Diagnosis and treatment of internal hernia after laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

With the development of laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer, more and more surgeons use laparoscopic techniques and even totally laparoscopic techniques in gastric cancer surgery. However, technological progress brings not only smaller trauma, but also new problems and risks. Compared with traditional open surgery, the high incidence of internal hernia after laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery is an urgent problem to be solved. As the incidence of internal hernia often occurs after discharge, patients usually choose the nearest hospital for diagnosis and treatment due to the urgent course of disease. As a result, patients with internal hernia often have serious complications due to delayed treatment because of the difficulty in diagnosis. Sometimes, there are patients even death. The authors review the relevant research on postoperative internal hernia of gastric cancer in recent years and combine with practical experience to discuss the diagnosis and treatment strategy of internal hernia after laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer, aiming to improve the clinicians′ attention to the disease and provide reference for its diagnosis and treatment.

Short-term efficacy of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy versus Roux-en-Y anastomosis using propensity score matching / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy of laparoscopic total gastrec-tomy with hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy versus Roux-en-Y anastomosis.Methods:The propen-sity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 159 patients who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from October 2014 to July 2021 were collected. There were 107 males and 52 females, aged 63(range, 28?79)years. Of 159 patients, 71 cases undergoing totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy with hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy were allocated into totally laparoscopic group and 88 cases undergoing laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis were allocated into laparoscopic-assisted group, respectively. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions; (3) perioperative complications. Propensity score matching was done by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and t test was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M(range), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability method. The rank sum test was used for comparison of ordinal data. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of 159 patients, 112 cases were successfully matched, including 56 cases in the totally laparoscopic group and 56 cases in the laparoscopic-assisted group. Before propensity score matching, age, cases with tumor located in cardia or gastric body in the totally laparoscopic group were 61(range, 30?76)years, 26, 45, respectively. The above indicators in the laparoscopic-assisted group were 65(range, 28?79)years, 50, 38, respectively. There were significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=?2.89, χ2=6.43, P<0.05). After propensity score matching, the males and females, age, body mass index, cases of American Society of Anesthesiologists classification Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ, tumor diameter, cases with tumor located in cardia or gastric body, cases in TNM stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ of patients in the totally laparoscopic group were 40, 16, (62±9)years, (22.7±2.8)kg/m 2, 22, 26, 7, 1, 3.5(range, 0.6?17.0)cm, 24, 32, 22, 9, 25. The above indicators of patients in the laparoscopic-assisted group were 38, 18, (62±10)years, (22.7±3.2)kg/m 2, 19, 32, 5, 0, 4.0(range, 0.6?15.0)cm, 23, 33, 21, 7, 28, respectively. There was no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=0.17, t=?0.09, ?0.04, Z=?0.12, ?0.82, χ2=0.04, Z=?0.42, P>0.05). The elimination of age and tumor location confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions: after propensity score matching, the total operation time, time of esophagojejunostomy, postopera-tive 24-hour pain numerical score and time to first out-off bed activities were (310±49)minutes, (37±10)minutes, 2.3±0.8 and (2.4±0.7)days for patients in the totally laparoscopic group, versus (344±77)minutes, (44±12)minutes, 3.1±1.2 and (2.9±1.0)days in the laparoscopic-assisted group, showing significant differences between the two groups ( t=?2.85, ?3.05, ?4.20, ?3.10, P<0.05). (3) Perioperative complications: after propensity score matching, 6 cases of the patients in the totally laparoscopic group had Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher complications, including 2 cases of anas-tomotic leak, 1 case of anastomotic stenosis, 1 case of pleural effusion, 1 case of abdominal infection and 1 case of intestinal obstruction. The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher complications was 10.7%(6/56). In the laparoscopic-assisted group, 5 patients had Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher complications, including 2 cases of anastomotic leak, 1 case of abdominal infection, 1 case of intestinal obstruction and 1 case of cholangitis. The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher complications was 8.9%(5/56). There was no significant difference in the incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher complications between the two groups ( χ2=0.10, P>0.05). Patients with anas-tomotic leak were improved after puncture and drainage, secondary surgery and conservative treat-ment, and other complications were improved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:Com-pared with Roux-en-Y anastomosis in laparoscopic total gastrectomy, the time of hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy and esophago-jejunal anastomosis are shorter, patients have less postopera-tive pain and faster postoperative recovery. Both methods have good peri-operative safety.

