Minimally invasive surgery for remnant gastric cancer: a comparison with open surgery. Surg Endosc. 2014;28:2452-2458. [PMID: 24622766 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-014-3496-8]

The safety, feasibility, and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: a prospective study with 3-year follow-up (FUGES-004 study)

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy (LCTG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) remains controversial.

METHODS

The primary outcome was postoperative morbidity within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), 3-year overall survival (OS), and recurrence. Inverse probability treatment weighted (IPTW) was used to balance the baseline between LCTG and OCTG.

RESULTS

Final analysis included 46 patients with RGC who underwent LCTG at the FJMUUH between June 2016 and June 2020. The historical control group comprised of 160 patients who underwent open completion total gastrectomy (OCTG) in the six tertiary teaching hospitals from CRGC-01 study. After IPTW, no significant difference was observed between the LCTG and OCTG groups in terms of incidence (LCTG vs. OCTG: 28.0 vs. 35.0%, P =0.379) or severity of complications within 30 days after surgery. Compared with OCTG, LCTG resulted in better short-term outcomes and faster postoperative recovery. However, the textbook outcome rate was comparable between the two groups (45.9 vs. 32.8%, P =0.107). Additionally, the 3-year DFS and 3-year OS of LCTG were comparable to those of OCTG (DFS: log-rank P =0.173; OS: log-rank P =0.319). No significant differences in recurrence type, mean recurrence time, or 3-year cumulative hazard of recurrence were observed between the two groups (all P >0.05). Subgroup analyses and concurrent comparisons demonstrated similar trends.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective study suggested that LCTG was noninferior to OCTG in both short-term and long-term outcomes. In experienced centers, LCTG may be considered as a viable treatment option for RGC.

Laparoscopic Completion Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer Compared to Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy in Short- and Medium-Term Results

Introduction: The incidence of remnant gastric cancer is increasing in recent years. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer are well established. However, laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer harbors difficulties due to adhesions, changed configuration of the anatomical organs, and changes on the lymphatic flow. We aim to investigate the feasibility, safety, and the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy compared to laparoscopic total gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: All patients who underwent total gastrectomy from January 2018 to December 2021 at Shamir Medical Center were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups-completion gastrectomy and total gastrectomy. The groups were compared for demographics, operative, and clinical outcomes. Results: Overall, 22 patients were included in the study. Eight were completion gastrectomy following subtotal gastrectomy for malignancy and 14 were primary total gastrectomy. All operations were performed by minimal invasive surgery technique. Average age was 64 years, with no differences in gender. Two major intraoperative complications were noted in completion group (25% versus 0%, P = .12). Both length of surgery (3:03 versus 3:40, P = .049) and length of stay (7 days versus 9 days, P = .5) were shorter in completion group. There were fewer postoperative complications (12.5% versus 28.5%, P = .61). Average number of harvested lymph nodes was significantly lower in completion group (10 versus 33, P = .002). Conclusion: Laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer is safe and feasible having comparable oncological surrogate's parameters and recurrence profile. Clinical Registration Number: 0015-22-ASF.

The Effect of Surgical Approach on Clinical Outcomes in 535 Patients with Remnant Gastric Cancer

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and open gastrectomy (OG) on clinical outcomes in patients with remnant gastric cancer (RGC). Materials and Methods: The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were used to search for eligible studies from inception to April 1st, 2023. Hazard ratios (HRs), mean difference (MD), odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled up to analyze. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scores were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. This study was performed with RevMan 5.3 (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, United Kingdom) software. Results: A total of 11 studies involving 535 RGC patients were included in this study. In terms of basic information, we found that the OG group had a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade (≥2) (OR = 0.24, I2 = 54%, 95% CI = 0.08-0.71, P = .01) than the LG group. In terms of postoperative outcomes, we found that the LG group had longer operative time (MD = 33.95, I2 = 58%, 95% CI = 15.05-52.85, P < .01), shorter postoperative hospital stay (MD = 5.08, I2 = 84%, 95% CI = -9.74 to -0.42, P = .03), shorter length of incision (MD = -7.15, I2 = 94%, 95% CI = -10.99 to -3.31, P < .01), earlier food intake (MD = -3.09, I2 = 76%, 95% CI = -4.84 to -1.35, P < .01), and earlier time to first flatus (MD = -0.84, I2 = 0%, 95% CI = -1.09 to -0.59, P < .01). We found that there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (HR = 0.96, I2 = 0%, 95% CI = 0.48-1.93, P = .92) between the LG group and the OG group. Conclusion: LG for RGC patients had longer surgical time, shorter postoperative hospital stay, shorter length of incision, earlier food intake, and earlier time to first flatus.

Appraisal of gastric stump carcinoma and current state of affairs

Gastric stump carcinoma, also known as remnant gastric carcinoma, is a malignancy arising in the remnant stomach following gastrectomy for a benign or malignant condition. Enterogastric reflux and preexisting risk factors in a patient with gastric cancer are the major contributors to the development of gastric stump carcinoma. The occurrence of gastric stump carcinoma is time-dependent and seen earlier in patients operated on for malignant rather than benign diseases. The tumor location is predominantly at the anastomotic site towards the stomach. However, it can occur anywhere in the remnant stomach. The pattern of lymph node involvement and the type of surgery required is distinctly different compared to primary gastric cancer. Gastric stump carcinoma is traditionally considered a malignancy with a dismal outcome. However, recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies have improved outcomes. Recent advances in molecular profiling of gastric stump carcinoma have identified distinct molecular subtypes, thereby providing novel therapeutic targets. Also, reports of gastric stump carcinoma following pancreatoduodenectomy and bariatric surgery highlight the need for more research to standardize the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of these tumors. The present review aims to provide an overview of gastric stump carcinoma highlighting the differences in clinicopathological profile and management compared to primary gastric carcinoma.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Surgery with Open Surgery for Remnant Gastric Cancer: A Multi-institutional Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for primary gastric cancer, MIS for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) remains controversial due to the rarity of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of MIS for radical resection of RGC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with RGC who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2020 at 17 institutions were included, and a propensity score matching analysis was performed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of MIS with open surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 327 patients were included in this study and 186 patients were analyzed after matching. The risk ratios for overall and severe complications were 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45, 1.27] and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.29), respectively. The MIS group had significantly less blood loss [mean difference (MD), -409 mL; 95% CI: -538, -281] and a shorter hospital stay (MD, -6.5 days; 95% CI: -13.1, 0.1) than the open surgery group. The median follow-up duration of this cohort was 4.6 years, and the 3-year overall survival were 77.9% and 76.2% in the MIS and open surgery groups, respectively [hazard ratio (HR), 0.78; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.36]. The 3-year relapse-free survival were 71.9% and 62.2% in the MIS and open surgery groups, respectively (HR, 0.71; 95% CI: 0.44, 1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

