Initial Experience with Laparoscopic Surgery for Treating Upper Gastrointestinal Disease / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Performing laparoscopic surgery for upper gastrointestinal disease has gradually been increasing. The aim of this study is to review the initial experience with laparoscopic surgery for treating upper gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively studied a total of 76 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for upper gastrointestinal disease from April 2003 to December 2008. The clinical features and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The types of upper gastrointestinal diseases that were treated by laparoscopic surgery were early gastric cancer (n=45), advanced gastric cancer (n=6), gastric submucosal tumor (n=14), duodenal ulcer stricture (n=5), duodenal ulcer perforation (n=2), superior mesenteric artery syndrome (n=2), gastroesophageal reflux (n=1) and dysphagia due to parkinsonism (n=1). There were 11 operative morbidities (14.5%), including 1 operative mortality (1.3%). CONCLUSION: Although this study shows the narrow range of indications for performing this laparoscopic procedure and the surgical experience is rather limited, laparoscopic surgery was applied for treating various upper gastrointestinal diseases. Based on this experience, surgeons should make efforts to improve the surgical outcomes.