Safety and feasibility of overlapped delta-shaped anastomosis technique for digestive tract reconstruction during complete laparoscopic right hemicolectomy / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical safety and feasibility of overlapped delta-shaped anastomosis (ODA) in totally laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (TLRHC). Methods: From May 2017 to October 2019, of the 219 patients who underwent TLRHC at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, 104 cases underwent ODA (ODA group) and 115 cases underwent conventional extracorporeal anastomosis (control group) were compared the surgical outcomes, postoperative recovery, pathological outcomes and perioperative complications. Results: The length of the skin incision in the ODA group was significantly shorter than that in the control group [(5.6±0.9) cm vs. (7.1±1.7) cm, P<0.05], and the time to first flatus and first defecation after surgery in the ODA group was significantly earlier than that in the control group [(1.7±0.7) days vs. (2.0±0.7) days; (3.2±0.6) days vs. (3.3±0.7) days, P<0.05]. While the anastomosis time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, the time of first ground activities, the number of bowel movements within 12 days after surgery, postoperative hospital stay, tumor size, the distal and proximal margins, the number of lymph node harvested and postoperative TNM stage in the ODA group did not differ from that of the control group (P>0.05). The postoperative complication rates of patients in the ODA group and the control group were 3.8% (4/104) and 4.3% (5/115), respectively, and the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The application of ODA technology in TLRHC can significantly shorten thelength of skin incisionand the recovery time of bowel function, and can obtain satisfactory short-term efficacy.

Clinical study of radical cystectomy under totally laparoscopy and ρ shape orthotopic ileal neobladder / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective@#To explore the feasibility and advantages of totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy plus ρshape orthotopic ileal neobladder, and to summarize the experiences.@*Methods@#The clinical data of 11 patients with bladder cancer admitted to the second hospital of Hebei medical university from October 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were male, aged 33 to 77 years, with an average of 64.4 years. Body mass index ranged from 18.0 to 31.8 kg/m2, with an average of 23.2 kg/m2. One case underwent partial cystectomy and 10 cases underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor, with 10 cases of invasive urothelial carcinoma and 1 case of adenocarcinoma. No case underwent neoadjuvant therapy, and all cases were clinically staged as cT2a-3bN0-2M0. Totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy and ρ shape orthotopic ileal neobladder intraperitonealy were performed. The specific procedures were described as follows. After bladder resection, the ileal segment of 55 cm in length was intercepted at 25 cm from ileocecal valve, with the proximal part retaining 15 cm lumen as the input loop, and the distal part of 40 cm ileum being folded in 1∶1 ratio. The folded intestinal segment was made into a allantoic sac by using a linear incision closure device, forming a "ρ" shape with the input loop, bilateral ureters and the input loop. Anastomosis of wall, distal end of allantoic and urethra was performed.Record the perioperative data such as operation time, estimated bleeding, postoperative recovery, complications, and follow-up results.@*Result@#All of the 11 cases underwent successfully operation, and no cases were transferred to open surgery. The operation time ranged from 320 to 440 minutes, with an average of 357.1 minutes. The estimated amount of bleeding ranged from 100 to 300 ml, with an average of 207.1 ml. The total time of intestinal tract procedure was 80-100 minutes, with an average of 89.3 minutes, and the time of allantoic preparation was 14-19 minutes, with an average of 16.1 minutes. The pain score was 2-5 points at 4 hours after operation, with an average of 3.8 points, and 1-4 points at 24 hours after operation, with an average of 2.3 points. Postoperative exhaust time ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 days, with an average of 3.0 days.Catheter removed 21 days after operation, with 9 cases of urinary incontinence, including mild in 6 cases, moderate in 2 cases and severe in 1 case, with daytime pad of 0-3 and nighttime pad of 1-3.which improved gradually following pelvic exercise for 4-18 weeks. Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 7 to 13 days, with an average of 10.4 days. The drainage removal time was 4-11 days, with an average of 6.7 days. Postoperative pathology revealed 7 cases of high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma, 3 case of low-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma and 1 case of adenocarcinoma. The tumors invade the prostate in adenocarcinoma patient, with left (3/13) and right (1/9) positive lymph nodes. One case of high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma had both left (2/11) and right (1/9) positive lymph nodes, and the other cases were negative. The margin were negative in all patients. Pathological staging was pT2a-4aN0-2M0. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine+ cisplatin regimen were performed in 9 patients.The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 29 weeks, with an average of 17.4 weeks, the patients with adenocarcinoma died of multiple organ failure at the 13th week after operation, and the other cases have no recurrence or metastasis. Dual J-tube was removed in 9 cases in the last follow-up, and the new bladder volume was estimated 300-350 ml, with residual urine of 0-43 ml and 19 ml of average. There is no stone formation in the new bladder.No hydronephrosis or ureteral dilatation aggravated.@*Conclusions@#Totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy plus ρ shape orthotopic ileal neobladder simplify the procedure of making allantoic storage and shorten the procedure time. The patients suffered less pain and recovered quickly after operation.It is a safe and feasible surgical procedure based on this study.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy and Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy by Location of Mini-Laparotomy Site