MIS for RGC showed favorable short- and long-term outcomes compared to open surgery. MIS is a promising option for radical surgery for RGC.

Fluorescent Lymphography-Guided Lymphadenectomy during Minimally Invasive Completion Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer Patients

Simple Summary

The altered lymphatic anatomy around the remnant stomach after initial surgery causes technical difficulties in systematic lymphadenectomy during the completion total gastrectomy. A fluorescent lymphography with indocyanine green under near-infrared imaging is a reliable intraoperative technique for lymphatic identification in minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery. This study aimed to assess the clinical application of fluorescent lymphography in minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer. More lymph node retrieval was demonstrated in minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy with fluorescent lymphography than without fluorescent lymphography. Fluorescent lymphography is an effective tool for the intraoperative assessment of lymphatics around the remnant stomach and systemic lymphadenectomy during minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy.

Abstract

No study has evaluated fluorescent lymphography for lymphadenectomy in remnant gastric cancer (RGC). This study aimed to assess the clinical application of fluorescent lymphography in minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC. Patients who had undergone minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative outcomes and long-term prognosis were compared between patients who had undergone minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy with fluorescent lymphography (the FL group) and those without fluorescent lymphography (the non-FL group). The FL group comprised 32 patients, and the non-FL group comprised 36 patients. FL visualized lymphatics in all 32 patients without complications related to the fluorescent injection. The median number [the interquartile range] of LN retrieval was significantly higher in the FL group (17 [9.3–23.5]) than in the non-FL group (12.5 [4–17.8]); p = 0.016). The sensitivity of fluorescent lymphography in detecting metastatic LN stations was 75%, and the negative predictive value was 96.9% in the FL group. The overall relapse-free survivals were comparable between the groups (p = 0.833 and p = 0.524, respectively). FL is an effective tool to perform a more thorough lymphadenectomy during minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC. Using FL in RGC surgery may improve surgical quality and proper staging.

3D laparoscopic-assisted vs open gastrectomy for carcinoma in the remnant stomach: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic technique has gradually been applied to the treatment of carcinoma in the remnant stomach (CRS), but its clinical efficacy remains controversial.

AIM

To compare the short-term and long-term results of 3D laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (3DLAG) with open gastrectomy (OG) for CRS.

METHODS

The clinical data of patients diagnosed with CRS and admitted to the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2016 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. A total of 84 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. All their clinical data were collected and a database was established. All patients were treated with 3DLAG or OG by experienced surgeons and were divided into two groups based on the different surgical methods mentioned above. By using outpatient and telephone follow-up, we were able to determine postoperative survival and tumor status. The postoperative short-term efficacy and 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Among 84 patients with CRS, 48 were treated with OG and 36 with 3DLAG. All patients successfully completed surgery. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, body mass index, ASA score, initial disease state (benign or malignant), primary surgical anastomosis method, interval time of carcinogenesis, and tumorigenesis site. Patients in the 3DLAG group experienced less intraoperative blood loss (188.33 ± 191.35 mL vs 305.83 ± 303.66 mL; P = 0.045) and smaller incision (10.86 ± 3.18 cm vs 20.06 ± 5.17 cm; P < 0.001) than those in the OG group. 3DLAGC was a more minimally invasive method. 3DLAGC retrieved significantly more lymph nodes than OG (14.0 ± 7.17 vs 10.73 ± 6.82; P = 0.036), whereas the number of positive lymph nodes did not differ between the two groups (1.56 ± 2.84 vs 2.35 ± 5.28; P = 0.413). The complication rate (8.3% vs 20.8%; P = 0.207) and intensive care unit admission rate (5.6% vs 14.5%; P = 0.372) were equivalent between the two groups. In terms of postoperative recovery, the 3DLAGC group had a lower visual analog score, shorter indwelling time of gastric and drainage tubes, shorter time of early off-bed motivation, shorter time of postoperative initial flatus and initial soft diet intake, shorter postoperative hospital stay and total hospital stay, and there were significant differences, showing better short-term efficacy. The 1-year and 3-year OS rates of OG group were 83.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 72.4%-95.6%] and 73.3% (95%CI: 60.0%-89.5%) respectively. The 1-year and 3-year OS rates of the 3DLAG group were 87.3% (95%CI: 76.4%-99.8%) and 75.6% (95%CI: 59.0%-97.0%), respectively. However, the 1-year and 3-year OS rates were similar between the two groups, which suggested that long-term survival results were comparable between the two groups (P = 0.68).

CONCLUSION

Compared with OG, 3DLAG for CRS achieved better short-term efficacy and equivalent oncological results without increasing clinical complications. 3DLAG for CRS can be promoted safely and effectively in selected patients.

