPD were divided into the laparoscopic gastrectomy or open gastrectomy groups. The 362 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy were divided into the COPD or the non-CODP groups. Comparative analysis between each of the two groups was done. RESULTS: Out of 145 patients with COPD, eighty seven patients (60.0%) underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy and 58 patients (40.0%) underwent open gastrectomy. Comparing the laparoscopic gastrectomy group with the open gastrectomy group, there was no significant differences in age, gender, the body mass index, the smoking history, the preoperative general condition, the operation time, the estimated blood loss and the preoperative pulmonary function tests (p>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay was longer in the open gastrectomy group than that in the laparoscopic gastrectomy group (9.1 days vs. 6.8 days, respectively, p<0.001). One patient in the laparoscopic gastrectomy group (1/87, 1.1%) had postoperative pulmonary complications and 6 patients in the open gastrectomy group (6/58, 10.3%) had pulmonary complications (p=0.017). On comparing the COPD with the non-COPD groups for the 363 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy, there were significant differences in gender, age, a history of tuberculosis, a smoking history, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class and the cancer stage. Yet there was no significant difference of the postoperative pulmonary complications (p=1.000) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastrectomy can be performed safety for gastric cancer patients with mild COPD and it should be considered as a primary treatment method.

Usefulness of Reoperation after Recurrence of Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Radical gastrectomy and lymph node dissection is the treatment of choice for gastric cancer but the efficacy of surgical treatment of recurrent gastric cancer has been debated. We evaluated the efficacy of surgical treatment for recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS: We collected the data on 108 recurrent gastric cancer patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and lymph node dissection for gastric cancer and analyzed the clinicopathologic data, the patterns of recurrence of gastric cancer, and the strategies of treatment for recurrent gastric cancer. RESULTS: The patterns of recurrence were 32 locoregional, 26 hematogenous, 24 peritoneal, and 26 mixed recurrences. The strategies of treatment for recurrent gastric cancer were the combination of surgical treatment and chemotherapy in 31 cases (28.7%), chemotherapy alone in 49 cases (45.4%), and conservative treatment in 28 cases (25.9%). The morbidity and mortality in reoperation group were 35.5% and 9.7%, respectively. The mean survival after recurrence was 25.4, 12.7, and 4.9 months in reoperation group, chemotherapy group and conservative treatment group, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the differentiation of primary tumor, patterns of recurrence, and the strategies of treatment for recurrent gastric cancer were related with survival after recurrence of gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that the more aggressive and intensive treatment such as surgical treatment could improve the survival rate for recurrent gastric cancer. Therefore, if the patients' conditions are tolerable and there is resectability, surgical treatment may be an applicable strategy for recurrent gastric cancer in terms of long-term survival.

Factors Associated with Operation Time of Laparoscopic Wedge Resection for Gastric Submucosal Tumors / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic gastric wedge resection (LWR) is being increasingly performed as a safe and effective treatment for gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). However, there are few studies on the factors associated with operation time of LWR for gastric SMTs. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the operation time of LWR for gastric SMTs. METHODS: Between June 2001 and December 2008, 58 patients with gastric SMTs underwent LWR. We analyzed the clinicopathologic data, perioperative parameters and outcomes, and surgeon's experience retrospectively. We also analyzed the factors associated with the operation time of LWR for gastric SMTs. RESULTS: Among 58 patients that underwent LWR, exogastric wedge resection (n=48) was mainly performed. Transgastric wedge resection (n=8) took the longest amount of time. Intraoperative GFS (n=7) was frequently performed for smaller tumors. When the tumor was located at the cardia and fundus, more time was needed for LWR of the SMTs. There was no correlation of the operation time with the clinicopathologic data and surgeon's experience; however, the tumor location (axis) and the approach used for the resection of the stomach were statistically correlated with the operation time. CONCLUSION: The operation time of LWR for gastric SMTs was related to the tumor location (according to gastric axis) and the approach used for the resection of the stomach. If the tumor location was identified precisely and the proper approach for resection of the stomach was determined preoperatively, the operation time of LWR for gastric SMTs might be reduced.

