Risk Factors for Duodenal Stump Leakage after Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Duodenal stump leakage (DSL) is a potentially fatal complication that can occur after gastrectomy, but its underlying risk factors are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and management of DSL after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant data were collected from several prospective databases to retrospectively analyze the data of GC patients who underwent Billroth II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction after laparoscopic gastrectomy from 2 institutions (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences). The DSL risk factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis regression.RESULTS: A total of 810 patients were eligible for our analysis (426 with R-Y, 384 with B-II with Braun). Eleven patients had DSL (1.36%). Body mass index (BMI), elevated preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and unreinforced duodenal stump were the independent risk factors for DSL. DSL was diagnosed in 2–12 days, with a median of 8 days. Seven patients received conservative treatment, 3 patients received puncture treatment, and only 1 patient required reoperation. All patients recovered successfully after treatment.CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors of DSL were BMI ≥24 kg/m², elevated preoperative CRP level, and unreinforced duodenal stump. Nonsurgical treatments for DSL are preferred.

Efficacy of reinforcement on duodenal stump using single purse-string suture during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the efficacy of reinforcement on duodenal stump using single purse-string suture during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer in preventing duodenal stump leakage.@*Methods@#A descriptive cohort study was conducted to retrospectively collect clinical data of 211 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y or Billroth Ⅱ reconstruction and reinforcement on duodenal stump using laparoscopic single purse-string suture in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between January 2013 and December 2016. Of 211 patients, 136 were male and 75 were female with mean age of (57.5±11.1)(24 to 87) years. Tumors locating at gastric upper 1/3, middle 1/3 and low 1/3 were found in 62, 68 and 81 patients respectively. Eighty-three cases underwent total gastrectomy, 128 underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy, 107 underwent Roux-en-Y reconstruction and 104 underwent Billroth II reconstruction. The procedure of reinforcement on duodenal stump using single purse-string suture during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy was as follows: (1) after cutting the duodenal stump to about 2.0 cm in length, use a 3-0 single-strand absorbable suture to make a muscle layer purse at a distance of 1.0 to 1.5 cm from the duodenal stump; (2) use the purse line to make a slipknot; (3) push the duodenum stump into the purse with a needle holder or grasper; (4) tighten the knot of the purse string, and then make 4 to 5 knots for reinforcement. Postoperative complications were defined and graded according to the Clavien-Dindo grading criteria, and the incidence of early complications was recorded. Clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.@*Results@#All patients completed operations successfully. The mean time of laparoscopic single purse-string suture was (5.1±1.6) (3.6 to 10.2) minutes. Postoperative early complication occurred in 31 cases (14.7%), of whom 27 cases developed surgery-related complications (12.8%), including 7 cases (3.3%) of peritoneal infection, 6 (2.8%) of pancreatic leakage, 4 (1.9%) of wound infection, 4 (1.9%) of gastroplegia, 2 (0.9%) of peritoneal hemorrhage, 2 (0.9%) of intestinal obstruction, 2 (0.9%) of lymphatic leakage, and no duodenal stump leakage; while 4 cases (1.9%) developed internal non-surgical complication, including 3 cases (1.4%) of pulmonary infection and 1 (0.5%) of cardiovascular event. The patient with peritoneal hemorrhage was healed after re-operation and all other patients were discharged uneventfully after conservative treatment. Four cases (1.9%) developed complications beyond grade III a of Clavien-Dindo criteria.@*Conclusion@#Reinforcement on duodenal stump using laparoscopic single purse-string suture during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y or Billroth II reconstruction is simple and effective, and can prevent the risk of development of duodenal stump leakage.

Common Bile Duct Obstruction Due to a Large Stone at the Duodenal Stump / 대한소화기학회지

Enterolith is a rare complication of Billroth II gastrectomy. Most enterolith cases have been reported in association with diverticula, tuberculosis, and Crohn's disease. We report the case of a huge enterolith that developed in the duodenal stump following common bile duct obstruction and cholangitis, necessitating surgery. The enterolith was clearly visible on the abdominal computed tomography. It was removed through a duodenotomy. The surgery was successful without any significant complications.

Outcomes of Non-Operative Treatment for Duodenal Stump Leakage after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of the non-operative management of post-gastrectomy duodenal stump leakage in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,230 patients underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2014. Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in 19 patients (1.5%), and these patients were included in this study. The management options varied with patient condition; patients were managed conservatively, with a pigtail catheter drain, or by tube duodenostomy via a Foley catheter. The patients' clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in all 19 patients within a median of 10 days (range, 1~20 days). The conservative group comprised of 5 patients (26.3%), the pigtail catheter group of 11 patients (57.9%), and the Foley catheter group of 3 patients (15.8%). All 3 management modalities were successful; none of the patients needed further operative intervention. The median hospital stay was 18, 33, and 42 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative management of duodenal stump leakage for selected groups of patients with gastric cancer was effective for control of intra-abdominal sepsis. This management modality can help obviate the need for surgical intervention.

Recurrent Gastric Cancer at the Duodenal Stump after Billroth II Subtotal Gastrectomy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Many studies have shown that gastric stump cancer develops after distal gastrectomy, particularly after Billroth II reconstruction. But, recurrent cancer at the duodenal stump following Billroth II type distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer is extremely rare. We report a case of duodenal stump cancer in a 64-year-old man underwent Billroth II distal gastrectomy.