Postoperative Complications and Their Risk Factors of Completion Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer Following an Initial Gastrectomy for Cancer

PURPOSE

Completion total gastrectomy (CTG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is a technically demanding procedure and associated with increased morbidity. The present study aimed to evaluate postoperative complications and their risk factors following surgery for RGC after initial partial gastrectomy due to gastric cancer excluding peptic ulcer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 107 patients who had previously undergone an initial gastric cancer surgery and subsequently underwent CTG for RGC between March 2002 and December 2020. The postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors for complications.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications occurred in 34.6% (37/107) of the patients. Intra-abdominal abscess was the most common complication. The significant risk factors for overall complications were multi-visceral resections, longer operation time, and high estimated blood loss in the univariate analysis. The independent risk factors were multi-visceral resection (odds ratio [OR], 2.832; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.094-7.333; P=0.032) and longer operation time (OR, 1.005; 95% CI, 1.001-1.011; P=0.036) in the multivariate analysis. Previous reconstruction type, minimally invasive approach, and current stage were not associated with the overall complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Multi-visceral resection and long operation time were significant risk factors for the occurrence of complications following CTG rather than the RGC stage or surgical approach. When multi-visceral resection is required, a more meticulous surgical procedure is warranted to improve the postoperative complications during CTG for RGC after an initial gastric cancer surgery.

Robot-assisted completion gastrectomy preserving interposed jejunum in remnant gastric cancer following a proximal gastrectomy reconstructed by jejunal interposition: A case report

Minimally invasive completion gastrectomy is technically demanding and comprises a variety of procedures depending on the previous operation. We present herein a case of robot-assisted completion gastrectomy preserving the interposed jejunum in remnant gastric cancer following a proximal gastrectomy reconstructed by jejunal interposition. A 76-year-old, male patient experienced newly developed stage cT1bN0M0 gastric cancer in the distal remnant stomach 5 years after his initial proximal gastrectomy. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was not feasible because of tumor depth and poor cancer cell differentiation. The robotic approach was chosen because of the early cancer stage, prior laparoscopic surgery, and the patient's advanced age. The interposed jejunum was successfully preserved, and a new overlap anastomosis was created between it and the retrocolic Roux-en-Y limb. Robot-assisted completion gastrectomy was safely performed even after a proximal gastrectomy with jejunal interposition.

Trends in clinical outcomes and long-term survival after robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a single high-volume center experience of consecutive 2000 patients

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery is now a standard treatment for gastric cancer. Many retrospective studies have reported that robotic gastrectomy is safe and feasible, with similar short- and long-term outcomes as laparoscopic gastrectomy. However, no studies have reported the details of surgical and survival outcomes for robotic gastrectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical trends and techniques of robotic gastrectomy and analyze the surgical outcomes of 2000 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent robotic gastrectomy over 14 years.

METHODS

Between July 2005 and January 2019, 2000 consecutive robotic gastrectomies were performed. We evaluated short- and long-term outcomes as well as surgical trends after robotic gastrectomy.

RESULTS

There were 1,560 subtotal gastrectomies (78%), 324 total gastrectomies (16.2%), 83 proximal gastrectomies (4.2%), and 33 completion total gastrectomies (1.7%). The rates of major complications and mortality were 3.1% and 0.3%, respectively. In a subgroup analysis, there were no significant differences in the rate of complications over time (P = 0.696). Five-year overall survival rates were 97.6% for stage I, 91.9% for stage II, and 69.2% for stage III, with a total recurrence rate of 5.3%. Since its adoption in 2005, the proportion of robotic gastrectomies, as well as technically demanding procedures have increased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Our 14 years' experience of 2000 robotic gastrectomies has shown the proportion, as well as the number of robotic gastrectomies, have tended to increase and trends toward to technically demanding procedures. Outcomes of robotic gastrectomy appear safe and feasible with acceptable short- and long-term outcomes.

Robotic total gastrectomy for carcinoma in the remnant stomach: a comparison with laparoscopic total gastrectomy

Background

Total gastrectomy for carcinoma in the remnant stomach (CRS) remains a technically demanding procedure. Whether robotic surgery is superior, equal, or inferior to laparoscopic surgery in patients with CRS is unclear. This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of robotic total gastrectomy (RTG) and laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for the treatment of CRS.

Methods

In this cohort study, we retrospectively analysed the data from patients who underwent RTG or LTG for CRS at Southwest Hospital (Chongqing, China) between May 2006 and October 2019. The surgical outcomes, post-operative complications, and survival outcomes between the two groups were compared.

Results

Compared with LTG, RTG was associated with similar effective operation time (272.0 vs 297.9 min, P = 0.170), higher total costs (105,967.2 vs 81,629.5 RMB, P < 0.001), and less estimated blood loss (229.2 vs 288.8 mL, P = 0.031). No significant differences were found between the robotic and laparoscopic groups in terms of conversion rate, time to first flatus, time to first soft diet, post-operative hospital stay, post-operative complications, R0 resection rate, and number of retrieved lymph nodes (all P > 0.05). The 3-year disease-free survival and 3-year overall survival rates were comparable between the two groups (65.5% vs 57.5%, P = 0.918; 69.0% vs 60.0%, P = 0.850, respectively).

Conclusions

RTG is a safe and feasible procedure for the treatment of CRS and could serve as an optimal treatment for CRS.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy in remnant gastric cancer

Objectives

Remnant Gastric Cancer (RGC) describes cancers occurring in the remaining stomach and/or anastomosis in the follow-up after gastric cancer or benign gastric surgery. RGC is diagnosed in esophago-gastroscopy follow-ups of patients who underwent this surgery in the past. Again, the increase in the success of gastric cancer surgery and following medical treatments has increased the incidence of RGC in long-term follow-up after gastric cancer surgery. Laparoscopic surgery has been also reported in few cases. In the present study, the purpose was to present the results of the first five patients that underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy due to RGC in our clinic.

Material and Methods

The patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery between November 2014 and December 2018 were evaluated retrospectively.

