Learning Curve of the Application of Huang Three-Step Maneuver in a Laparoscopic Spleen-Preserving Splenic Hilar Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Learning curve of laparoscopic and robotic total gastrectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Minimally-invasive total gastrectomy (MITG) is associated with lower morbidity in comparison to open total gastrectomy but requires a learning curve (LC). We aimed to perform a pooled analysis of the number of cases required to surmount the LC (NLC) in MITG.

METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library from inception until August 2022 was performed for studies reporting the LC in laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) and/or robotic total gastrectomy (RTG). Poisson mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) was used to determine the NLC. Negative binomial regression was performed as a comparative analysis.

RESULTS

There were 12 articles with 18 data sets: 12 data sets (n = 1202 patients) on LTG and 6 data sets (n = 318 patients) on RTG. The majority of studies were conducted in East Asia (94.4%). The majority of the data sets (n = 12/18, 66.7%) used non-arbitrary analyses. The NLC was significantly smaller in RTG in comparison to LTG [RTG 20.5 (95% CI 17.0-24.5); LTG 43.9 (95% CI 40.2-47.8); incidence rate ratio 0.47, p < 0.001]. The NLC was comparable between totally-laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) and laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) [LATG 39.0 (95% CI 30.8-48.7); TLTG 36.0 (95% CI 30.4-42.4)].

CONCLUSIONS

The LC for RTG was significantly shorter for LTG. However existing studies are heterogeneous.

Laparoscopic Spleen-Preserving Hilar Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Proximal Gastric Cancer Without Greater Curvature Invasion: Five-Year Outcomes From the Fuges-02 Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Splenic hilar lymphadenectomy has been recommended for locally advanced proximal gastric cancer (APGC) involving the greater curvature. However, it is unclear whether laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (LSPSHL) is associated with a long-term survival benefit for APGC without greater curvature invasion.

Objective

To present the 5-year follow-up data from a randomized clinical trial that compared laparoscopic total gastrectomy (D2 group) with D2 plus LSPSHL (D2 + No. 10 group) among patients with resectable APGC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a post hoc secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that enrolled 536 patients with potentially resectable APGC (cT2-4a, N0 or N+, and M0) without greater curvature invasion from January 5, 2015, to October 10, 2018. All patients were tracked for at least 5 years. The final follow-up was on October 30, 2023.

Interventions

Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the D2 + No. 10 or D2 groups.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were measured. Recurrence patterns and causes of death were compared.

Results

A total of 526 patients (392 men [74.5%]; mean [SD] age, 60.6 [9.6] years) were included in the modified intent-to-treat analysis, with 263 patients in each group. The 5-year DFS rate was 63.9% (95% CI, 58.1%-69.7%) for the D2 + No. 10 group and 55.1% (95% CI, 49.1%-61.1%) for the D2 group (log-rank P = .04). A statistically significant difference was observed in the 5-year OS between the D2 + No. 10 group and the D2 group (66.2% [95% CI, 60.4%-71.9%] vs 57.4% [95% CI, 51.4%-63.4%]; log-rank P = .03). The No. 10 lymph node exhibited a therapeutic value index (TVI) of 6.5, surpassing that of Nos. 8a (TVI, 3.0), 11 (TVI, 5.8), and 12a (TVI, 0.8). A total of 86 patients in the D2 + No. 10 group (cumulative incidence, 32.7%) and 111 patients in the D2 group (cumulative incidence, 42.2%) experienced recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.95; P = .02). The multivariable competing risk regression model demonstrated that D2 + No. 10 remained an independent protective factor for a lower 5-year cumulative recurrence rate after surgery (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56-1.00; P = .05). There was a significant difference in the 5-year cumulative recurrence rate at the No. 10 lymph node area between the 2 groups (D2 + No. 10 group vs D2 group: 0% vs 2.3% [n = 6]; P = .01).

Conclusions

This post hoc secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that laparoscopic total gastrectomy with LSPSHL can improve the prognosis and reduce recurrence for APGC without greater curvature invasion. Future multicenter studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02333721.

Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: Long-term outcome in a teaching center

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) are increasing, yet the evidence of the relationship between the learning curve and long-term outcomes is limited.

AIMS

To analyze the relationship between the learning curve and survival in GC patients over a 10-year period.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study studied 3674 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Cusum and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the association between the surgeon's experience and the 3 years overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The 3-year OS of all patients was 71.8 %. This increase of 3-year OS was associated with laparoscopic cases (r = 0.638, p = 0.047). Analysis of the CUSUM curve showed a significant change in the 3-year OS of 1400 cases. Further propensity score matching (PSM) of patients during and after the learning curve (<1400 and ≥ 1400 cases) showed a significant difference in the 3-year OS between the two groups (68.5 % vs. 72.3 %, p = 0.045). Cox regression analysis verified that in ≥1400 cases, prior laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.045), textbook outcome (TO) and the number of retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) were independent protective factors. The LN non-compliance rate was an independent risk factor. In contrast, the rate of TO and the median number of retrieved LNs were significantly higher after the learning curve (≥1400 cases). Furthermore, the rates of LN non-compliance were significantly lower (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing laparoscopic surgical experience is associated with surgical quality and prognostic improvement in patients with gastric cancer. But improvements in outcomes accrued slowly over a long period.

Perspectives of laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer

Gastrectomy is the main treatment option for gastric cancer patients. Laparoscopic approach has become popular as an alternative to open method during the last decades, and clinical trials have revealed safety and feasibility in the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of prospective clinical trials and propose future perspectives for laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic resection versus total laparoscopic gastric surgery for primary gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs): an analysis from a high-volume institution

Background

Laparoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is technically feasible and associated with favorable outcomes. We compared the clinical efficacy of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HLS) and total laparoscopic surgery (TLS) for gastric GISTs.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 69 consecutive patients diagnosed with a gastric GIST in a tertiary referral teaching hospital from December 2016 to December 2020. Surgical outcomes were compared between two groups.

Results

Fifty-three patients (TLS group: n = 36; HLS group: n = 17) were included. The mean age was 56.9 and 58.1 years in the TLS and HLS groups, respectively. The maximum tumor margin was significantly shorter in the HLS group than in the TLS group (2.3 ± 0.9. vs. 3.0 ± 0.8 cm; P = 0.004). The operative time of the HLS group was significantly shorter than that of the TLS group (70.6 ± 19.1 min vs. 134.4 ± 53.7 min; P < 0.001). The HLS group had less intraoperative blood loss, a shorter time to first flatus, and a shorter time to fluid diet than the TLS group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in the incidence or severity of complications within 30 days after surgery. Recurrence or metastasis occurred in four cases (HLS group; n = 1; TLS group; n = 3).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that compared with TLS, HLS for gastric GISTs has the advantages of simpler operation, shorter operative time, and faster postoperative recovery.

Reappraise role of No. 10 lymphadenectomy for proximal gastric cancer in the era of minimal invasive surgery during total gastrectomy: a pooled analysis of 4 prospective trial

BACKGROUND

For patients with locally advanced proximal gastric cancer (LAPGC), the individualized selection of patients with highly suspected splenic hilar (No. 10) lymph node (LN) metastasis to undergo splenic hilar lymphadenectomy, is a clinical dilemma. This study aimed to re-evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (LSPSHL) and to identify the population who would benefit from it.

METHODS

A total of 1068 patients (D2 group = 409; D2 + No. 10 group = 659) who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy from four prospective trials between January 2015 and July 2019 were analyzed.

RESULTS

No significant difference in the incidence (16.9% vs. 16.4%; P = 0.837) of postoperative complications were found between the two groups. The metastasis rate of No. 10 LN among patients in the D2 + No. 10 group was 10.3% (68/659). Based on the decision tree, patients with LAPGC with tumor invading the greater curvature (Gre), patients with non-Gre-invading LAPGC with a tumor size > 5 cm and clinical positive locoregional LNs were defined as the high-priority No. 10 dissection group. The metastasis rate of No. 10 LNs in the high-priority group was 19.4% (41/211). In high-priority group, the 3-year overall survival of the D2 + No. 10 group was better than that of the D2 group (74.4% vs. 42.1%; P = 0.005), and the therapeutic index of No. 10 was higher than the indices of most suprapancreatic stations.