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and determine the degree of postoperative pain associated with the location of mini-laparotomy sites in gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) or totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG). METHODS: Between November 2011 and December 2016, 153 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong were reviewed retrospectively. We divided the patients into LADG with epigastric incision, TLDG with umbilical incision (TLDG_U), and TLDG with Pfannenstiel incision (TLDG_P) groups according to the location of incision for anastomosis and specimen removal. There were 37 cases in the LADG group, 85 in the TLDG_U group, and 31 in the TLDG_P group. The clinical characteristics, numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, and postoperative analgesic usage for 7 days of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in clinical characteristics including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), TNM staging, and complications among the three groups. There was no significant difference in the amount of total analgesics received; however, the TLDG_P group received more analgesics (5.26±5.053, p=0.412) during the first 7 postoperative days. The TLDG_P group showed higher NRS scores on postoperative days 0, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (p=0.04, 0.001, 0.003, 0.006, and 0.002 respectively). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy can be performed through various incision sites for increasing the safety of mini-laparotomy. However, a Pfannenstiel incision was shown to be more painful than other incisions.

Surgical Outcomes and Follow-Up Results of 100 Cases of Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy Using the Overlap Method with Stapled Closure

PURPOSE: The overlap method is one of the most popular procedures for construction of an esophagojejunostomy and its common entry is usually closed with sutures. This study aimed to report long-term complications and surgical outcomes of the overlap method with stapled closure (OMSC), to compare them with those of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG), and to analyze a learning curve.METHODS: Between January 2015 and August 2017, 100 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with OMSC for gastric cancer and the patients' medical records were reviewed. Their clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, and long-term complications were investigated and compared with those of the LATG group. A learning curve of OMSC was analyzed using the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average chart.RESULTS: The overall duration of surgery was shorter in the LATG group; however, there was no difference in patients with early gastric cancer. Hospital admission was shorter and the pain scale was lower in the OMSC group. There was no difference in the number of harvested lymph nodes, date of flatus, or incidence of postoperative morbidity. Both groups showed no duodenal stump leakage, anastomosis-related complications, recurrence, or mortality during the follow-up period. Petersen hernia was a notable long-term event following OMSC compared with LATG. At least 27 cases of surgery were required to reach a plateau in terms of surgery duration for OMSC.CONCLUSION: OMSC is a safe option for the treatment of gastric cancer and has favorable long-term results and surgical outcomes. Closure of mesenteric defects and Petersen space should be considered.

