ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is now in clinical use for the management of mucosal and submucosal tumors of the stomach (including early gastric cancer), but its use is limited by the size, depth, and the location of the tumor. METHODS: After the introduction of a new concept of laparoscopic intra-gastric surgery (L.I.G.S.) in which all trocars and surgical instruments are inserted directly into the gastric cavity to perform the resection of mucosal or submucosal lesions of the stomach by Dr. Ohashi, sixteen patients with a mucosal or a submucosal tumor in the posterior wall of the stomach have been successfully treated by L.I.G.S. in our hospital since 1995. RESULTS: 2 patients with early gastric cancer, 9 with a leiomyoma, and 5 with polyps. Twelve (87.5%) of the tumors were located in the antrum and 4 (12.5%) in the body. L.I.G.S. was successfully done on 14 patients (93%) with conversion to a minilaparotomy in 1 patient. The leiomyoma located in the lesser curvature was treated by L.I.G.S. through an anterior gastrotomy using hand suturing. The operationg time was about 100-160 minutes for the L.I.G.S., 120 minutes in the conversion case, and 180 minutes in the L.I.G.S. through an anterior gastrotomy. Postoperative pain was negligible in all cases, and the patients were discharged uneventfully six to seven days after surgery. The follow-up period was 1 to 37 months, and there were no recurrences. The important points of this approach are confirmation of the location of the tumor by both gastrofiberscopy and laparoscopy, excluding the determination of regional lymph node metastasis by endoscopic ultrasonography, and proper selection of the trocar sites. CONCLUSION: We conclude that L.I.G.S. is technically feasible, safe, and useful for a mucosal or a submucosal tumor in the posterior wall of the stomach and that it should be considered as a viable alternative to endoscopic mucosal resection and conventional gastric resection.