CONCLUSIONS

LSPSHL for LAPGC is safe and feasible when performed by experienced surgeons. LSPSHL could be recommended for the high-priority group patients even without invasion of the Gre.

Short-term efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy via Huang's three-step maneuver for advanced upper gastric cancer: Results from a propensity score-matched study

BACKGROUND

Robotic surgery has been considered to be significantly better than laparoscopic surgery for complicated procedures.

AIM

To explore the short-term effect of robotic and laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (SPSHL) for advanced gastric cancer (GC) by Huang’s three-step maneuver.

METHODS

A total of 643 patients who underwent SPSHL were recruited from April 2012 to July 2017, including 35 patients who underwent robotic SPSHL (RSPSHL) and 608 who underwent laparoscopic SPSHL (LSPSHL). One-to-four propensity score matching was used to analyze the differences in clinical data between patients who underwent robotic SPSHL and those who underwent laparoscopic SPSHL.

RESULTS

In all, 175 patients were matched, including 35 patients who underwent RSPSHL and 140 who underwent LSPSHL. After matching, there were no significant differences detected in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Significant differences in total operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), splenic hilar blood loss (SHBL), splenic hilar dissection time (SHDT), and splenic trunk dissection time were evident between these groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the overall noncompliance rate of lymph node (LN) dissection (62.9% vs 60%, P = 0.757), number of retrieved No. 10 LNs (3.1 ± 1.4 vs 3.3 ± 2.5, P = 0.650), total number of examined LNs (37.8 ± 13.1 vs 40.6 ± 13.6, P = 0.274), and postoperative complications (14.3% vs 17.9%, P = 0.616). A stratified analysis that divided the patients receiving RSPSHL into an early group (EG) and a late group (LG) revealed that the LG experienced obvious improvements in SHDT and length of stay compared with the EG (P < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that robotic surgery was a significantly protective factor against both SHBL and SHDT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

RSPSHL is safe and feasible, especially after overcoming the early learning curve, as this procedure results in a radical curative effect equivalent to that of LSPSHL.

Effects of duodenal transection timing on clinical short-term outcomes of patients with laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy for advanced proximal gastric cancer

Background

To determine the optimal timing of duodenal transection in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) in combination with laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (LSPL) for advanced proximal gastric cancer (APGC).

Methods

One hundred twenty-seven patients with APGC who received LATG with duodenal transection as well as LSPL between January 2017 and July 2018 were retrospectively recruited in this study. According to the different transection timing, the patients were allocated into two groups: a conventional group (CG) who received the duodenal transection prior to the LSPL and an experimental group (EG) who were given LSPL before the duodenum was transected. Clinical short-term outcomes were compared in the two groups.

Results

Analysis of the demographical and clinical characteristics showed that the two groups were comparable with no significant differences between CG and EG in the study patients regardless of their body mass indices (BMI). The intraoperative and postoperative indicators for clinical short-term outcomes were compared between the CG and EC, and results indicated that the EG had significant shorter mean time of LSPL and total operation time than those in the CG (P < 0.05). Of note, the numbers of patients with intraoperative injury and the volume of blood loss during the LSPL procedure were significantly reduced in the EG versus CG (P < 0.05). For the obese APGC patients, administration of LSPL prior to duodenal transection significantly increased the number of dissected No.10 lymph nodes (LNs) (P < 0.05). The other intraoperative and postoperative indicators did not show any differences between the two comparison groups.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that duodenal transection timing was significantly associated with clinical short-term outcomes of APGC patients. The duodenal transection prior to the LSPL is superior overall to the conventional transection timing in the treatment of APGC patients with LATG and LSPL in combination.