Clinical study of radical cystectomy under totally laparoscopy and p shape orthotopic ileal neobladder / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To explore the feasibility and advantages of totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy plus ρshape orthotopic ileal neobladder,and to summarize the experiences.Methods The clinical data of 11 patients with bladder cancer admitted to the second hospital of Hebei medical university from October 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were male,aged 33 to 77 years,with an average of 64.4 years.Body mass index ranged from 18.0 to 31.8 kg/m2,with an average of 23.2 kg/m2.One case underwent partial cystectomy and 10 cases underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor,with 10 cases of invasive urothelial carcinoma and 1 case of adenocarcinoma.No case underwent neoadjuvant therapy,and all cases were clinically staged as cT2a-3b N0-2 M0.Totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy and ρ shape orthotopic ileal neobladder intraperitonealy were performed.The specific procedures were described as follows.After bladder resection,the ileal segment of 55 cm in length was intercepted at 25 cm from ileocecal valve,with the proximal part retaining 15 cm lumen as the input loop,and the distal part of 40 cm ileum being folded in 1∶1 ratio.The folded intestinal segment was made into a allantoic sac by using a linear incision closure device,forming a “ρ” shape with the input loop,bilateral ureters and the input loop.Anastomosis of wall,distal end of allantoic and urethra was performed.Record the perioperative data such as operation time,estimated bleeding,postoperative recovery,complications,and follow-up results.Result All of the 11 cases underwent successfully operation,and no cases were transferred to open surgery.The operation time ranged from 320 to 440 minutes,with an average of 357.1 minutes.The estimated amount of bleeding ranged from 100 to 300 ml,with an average of 207.1 ml.The total time of intestinal tract procedure was 80-100 minutes,with an average of 89.3 minutes,and the time of allantoic preparation was 14-19 minutes,with an average of 16.1 minutes.The pain score was 2-5 points at 4 hours after operation,with an average of 3.8 points,and 1-4 points at 24 hours after operation,with an average of 2.3 points.Postoperative exhaust time ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 days,with an average of 3.0 days.Catheter removed 21 days after operation,with 9 cases of urinary incontinence,including mild in 6 cases,moderate in 2 cases and severe in 1 case,with daytime pad of 0-3 and nighttime pad of 1-3.which improved gradually following pelvic exercise for 4-18 weeks.Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 7 to 13 days,with an average of 10.4 days.The drainage removal time was 4-11 days,with an average of 6.7 days.Postoperative pathology revealed 7 cases of high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma,3 case of low-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma and 1 case of adenocarcinoma.The tumors invade the prostate in adenocarcinoma patient,with left (3/13) and right (1/9) positive lymph nodes.One case of high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma had both left (2/11) and right (1/9) positive lymph nodes,and the other cases were negative.The margin were negative in all patients.Pathological staging was pT2a-4a N0-2 M0.Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine + cisplatin regimen were performed in 9 patients.The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 29 weeks,with an average of 17.4 weeks,the patients with adenocarcinoma died of multiple organ failure at the 13th week after operation,and the other cases have no recurrence or metastasis.Dual J-tube was removed in 9 cases in the last follow-up,and the new bladder volume was estimated 300-350 ml,with residual urine of 0-43 ml and 19 ml of average.There is no stone formation in the new bladder.No hydronephrosis or ureteral dilatation aggravated.Conclusions Totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy plus ρ shape orthotopic ileal neobladder simplify the procedure of making allantoic storage and shorten the procedure time.The patients suffered less pain and recovered quickly after operation.It is a safe and feasible surgical procedure based on this study.

Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy:A Meta-analysis on efficacy comparison / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG)and laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG)for gastric cancer.Methods The comparative studies of TLDG and LADG published between 2008 and 2014 were searched from PubMed,EMBASE,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM),China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). After screening for inclusion, data extraction,and quality assessment,RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results Ten studies of 2 212 patients were included in the Meta-analysis,among whom 930 cases underwent TLDG and 1 282 cases underwent LADG.The results of Meta-analysis indicated that compared with LADG,TLDG had the advantages of less blood loss (WMD= - 20.70,95%CI:- 30.81 - - 10.59,P <0.01),less usage of analgesic (WMD=-0.38,95%CI:-0.74 - -0.02,P =0.04),more retrieved lymph nodes (WMD= 2.98,95%CI:0.71 -5.26,P =0.01).However,the Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant differences in the operation time, postoperative time-to-first flatus and oral intake,postoperative hospital stay,length of proximal resection margin, C reaction protein (CRP)level at postoperative day 1,incidence of overall complications and anastomosis-related complications.Conclusion TLDG is safe and effective with less blood loss, less pain than those of LADG. Moreover,it has comparable results to conventional LADG,with no increase of postoperative complications.

Totally Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastrojejunostomy after Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy: Analysis of Initial 50 Consecutive Cases of Single Surgeon in Comparison with Totally Laparoscopic Billroth I Reconstruction

PURPOSE: Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RY) in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a more complicated procedure than Billroth-I (BI) or Billroth-II. Here, we offer a totally laparoscopic simple RY using linear staplers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each 50 consecutive patients with totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with RY and BI were enrolled in this study. Technical safety and surgical outcomes of RY were evaluated in comparison with BI. RESULTS: In all patients, RY gastrectomy using linear staplers was safely performed without any events during surgery. The mean operation time and anastomosis time were 177.0+/-37.6 min and 14.4+/-5.6 min for RY, respectively, which were significantly longer than those for BI (150.4+/-34.0 min and 5.9+/-2.2 min, respectively). There were no differences in amount of blood loss, time to flatus passage, diet start, length of hospital stay, and postoperative inflammatory response between the two groups. Although there was no significant difference in surgical complications between RY and BI (6.0% and 14.0%), the RY group showed no anastomosis site-related complications. CONCLUSION: The double stapling method using linear staplers in totally laparoscopic RY reconstruction is a simple and safe procedure.

Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer: An Initial Experience

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for treating early gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 11 consecutive patients who underwent TLTG after being diagnosed with early gastric cancer at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea from February 2005 to September 2009 were retrospectively reviewed and their clinicopathologic characteristics and the surgical results were investigated. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 385.6+/-94.1 minutes, the mean time for creating an intracorporeal anastomosis was 97.5+/-60.0 minutes and the mean number of the harvested lymph nodes was 46.6+/-15.4. The mean number of days after operation until starting a liquid diet was the 6.15+/-7.6th postoperative day and the mean hospital stay after surgery was 14.2+/-11.9 days. There was no case of open conversion, but there were 2 cases of intraoperative complication and 3 cases of postoperative complication. There was one case of postoperative mortality. The patient suffered from thrombocytopenia of an unknown cause, which was refractory to platelet transfusion, on 4th postoperative day and the patient died of intraabdominal bleeding on the 6th postoperative day. CONCLUSION: TLTG was a technically feasible and relatively safe procedure. However, a long time for creating the intracoproeal anastomosis and a long operation time are still problems to be solved.

Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy with ROUX-EN-Y Reconstruction for Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer Obstruction

Because of advancement of medical treatment, surgical management of gastric or duodenal ulcer was indicated for treatment of perforation, massive hemorrhage and obstruction. The distal gastrectomy including ulcer was known as principle method of duodenal ulcer obstruction, but actually many surgeons have performed only bypass surgery for the difficulty of formation of duodenal stump. In our case, 61-year-old male with repetitive duodenal ulcer obstruction transferred with obstruction due to deformities and inflammations of duodenal ulcer. We had performed totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with ROUX-EN-Y reconstruction using the clear visibility of laparoscopy and fine dissections of harmonic scalpel. The patient started soft diet on postoperative day 5 and discharged on postoperative day 8. He returned to work after discharging immediately.