A Prospective Study Comparing of Laparoscopy-assisted vs Conventional Open Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The technique of laparoscopic gastrectomy has developed for early gastric cancer, but a few reports have studied the objective advantages of laparoscopic techniques in a prospective manner. The purpose of this study is to compare laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LG) with conventional open gastrectomy (OG) by the operative outcomes, the recovery of bowel function, and the complications in a prospective nonrandomized manner. METHODS: We studied 73 patients with gastric cancer who were diagnosed as stage I (IA, IB) preoperatively between July 2003 and September 2004. 38 patients underwent LG and 35 patients underwent OG. All patients underwent radical lymphadenectomy (D2), and were treated by a single surgeon. RESULTS: Patients of the two groups were comparable by age, sex, BMI (Body mass index), preoperative stages and mean number of retrived lymph nodes. The mean operative time was shorter in the OG group (P=0.012), and the mean amount of blood loss was significantly less in the LG group than in the OG group (P=0.002). The patients in the LG group recovered bowel function significantly earlier than those in the OG group (P=0.01), thus, the mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LG group (P=0.007). The postoperative pain was significantly lower in the LG group (P<0.001). The postoperative complications were 4 cases in the LG group and 6 cases in the OG group, and there were no conversions and no mortalities. CONCLUSION: LG, when compared with OG, has several advantages, including less blood loss, rapid return of gastrointestinal function, less pain, and shorter hospital stay with compromising the cure rate. In addition, for evaluation of the validity of laparoscopic surgery in gastric cancer, a large scaled randomized prospective multicenter study is required.

A New Laparoscopic Technique for Proximal Gastrectomy with Gastric Tube Reconstruction and Vagal Preservation for Early Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The reported incidence of early gastric cancer located in the upper portion of the stomach has been increasing with the recent advances in its diagnosis and screening. Recently, we have successfully performed laparoscopic assisted proximal gastrectomy and gastric tube reconstruction, without pyloroplasty, on six patients with an early gastric carcinoma located in the upper third of the stomach. Herein, we describe our modification of this procedure. METHODS: After creating a surgical pneumoperitoneum, the stomach was mobilized using laparoscopic coagulating shears. The upper half of the greater curvature and three- quarters of the lesser curvature were then dissected in conjunction with a regional D2 lymphadenectomy. This was followed by a 5 cm, longitudinal mini-laparotomy in the upper abdomen, with the construction of the exterior stomach using a 20 cm long and 4 cm wide gastric tube. Reconstruction, with an esophagogastrostomy, was performed using a circular stapler. RESULTS: No post-operative morbidity or mortality was observed in this small series of patients. The average operative time and blood loss were 230 minutes, ranging from 190~290 minutes, and 150 ml, ranging from 90-180 ml, respectively. The mean number of lymph nodes harvested during these laparoscopic proximal gastrectomies was 22.8 nodes, ranging from 19~30 lymph nodes. The average postoperative hospital stays was 8.3 days, ranging from 7~10 days. CONCLUSION: Our technique of laparoscopic assisted proximal gastrectomy and gastric tube reconstruction, without pyloroplasty, offers a minimally invasive technique, with the potential of improving the post-operative quality of life of patients with early-stage proximal gastric cancer.

A Case of Biliary Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma are rare tumors which have a good prognosis after complete surgical removal. Correct pre-operative diagnosis depends on the imaging characteristics of the tumors. Computed tomography, Ultrasono-graphy, angiography and cholangiogram are useful diagnostic procedure in biliary cystic tumor but definite diagnosis cannot be made without histologic diagnosis. Before the surgery, cholangioscopy is necessary for deciding operation field. The prognosis of the biliary cystic tumor seems to be much better than that of other solid hepatic tumors. If there is no evidence of metastasis, complete resection of these tumors is, therefore, necessary for these possibly curable disease. Recently, we experienced a 60-year-old woman complained of jaundice and generalized itching sensation, which was diagnosed as biliary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. We decided operation field by cholangioscopy, and performed left hepatic lobectomy and T-tube choledochojejunostomy. So, we report this case with a review of relevant literature.