Results

Mean age of the patients was 62.4 years (ranging between 49 and 74 years). Two of these patients had a surgical history due to gastric cancer and 3 due to peptic ulcer. Surgery was completed laparoscopically in all patients. In the early period, one patient had to undergo re-surgery due to stenosis in Jejuno-Jejunostomy, and the patient died. One patient underwent laparotomy due to colonic stenosis in the second month after the surgery. Recurrence was detected on the 140th and 180th days of follow-up in the other two patients.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic surgery is a technically applicable method in RGC; however, it is also a risk factor for past surgical postoperative complications. Early recurrence in this group of patients requires a comparison of open and laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic Completion Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer

Background: Remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is increasing due to past use of subtotal gastrectomy to treat benign diseases, improvements in the detection of gastric cancer, and increased survival rates after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Laparoscopic access provides the advantages and benefits of minimally invasive surgery. However, laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy (LCTG) for RGC is technically demanding, even for experienced surgeons. Because of its rarity and heterogeneity, no standard surgical strategy has been established and few surgeons will develop technical expertise to carry out this procedure. Aim: To describe our standard technique, giving surgeons a head start in LCTG and report the early experience with this stepwise approach. Materials and Methods: We detail all the steps involved in the procedure, including trocar placement and surgical description. Results: Between 2009 and 2019, a total of 8 patients with past history of RGC were operated with this technique. All patients had been previously operated by open method, 7 due to peptic ulcer disease and 1 due to gastric cancer. Their mean age at the time of the first surgery was 38.9 years (range 25-56 years) and the mean interval between the first and the second gastrectomy was 32.1 years (range 13.6-49). Billroth II was the previous reconstruction in all cases. A 5-trocar technique was used followed by total gastrectomy with side-to-side stapled intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy anastomosis and Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The mean operation time was 272 minutes (range 180-330) and median blood loss was 247 mL (range 50-500). There was no conversion and no major intraoperative complication. Major postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients. Conclusion: Completion total gastrectomy for RGC is a morbid procedure and laparoscopic access is technically feasible, hopefully carrying the benefits of faster recovery, reduced postoperative pain, and wound complications. By standardizing the approach, the learning curve may be shortened and better results achieved.

Remnant gastric cancer: An ordinary primary adenocarcinoma or a tumor with its own pattern?

BACKGROUND

Remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is defined as a tumor that develops in the stomach after a previous gastrectomy and is generally associated with a worse prognosis. However, there little information available regarding RGCs and their prognostic factors and survival.

AIM

To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of RGC after previous gastrectomy for benign disease.

METHODS

Patients who underwent curative resection for primary gastric cancer (GC) at our institute between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. All RGC resections with histological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma were enrolled in this study. Primary proximal GC (PGC) who underwent total gastrectomy was selected as the comparison group. Clinical and pathological data were collected from a prospective medical database.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients with RGC and 120 PGC were included. Older age (P = 0.001), lower body mass index (P = 0.006), hemoglobin level (P < 0.001), and number of resected lymph nodes resected (LN) (P < 0.001) were associated with the RGC group. Lauren type, pathological tumor-node-metastasis, and perioperative morbimortality were similar between RGC and PGC. There was no difference in disease-free survival (P = 0.592) and overall survival (P = 0.930) between groups. LN status was the only independent factor related to survival.

CONCLUSION

RGC had similar clinicopathological characteristics to PGC. Despite the lower number of resected LN, RGC had a similar prognosis.

Subtotal versus total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

PURPOSE

Subtotal gastrectomy (SG) has become a general option for distal gastric cancer. However, the availability of an organ-preserving approach for the treatment of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is still controversial. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of SG for RGC by integrating data from published articles.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for studies that compared SG versus total gastrectomy (TG) for RGC published from the inception of the databases until May 2020. A meta-analysis was performed using the Review Manager Version 5.0 software program from the Cochrane Collaboration.

RESULTS

Three retrospective cohort studies with 144 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed that the operative time of the SG group was significantly shorter than that in the TG group (MD: -34.84. 95% CI: -59.97- -9.71, P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss (MD: -109.19. 95% CI: -240.37-21.99, P =0.10), length of postoperative hospital stay (MD: 0.40. 95% CI: -3.03-3.83, P = 0.82), postoperative complications (RR: 1.41. 95% CI: 0.76-2.63, P = 0.28), or recurrence (RR: 2.33, 95% CI: 0.48-11.44, P = 0.30). SG for RGC tended to be correlated with favorable 5-year overall survival; however, the association was not statistically significant (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.63-1.26, P = 0.51).

CONCLUSION

Organ-preserving approaches such as SG may be a safe and feasible treatment option for early-stage RGC.

Laparoscopic Completion Total Gastrectomy as a Standardized Procedure for Gastric Stump Cancer: A Case Control Study

Objective

Complete gastrectomy for gastric stump cancer (GSC) can be challenging due to severe adhesions; therefore, advanced techniques are required when being performed by laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy (LCTG) for the treatment of GSC.

Methods

Patient records from January 2010 to October 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were classified into 2 groups depending on whether they underwent open or laparoscopic gastrectomy. We compared patient characteristics; operative, clinical, and pathological data between the groups.

Results

Twenty open and 17 LCTGs were performed. Laparoscopic gastrectomy resulted in a significantly longer operation time (230 versus 182.5 min; P = 0.026), lower blood loss (14 versus 105 mL; P &lt; 0.001), and shorter period to the first flatus passage (2 versus 3 days; P &lt; 0.001) than open gastrectomy. No significant differences in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, duration of hospital stay, complication rate, and postoperative analgesic usage between the 2 groups were observed. No patients required conversion to open surgery in the laparoscopic-treatment group. Pathologic findings revealed that the laparoscopic group had a smaller tumor size (not pathologic T category) and fewer metastatic lymph nodes than the open group, leading to an earlier distribution of the pathologic stage in the laparoscopic group.

Conclusions

LCTG for the treatment of GSC was safely conducted with fewer complications and mortalities than previously reported results. Advanced technologies and sophistication of laparoscopic skills may further yield minimal invasiveness with better short-term outcome.