Modularized laparoscopic regional en bloc mesogastrium excision (rEME) based on membrane anatomy for distal gastric cancer

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new surgical procedure named modularized laparoscopic regional En bloc mesogastrium excision (rEME) based on the membrane anatomy in distal laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

From January 2014 to June 2017, 92 consecutive cases of patients with stages I–III distal gastric cancer were divided into 2 groups: laparoscopic radical gastrectomy plus standard D₂ lymph node dissection (SD group, n = 44) and modularized rEME (rEME group, n = 48). Evaluations were made in terms of the operative data, pathological results, recovery time of digestive tract functions, complications, and length of stay.

Results

85 patients (SD group, n = 40 and rEME group, n = 45) were finally included for analysis. There were no significant differences in the median total numbers of dissected LNs (31.98 ± 10.48 vs. 34.93 ± 13.12, p = 0.261), LNs in the greater curvature (12.18 ± 6.55 vs. 13.62 ± 8.09, p = 0.444), LNs in the lesser curvature (19.55 ± 7.40 vs. 17.98 ± 8.31, p = 0.365) between the SD and rEME groups. The rEME group showed lower loss of blood volume (107.11 ± 60.13 ml vs. 146.25 ± 85.78 ml, p = 0.019). No significant differences were found in recovery time of digestive tract functions, postoperative complication rates and length of hospital stay between the two groups.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy plus modularized rEME based on the membrane anatomy is a safe and feasible procedure for distal gastric cancer.

A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Oncological, Cost, and Surgical Stress Analysis

BACKGROUND

Robotic-assisted gastrectomy (RAG) has been rapidly adopted for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. However, whether RAG provides any significant outcome/cost advantages over laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) for the experienced laparoscopist remains unclear.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database identified 768 consecutive patients who underwent either RAG (n = 103) or LAG (n = 667) for GC between July 2016 and June 2017 at a large center. A 1:3 matched propensity score analysis was performed. The short-term outcomes and hospital costs between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

A well-balanced cohort of 404 patients was analyzed (RAG:LAG = 1:3 match). The mean operation times were 226.6 ± 36.2 min for the RAG group and 181.8 ± 49.8 min for the LAG group (p < 0.001). The total numbers of retrieved lymph nodes were similar in the RAG and LAG groups (means 38 and 40, respectively, p = 0.115). The overall and major complication rates (RAG, 13.9% vs. LAG, 12.5%, p = 0.732 and RAG, 3.0% vs. LAG, 1.3%, p = 0.373, respectively) were similar. RAG was much more costly than LAG (1.3 times, p < 0.001) mainly due to the amortization and consumables of the robotic system. According to cumulative sum (CUSUM), the learning phases were divided as follows: phase 1 (cases 1-21), phase 2 (cases 22-63), and phase 3 (cases 64-101), in the robotic group. The surgical stress (SS) was higher in the robotic group compared with the laparoscopic group in phase 1 (p < 0.05). However, the SS did not differ significantly between the two groups in phase 3.

CONCLUSIONS

RAG is a feasible and safe surgical procedure for GC, especially in the post-learning curve period. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term oncological outcomes and to elucidate whether RAG is cost-effective when compared to LAG.

Effect of laparoscopic gastrectomy on compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer

This study was designed to investigate the effect of laparoscopic gastrectomy on adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer.Patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution from January 2008 to January 2015 with R0 resection, as determined by a pathological examination, were included in this study. According to the surgical approach, patients were divided into the laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) group and open gastrectomy (OG) group. Short-term and long-term outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.Of the 206 patients enrolled in the study, 114 patients were included in the LG group and 92 patients were included in the OG group. There was no significant difference in patients' general data, including age, sex, medical comorbidities, and pathological staging, between the 2 groups. However, patients in the LG group had less intraoperative blood loss, fewer postoperative complications, and a shorter hospital stay compared with patients in the OG group. There was no significant difference in the start time of adjuvant chemotherapy between the groups. However, compared with OG, LG had the following advantages: patients received more cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, more patients received a full dose of on-schedule adjuvant chemotherapy, and more patients completed ≥75% of the planned dose. Long-term survival and disease-free survival rates were higher in the LG than in the OG.In summary, LG can improve compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy and long-term outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.