Delta-Shaped Gastroduodenostomy after Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy: A Comparison Analysis between Early and Late Experience

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of a delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy after totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) and to know about the factors having influence on surgeons' performance of anastomosis and technical details of this operation. METHODS: The clinical characteristics and the surgical results of 57 consecutive patients with delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy after TLDG at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups (before and after 20 cases) and their clinical characteristics and surgical results were compared. The factors which influenced the anastomotic time and the technical details of the operation were also investigated. RESULTS: There was no difference in age, gender, body mass index, surgical results except for operation time, anastomotic time, and starting day of oral feeding between the 2 groups. The experience of the surgeon was the only factor that influenced the anastomotic time. CONCLUSION: Delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy is a feasible and safe procedure even in the early years of a surgeon's career. It could feasibly be done in less than 20 minutes in relatively experienced hands.

The Early Experience with a Totally Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy

PURPOSE: In Korea, the number of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer patients has been increasing lately. Although minimally invasive surgery is more beneficial, no reported case of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy has been reported because of difficulty with intracorporeal anastomosis. This study attempts, through our experiences, to determine the feasibility of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy in treating early gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated surgical results and clinicopatholgic characteristics of eight(8) patients with an early gastric carcinoma who underwent a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between June 2004 and September 2004. The intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy was performed with a delta-shaped ananstomosis by using only laparoscopic linear staplers (Endocutter 45 mm; Ethicon Endosurgery, OH, USA). RESULTS: The operative time was 369.4+/-62.5 minutes (range 275~65 minutes), and the anastomotic time was 45.1+/-14.4 minutes (range 32~0 minutes). The anastomotic time was shortened as surgical experience was gained. The number of laparoscopic linear staplers for an operation was 7.1+/-0.6. The number of lymph nodes harvested was 31.9+/-13.1. There was 1 case of transfusion and no case of conversion to an open procedure. The time to the first flatus was 2.8+/-0.5 days, and the time to the first food intake was 4.1+/-0.8 days. There were no early postoperative complications, and the postoperative hospital stay was 10.0+/-3.9 days. CONCLUSION: A totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy using an intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy with a delta-shaped anastomosis is technically feasible and can maximize the benefit of laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer.

Totally Laparoscopic Anatomic Liver Resection

PURPOSE: There have been several recent reports of laparoscopy-assisted procedure for limited, or a laparoscopic, resections of small lesion of the liver. However, there are few reports on total laparoscopic surgery in anatomic resections, which is due to high level of skill required for the procedure and the risk of an air embolism. The aim of this study was to determine the safety of total laparoscopic surgery in anatomic liver resections during our early experiences. METHODS: The 6 patients included in this study were all treated with a totally laparoscopic anatomic resection of the liver at Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital between September 2002 and January 2003. All 6 cases were diagnosed with an intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone, with stricture and/or common bile duct (CBD) stones. Of these 6 cases, 2 underwent a totally laparoscopic left lateral segmentectomy of the liver. In the remaining 4 cases, totally laparoscopic left lobectomies and CBD explorations, with T-tube insertion, were performed. In all cases, 4 trocars were used. During the operation, the intraperitoneal pressure of the pneumoperitoneum was maintained between 8 and 12 mmHg using CO2. The instruments used included Ligasure(R), Autosonix(R), 0 degrees and 30 degrees camera, fan retractor, Endo(vascular)- GIA 30 , and a large LapBag(R). All cases were managed in the supine position, with 15 degrees of left tilting. The specimen were extracted through a 4 to 5 cm extension of the upper trocar site. The T-tube exited through a 12mm site in the right upper port, and a drain was inserted into the sub-hepatic area. RESULTS: The patients comprised of 5 women and a man, with a mean age of 50.2 years old. The mean operative time was 469.2 (+/-141.4) minutes. In one case, 2 pints of packed red blood cells had to be transfused during the operation. The mean time to diet was 3.3 days. The mean postoperaitve hospital stay was 11.7 days. There was no conversion to open surgery, morbidity or mortality. The mean extensional incision size for the extraction of the specimen was 4.3 cm. CONCLUSION: In the anatomic resection of the liver, especially for benign liver disease, a total laparoscopic resection could be another relatively safe option for selected cases.