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer compared with open gastrectomy: Single-center experience

The usefulness, safety and oncological validity of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) have not been widely reported.A total of 38 patients who underwent gastrectomy for RGC were enrolled at Wakayama Medical University Hospital between April 2008 and December 2018. All consecutive patients were included in this retrospective study; the patients were divided into the open gastrectomy group and the laparoscopic group according to the sequential nature of their operation. Fifteen patients underwent open gastrectomy for RGC (OGR) between April 2008 and December 2013, and 23 patients underwent LG for RGC (LGR) after 2014.In the OGR group, all initial operations were performed by open surgery, whereas in the LGR group, 11 patients (47%) initially underwent laparoscopic surgery and 12 patients (53%) initially underwent open surgery (P = .002), 3 patients of which (25%) converted to open gastrectomy. There was no significant difference in the number of lymph node dissections or in operative time between the 2 groups, but blood loss was significantly lower in the LGR group than that in the OGR group (P = .002). Furthermore, although there was no difference between the 2 groups in C-reactive protein value on postoperative day 1, C-reactive protein value on postoperative day 3 was significantly lower in the LGR group than in the OGR group (P = .012). There were no differences in postoperative complications or long-term outcomes, including recurrence-free survival and overall survival.LGy is suitable in cases in which the initial surgery is performed by laparoscopic surgery. Even if the initial surgery is open surgery, it is oncologically equivalent to open gastrectomy and can be performed safely with less blood loss.

Postoperative pain assessment of robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate prepectoral prosthesis breast reconstruction: a comparison with conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy

Aims: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is a surgical procedure for patients with breast cancer without nipple-areolar complex (NAC) involvement. Robotic NSM (RNSM) with immediate breast reconstruction has been recently introduced; however, reports regarding RNSM are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the postoperative assessment with a focus on postoperative pain of RNSM with prepectoral immediate prosthesis breast reconstruction (IPBR) compared with conventional NSM (CNSM) in patients with breast cancer without NAC invasion. Methods: This retrospective study included 81 patients who underwent RNSM (n = 40) or CNSM (n = 41) with prepectoral IPBR using direct-to-implant or tissue expander between January 2018 and June 2020. The primary endpoint was to compare postoperative pain intensity based on a numerical rating scale (NRS). The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the postoperative recovery profile, including postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV) and complications. Results: A statistical difference was observed in the resting NRS scores at 0-6 postoperative hours between the RNSM and CNSM groups (3.2 ± 1.5 versus 4.2 ± 1.6, respectively; Bonferroni corrected P = 0.005), however, no difference was shown at other time periods. Also, no between-group difference was found in the NRS scores for acting pain within 48 postoperative hours and the number of patients requiring additional analgesics. Conclusions: Despite a statistical difference in the resting NRS scores during the early postoperative phase, the absence of any significant difference in the requirement of additional analgesics between the groups suggested that RNSM does not significantly attenuate postoperative pain intensity.

Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer: A Single-institution Experience and Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND/AIM

The safety and efficacy of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of LTG with open total gastrectomy (OTG) for RGC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-two patients who underwent total gastrectomy for RGC were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

LTG was carried out in seven patients, and OTG was performed in the remaining 15 patients. The mean operation time in the LTG group was longer than that in the OTG group. The estimated blood loss in the LTG group was less than that in the OTG group. No cases in the LTG group required open conversion. Postoperatively, the first meal and defecation were earlier in the LTG group than in the OTG group. The overall survival rates of the two groups were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy is a feasible surgical option for RGC.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for upper-middle advanced gastric cancer: analysis based on lymph node noncompliance

BACKGROUND

Increasing number of clinical studies have shown that laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) with D2 lymph node (LN) dissection is an effective method for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, reports on the technical feasibility and oncology efficacy of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) in the treatment of AGC are rare.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the clinicopathologic data of 1313 patients with clinical stage of cT2-4aN0-3M0 undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy with D2 LN dissection from June 2007 to December 2013 was performed. Noncompliance was defined as patients with more than one LN station absence as described in the protocol for D2 lymphadenectomy in the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA). According to the literature, it was subdivided into LN compliance group (all LN stations were detected), minor LN noncompliance group (1-2 LN stations were not detected), major LN noncompliance group (more than 2 LN stations were not detected). Based on the LN noncompliance, the surgical indications of LTG were analyzed with LDG as control.

RESULTS

Among the 1313 patients, 197 (39.20%) patients and 321(39.71%) patients in the LDG group and the LTG group had minor LN noncompliance, 59(11.70%) patients and 163(20.10%) patients had major LN noncompliance. The difference in the extent of LN noncompliance between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). COX proportional hazards regression analysis elucidated that the LN noncompliance was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² and the history of previous abdominal surgery (PAS) were independent risk factors for major LN noncompliance in LTG group (p < 0.05), with which patients were defined as a LN noncompliance high-risk group. With the exception of LN noncompliance high-risk group, the difference in the extent of LN noncompliance between LTG group and LDG group was still statistically significant (p = 0.008). Tumor diameter > 60 mm is a preoperative risk factor for station #5 LN noncompliance, and no preoperative risk factors for station #6 LN noncompliance were found, with which patients were defined as LN noncompliance middle-risk group.

CONCLUSION

LN noncompliance is an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis in patients after LTG. Based on this finding, patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², history of PAS and tumor diameter > 60 mm in the advanced stage of upper-middle gastric cancer represent high/middle-risk groups with LN noncompliance in LTG surgery, which should be carefully selected.

Clinicopathologic features of remnant gastric cancer after curative distal gastrectomy according to previous reconstruction method: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Survival rate of patients treated for gastric cancer has increased due to early detection and improvements of surgical technique and chemotherapy. Increase in survival rate has led to an increase in the risk for remnant gastric cancer (RGC). The purpose of this study was to investigate clinicopathologic features of RGC according to previous reconstruction method and factors affecting the interval from previous curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer to RGC occurrence.

METHODS

Medical records of patients diagnosed with RGC at Yeungnam University Medical Center from January 2000 to December 2017 who had a history of distal gastrectomy with D2 LN dissection due to gastric cancer were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients were enrolled in this study. The mean interval of 48 RGC patients was 105.6 months (8.8 years). RGC after Billroth II reconstruction recurred more often at anastomosis site than RGC after Billroth I reconstruction (p = 0.001). The mean interval of RGC after Billroth I reconstruction was 67 months, shorter than 119 months of RGC after Billroth II reconstruction (p = 0.003). On the contrary, interval showed no difference according to stage of previous gastric cancer, remnant gastric cancer, or sex (p = 0.810, 0.145, and 0.372, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

RGC after Billroth I reconstruction tends to arise earlier at non-anastomosis site than RGC after Billroth II. Therefore, we should examine non-anastomosis site carefully from the beginning of surveillance after gastric cancer surgery with Billroth I reconstruction for better outcome.

Current controversies in treating remnant gastric cancer: Are minimally invasive approaches feasible?

The incidence of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is still increasing. Minimally invasive approaches including endoscopic resection, laparoscopic and robotic approaches, and function-preserving gastrectomy have been utilized as curative treatment methods for primary gastric cancer. However, adhesions and anatomical alterations due to previous gastrectomy make the use of minimally invasive approaches complicated and difficult for RGC. Application of these approaches for the treatment of RGC is still controversial. Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a favorable alternative therapy for the resection of early gastric cancer that occurs in the remnant stomach and can prevent unnecessary complications. The majority of retrospective studies have shown that endoscopic submucosal dissection is an effective and oncologically safe treatment modality for RGC. Subtotal gastrectomy could serve as a function-preserving gastrectomy for patients with early RGC and improve postoperative late-phase function. However, there are only two studies that demonstrate the feasibility and oncological efficacy of subtotal gastrectomy for RGC. The non-randomized controlled trials showed that compared to open gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastrectomy for RGC led to better short-term outcomes and similar oncologic results. Because of the rarity of RGC, future multicenter studies are required to determine the indications of minimally invasive treatment for RGC.

Is Laparoscopic Approach Also Safe for the Treatment of Remnant Gastric Cancer?

The most important advantages of laparoscopic gastrectomy are the minimal invasiveness, including less postoperative pain, shorter recovery, and minimal complications. A laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is accepted widely as a standard treatment for gastric cancer. On the other hand, a laparoscopic total gastrectomy has not been popularized as a distal gastrectomy because of the complexity of a lymph node dissection and the diversity of reconstruction. In terms of laparoscopic surgery for a remnant gastrectomy, there are three key points, which are critical for safe operation: adequate lymph node dissection, meticulous adhesiolysis, and reconstruction. After radical surgery for gastric cancer, the intra-abdominal condition is greatly changed. In addition, the lymphatic anatomy around the stomach is broken and surgeons should be aware of a newly developed lymphatic system to perform adequate node dissection. An esophago-jejunal reconstruction is at risk of leakage. Until evidence that is more concrete can be obtained, experienced surgeons should consider the laparoscopic approach.

Short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: A single-institution experience and systematic review of the literature

AIM

Application of laparoscopic approaches for the treatment of remnant gastric cancers (RGC) is still controversial. Therefore, in the present study, the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for RGC was investigated.

METHODS

A total of 27 patients who underwent gastrectomy for RGC from June 2008 to September 2017 were enrolled in this study. A comprehensive review of the literature on LG for RGC published before December 2017 using the PubMed database was carried out.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic gastrectomy was carried out in seven patients, and open gastrectomy (OG) was done in the remaining 20 patients. LG was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss (70 ± 71 vs. 1066 ± 1428 g; P < 0.001), significantly more retrieved lymph nodes (22 ± 13 vs. 12 ± 9; P = 0.03), a relatively lower postoperative complication rate, and a relatively shorter postoperative hospital stay than OG. A comprehensive review of the literature showed that LG for RGC was more likely to correlate with longer operative time, less blood loss, lower postoperative complication rate, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and more retrieved lymph nodes than OG.

CONCLUSION

The clinical outcome of our patients with RGC and the literature indicated that a laparoscopic approach contributed to faster recovery after surgery than an open approach without sacrificing its radicality and was a safe and secure treatment option for RGC.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: A single-institution experience

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of remnant gastric cancer is increasing because of past use of subtotal gastrectomy to treat peptic ulcer and increased survival rates after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The feasibility and advantages of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for remnant gastric cancer remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and clinical short-term outcomes of LTG for remnant gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients who underwent completion total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer between April 2007 and October 2017 were divided into two groups: the open total gastrectomy (OTG) group and the LTG group. Clinicopathological data and short-term outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 31 remnant gastrectomies (23 OTG, 8 LTG) were performed. Blood loss was significantly lower in the LTG group than in the OTG group (135.5 vs 568.3 mL, P = 0.013). However, there was no significant difference in the operation time, days to food intake, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the postoperative complications, number of retrieved lymph nodes, or pathological findings. Two LTG patients (25.0%) required conversion to open surgery. There was no mortality in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

LTG for remnant gastric cancer can be a safe treatment option and may have an advantage of less blood loss than OTG.

An Augmented Reality Endoscope System for Ureter Position Detection

Iatrogenic injury of ureter in the clinical operation may cause the serious complication and kidney damage. To avoid such a medical accident, it is necessary to provide the ureter position information to the doctor. For the detection of ureter position, an ureter position detection and display system with the augmented ris proposed to detect the ureter that is covered by human tissue. There are two key issues which should be considered in this new system. One is how to detect the covered ureter that cannot be captured by the electronic endoscope and the other is how to display the ureter position that provides stable and high-quality images. Simultaneously, any delayed processing of the system should disturb the surgery. The aided hardware detection method and target detection algorithms are proposed in this system. To mark the ureter position, a surface-lighting plastic optical fiber (POF) with the encoded light-emitting diode (LED) light is used to indicate the ureter position. The monochrome channel filtering algorithm (MCFA) is proposed to locate the ureter region more precisely. The ureter position is extracted using the proposed automatic region growing algorithm (ARGA) that utilizes the statistical information of the monochrome channel for the selection of growing seed point. In addition, according to the pulse signal of encoded light, the recognition of bright and dark frames based on the aided hardware (BDAH) is proposed to expedite the processing speed. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed endoscope system can identify 92.04% ureter region in average.

Minimally invasive surgery as a treatment option for gastric cancer with liver metastasis: a comparison with open surgery

BACKGROUND

As minimally invasive techniques advances, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has emerged as an alternative modality for advanced gastric cancer. In this study, we compared the short- and long-term surgical outcomes of MIS and conventional open surgery for gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) in terms of safety, feasibility, and efficacy.

METHODS

This retrospective study used data from a prospective database at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. From January 2006 to June 2016, 53 gastric cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis accepted radical gastrectomy combined with either or both hepatectomy and radiofrequency ablation for liver metastases. The 53 patients enrolled in the study were divided into two groups: a conventional open surgery group (n = 42) and an MIS group (n = 11). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to overcome possible bias.

RESULTS

With PSM performed at a 1:3 ratio, 11 patients who received MIS were compared with 33 open surgery cases. Mean operation time was significantly longer for the MIS group compared with the open surgery group (301 vs. 236 min, P = 0.032), while the open surgery group had a larger estimated blood loss than the MIS group (421 vs. 196 ml, P = 0.019). Time to first flatus and postoperative complications, including Clavien-Dindo classification, were similar in the two groups. However, patients undergoing MIS had a significantly shorter time to first sips of water (P = 0.020) and soft diet (P = 0.020) compared with open surgery counterparts. Long-term outcomes were comparable between groups (P = 0.090) after adjustment by PSM analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

MIS achieved superior short-term outcomes and comparable long-term outcomes compared with open surgery in GCLM patients. For experienced surgeons, both laparoscopic and robotic methods of MIS are reasonable approaches for the management of highly selected GCLM patients.

Status and Prospects of Robotic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Our Experience and a Review of the Literature

Since the first report of robotic gastrectomy, experienced laparoscopic surgeons have used surgical robots to treat gastric cancer and resolve problems associated with laparoscopic gastrectomy. However, compared with laparoscopic gastrectomy, the superiority of robotic procedures has not been clearly proven. There are several advantages to using robotic surgery for gastric cancer, such as reduced estimated blood loss during the operation, a shorter learning curve, and a larger number of examined lymph nodes than conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy. The increased operation time observed with a robotic system is decreasing because surgeons have accumulated experience using this procedure. While there is limited evidence, long-term oncologic outcomes appear to be similar between robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy. Robotic procedures have a significantly greater financial cost than laparoscopic gastrectomy, which is a major drawback. Recent clinical studies tried to demonstrate that the benefits of robotic surgery outweighed the cost, but the overall results were disappointing. Ongoing studies are investigating the benefits of robotic gastrectomy in more complicated and challenging cases. Well-designed randomized control trials with large sample sizes are needed to investigate the benefits of robotic gastrectomy compared with laparoscopic surgery.

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with a history of abdominal surgery

PURPOSE

To assess the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer patients with a history of abdominal surgery (HAS).

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed data collected from gastric cancer patients with HAS, who underwent LG between 2004 and 2015. We compared the clinicopathological features that correlated with conversion to open surgery and the development of severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification of grade III or higher).

RESULTS

Of the 41 patients identified, 6 (14.6%) required conversion to open surgery. The incidence of conversion to open surgery was associated with a history of lower gastrointestinal tract surgery (p = 0.009), attempted laparoscopic total gastrectomy (p = 0.002), and excessive blood loss (p < 0.001). Severe postoperative complications developed in six patients (14.6%). Although the development of complications was associated with high postoperative serum C-reactive protein, the type of past abdominal surgery was not significantly correlated with severe complications.

CONCLUSIONS

LG was feasible for gastric cancer patients with a HAS, but for those with a history of lower abdominal surgery or those who require total gastrectomy, surgeons should carefully consider the indications for LG.

Does remnant gastric cancer really differ from primary gastric cancer? A systematic review of the literature by the Task Force of Japanese Gastric Cancer Association

Remnant gastric cancer, most frequently defined as cancer detected in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy for benign disease and those cases after surgery of gastric cancer at least 5 years after the primary surgery, is often reported as a tumor with poor prognosis. The Task Force of Japanese Gastric Cancer Association for Research Promotion evaluated the clinical impact of remnant gastric cancer by systematically reviewing publications focusing on molecular carcinogenesis, lymph node status, patient survival, and surgical complications. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE with the keywords "remnant," "stomach," and "cancer," revealing 1154 relevant reports published up to the end of December 2014. The mean interval between the initial surgery and the diagnosis of remnant gastric cancer ranged from 10 to 30 years. The incidence of lymph node metastases at the splenic hilum for remnant gastric cancer is not significantly higher than that for primary proximal gastric cancer. Lymph node involvement in the jejunal mesentery is a phenomenon peculiar to remnant gastric cancer after Billroth II reconstruction. Prognosis and postoperative morbidity and mortality rates seem to be comparable to those for primary proximal gastric cancer. The crude 5-year mortality for remnant gastric cancer was 1.08 times higher than that for primary proximal gastric cancer, but this difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, although no prospective cohort study has yet evaluated the clinical significance of remnant gastric cancer, our literature review suggests that remnant gastric cancer does not adversely affect patient prognosis and postoperative course.

A Case of Laparoscopic Resection for Carcinoma of the Gastric Remnant following Proximal Gastrectomy Reconstructed with Jejunal Interposition

A 72-year-old Japanese man had a history of proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach in 2007. Our usual treatment strategy for early gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach in 2007 was open proximal gastrectomy reconstructing by jejunal interposition with a 10 cm single loop. Upper gastrointestinal fiberscopy for annual follow-up revealed a type 0-IIc-shaped tumor with ulcer scar, 4.0 cm in size, located in the gastric remnant near the jejunogastrostomy. A clinical diagnosis of cancer of the gastric remnant, clinical T1b(SM)N0M0, Stage IA, following the proximal gastrectomy was made and a laparoscopic approach was selected because of the cancer's early stage. Remnant total gastrectomy with D1 plus lymphadenectomy was carried out with five ports by a pneumoperitoneal method. Complete resection of the reconstructed jejunum was undergone along with the jejunal mesentery. Reconstruction by the Roux-en-Y method via the antecolic route was selected. Total operative time was 395 min and blood loss was 40 mL. Our patient was the first successful case of resection for carcinoma of the gastric remnant following proximal gastrectomy reconstructed with jejunal interposition in a laparoscopic approach.

Current status in remnant gastric cancer after distal gastrectomy

Remnant gastric cancer (RGC) and gastric stump cancer after distal gastrectomy (DG) are recognized as the same clinical entity. In this review, the current knowledges as well as the non-settled issues of RGC are presented. Duodenogastric reflux and denervation of the gastric mucosa are considered as the two main factors responsible for the development of RGC after benign disease. On the other hand, some precancerous circumstances which already have existed at the time of initial surgery, such as atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, are the main factors associated with RGC after gastric cancer. Although eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in remnant stomach is promising, it is still uncertain whether it can reduce the risk of carcinogenesis. Periodic endoscopic surveillance after DG was reported useful in detecting RGC at an early stage, which offers a chance to undergo minimally invasive endoscopic treatment or laparoscopic surgery and leads to an improved prognosis in RGC patients. Future challenges may be expected to elucidate the benefit of eradication of H. pylori in the remnant stomach if it could reduce the risk for RGC, to build an optimal endoscopic surveillance strategy after DG by stratifying the risk for development of RGC, and to develop a specific staging system for RGC for the standardization of the treatment by prospecting the prognosis.

Laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery: Current evidence and future perspectives

Laparoscopic gastrectomy has been widely accepted as a standard alternative for the treatment of early-stage gastric adenocarcinoma because of its favorable short-term outcomes. Although controversies exist, such as establishing clear indications, proper preoperative staging, and oncologic safety, experienced surgeons and institutions have applied this approach, along with various types of function-preserving surgery, for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. With technical advancement and the advent of state-of-the-art instruments, indications for laparoscopic gastrectomy are expected to expand as far as locally advanced gastric cancer. Laparoscopic gastrectomy appears to be promising; however, scientific evidence necessary to generalize this approach to a standard treatment for all relevant patients and care providers remains to be gathered. Several multicenter, prospective randomized trials in high-incidence countries are ongoing, and results from these trials will highlight the short- and long-term outcomes of the approach. In this review, we describe up-to-date findings and critical issues regarding laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: a comprehensive review and case series

BACKGROUND

Remnant gastric cancer is increasing with the earlier detection of gastric cancer and improved medical care. Laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer has been reported sporadically in association with the increased use of minimally invasive techniques. However, because of the rarity of remnant gastric cancer, the number of cases reported per study has been small. We therefore reviewed all published English-language reports, including our experience, to better characterize the technical aspects of currently used procedures.

METHODS

Ten patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant cancer between August 2005 and March 2014 were retrospectively studied. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed database to identify English-language studies on laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer that were published before May 2014.

RESULTS

There was no conversion to open surgery. The mean operating time was 325 min, and mean intraoperative blood loss was 55 g. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 22, and mean postoperative hospital stay was 13 days. There was only one minor wound infection (overall morbidity rate, 10%). From the literature review, all comparative studies revealed that laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer required a longer operating time, and most studies reported less intraoperative blood loss, an equivalent number of harvested lymph nodes, and a shorter postoperative stay as compared with open surgery.

CONCLUSION

Proficiency in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques, such as proper adhesiolysis and stable laparoscopic anastomosis, will allow laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer to be performed with satisfactory short-term results. This minimally invasive approach can be one treatment option for remnant gastric cancer.

Entirely Laparoscopic Gastrectomy and Colectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer with Gastric Outlet Obstruction and Transverse Colon Invasion

It is well known that gastrectomy with curative intent is the best way to improve outcomes of patients with remnant gastric cancer. Recently,several investigators reported their experiences with laparoscopic gastrectomy of remnant gastric cancer. We report the case of an 83-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with remnant gastric cancer with obstruction. She underwent an entirely laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with colectomy because of direct invasion of the transverse colon. The operation time was 200 minutes. There were no postoperative complications. The pathologic stage was T4b (transverse colon) N0M0. Our experience suggests that laparoscopic surgerycould be an effective method to improve the surgical outcomes of remnant gastric cancer patients.

Robotic surgery for gastric cancer

Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a widely used minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. However, skillful techniques are required to perform lymph node dissection using straight shaped forceps, particularly for D2 dissection. Robotic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system is anticipated to be a powerful tool for performing difficult techniques using high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images and the EndoWrist equipped with seven degrees of freedom. Attempts are being made to apply robotic surgery in gastrectomy procedures mainly in Japan, South Korea, and Europe. Although definite superiority to laparoscopic gastrectomy is yet to be proven, robotic surgery has been reported to have a shorter learning curve and offer more precise dissection for total gastrectomy. Hence, its oncological efficacy needs to be verified in a clinical trial.

Three cases of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy for gastric cancer in remnant stomach

Gastric cancer in remnant stomach is a rare tumor but with poor prognosis. Compared with conventional open surgery, laparoscopic gastrectomy has potential benefits for these patients due to advantages resulting from its minimally invasive approach. Herein, we report on three patients with gastric cancer in remnant stomach who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy successfully. The operative time was 280, 250 and 225 minutes, the estimated blood loss was 100, 80 and 50 ml and the length of postoperative hospital stay was seven, eight and nine days respectively. Our experience has suggested that laparoscopic total gastrectomy with intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy can be a safe, feasible and promising option for patients with gastric cancer in remnant stomach.