The impact of obesity on the use of a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer

Totally laparoscopic versus laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy: the KLASS-07: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUNDS

Strong evidence is lacking as no confirmatory randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared the efficacy of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). The authors performed an RCT to confirm if TLDG is different from LADG.

METHODS

The KLASS-07 trial is a multi-centre, open-label, parallel-group, phase III, RCT of 442 patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer. Patients were enroled from 21 cancer care centres in South Korea between January 2018 and September 2020 and randomized to undergo TLDG or LADG using blocked randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio, stratified by the participating investigators. Patients were treated through R0 resections by TLDG or LADG as the full analysis set of the KLASS-07 trial. The primary endpoint was morbidity within postoperative day 30, and the secondary endpoint was quality of life (QoL) for 1 year. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03393182).

RESULTS

Four hundred forty-two patients were randomized (222 to TLDG, 220 to LADG), and 422 patients were included in the pure analysis (213 and 209, respectively). The overall complication rate did not differ between the two groups (TLDG vs. LADG: 12.2% vs. 17.2%). However, TLDG provided less postoperative ileus and pulmonary complications than LADG (0.9% vs. 5.7%, P= 0.006; and 0.5% vs. 4.3%, P= 0.035, respectively). The QoL was better after TLDG than after LADG regarding emotional functioning at 6 months, pain at 3 months, anxiety at 3 and 6 months, and body image at 3 and 6 months (all P< 0.05). However, these QoL differences were resolved at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The KLASS-07 trial confirmed that TLDG is not different from LADG in terms of postoperative complications but has the advantages to reduce ileus and pulmonary complications. TLDG can be a good option to offer better QoL in terms of pain, body image, emotion, and anxiety at 3-6 months.

Comprehensive assessment of body mass index effects on short-term and long-term outcomes in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective study

To examine the influence of Body Mass Index (BMI) on laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) short-term and long-term outcomes for gastric cancer. A retrospective analysis was conducted on gastric cancer patients undergoing LG at the Third Hospital of Nanchang City from January 2013 to January 2022. Based on WHO BMI standards, patients were categorized into normal weight, overweight, and obese groups. Factors such as operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, and overall survival were assessed. Across different BMI groups, it was found that an increase in BMI was associated with longer operative times (average times: 206.22 min for normal weight, 231.32 min for overweight, and 246.78 min for obese), with no significant differences noted in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, or long-term survival among the groups. The impact of BMI on long-term survival following LG for gastric cancer was found to be insignificant, with no notable differences in survival outcome between different BMI groups. Although higher BMI is associated with increased operative time in LG for gastric cancer, it does not significantly affect intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, recovery, or long-term survival. LG is a feasible treatment choice for obese patients with gastric cancer.

The effect of the body mass index on the short-term surgical outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy: A propensity score-matched study

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG).

Subjects and Methods

Data of patients who underwent LTG for gastric cancer at six institutions between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively collected. The patients were classified into three groups: low BMI (<18.5 kg/m²), normal BMI (≥18.5 and <25 kg/m²) and high BMI (≥25 kg/m²). In these patients, clinicopathological variables were analysed using propensity score matching for age, sex, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical state, clinical stage, surgical method, D2 lymph node dissection, combined resection of other organs, anastomosis method and jejunal pouch reconstruction. The surgical results and post-operative outcomes were compared among the three groups.

Results

A total of 82 patients were matched in the analysis of the low BMI and normal BMI groups. There were no differences in operative time (P = 0.693), blood loss (P = 0.150), post-operative complication (P = 0.762) and post-operative hospital stay (P = 0.448). In the analysis of the normal BMI and high BMI groups, 208 patients were matched. There were also no differences in blood loss (P = 0.377), post-operative complication (P = 0.249) and post-operative hospital stay (P = 0.676). However, the operative time was significantly longer in the high BMI group (P = 0.023).

Conclusions

Despite the association with a longer operative time in the high BMI group, BMI had no significant effect on the surgical outcomes of LTG. LTG could be performed safely regardless of BMI.

Totally Laparoscopic Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopic-Assisted Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG) has recently been accepted as a treatment strategy for gastric cancer (GC). Aim: In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and feasibility of TLG compared with laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) in GC. Methods: Feasible studies comparing the TLG and LAG published up to March 2019 were searched online. The data showing short-term and complication outcomes were extracted to be pooled and analyzed. Results: Thirty-four studies, including 7974 patients were eventually eligible. There was no statistically significant difference on operation time between the two groups (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.16 to 9.02, P = .47). The time of anvil insertion time was shorter in the TLG group compared with the LAG group (WMD = -1.87, 95% CI: -2.60 to -1.15, P < .01). The TLG was significantly superior to LAG in the comparison of less trauma. In terms of radical resection, the number of lymph nodes obtained by TLG was significantly more than that obtained by LAG (WMD = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.54-3.76, P < .01). The pooled meta-analysis suggested that the patients undergoing TLG had a quicker recovery and less pain. In the advanced gastric cancer gastrectomy, the TLG could receive a longer proximal margin compared with the LAG (WMD = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.48-0.95, P < .01). Regardless of the reconstruction method, the TLG was superior to the LAG in terms of surgical parameters and postoperative recovery. Like the LAG, the TLG was safe and advantageous. A lower risk trend of conversion to open laparotomy was observed in the TLG (relative risk [RR] = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.12-4.38, P = .72). The body mass index >25 kg/m² patients undergoing totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLGA) had a lower risk of overall complications (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.48-1.63, P = .69). The patients with early gastric cancer or Billroth-I anastomosis were suitable to undergo the TLG (a lower risk of anastomotic leakage [RR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.23, P < .01] and gastralgia [RR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08-0.88, P = .03], respectively). Conclusions: The TLG was a safe and reliable procedure compared with the LAG with reduced trauma, faster recovery, and not more complications.

Feasibility of laparoscopy gastrectomy for gastric cancer in the patients with high body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of high body mass index (BMI) on surgical outcome of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC). Systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase databases. The relevant data were extracted, and surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between BMI≥25 kg/m² and BMI<25 kg/m² group using a fixed effect model or random effect model. 16 studies, with a total of 9572 GC patients, were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that operation time was significantly longer (WMD:16.22, 95% CI: 14.10-18.34, P < 0.001; I² = 0%) and the number of lymph nodes retrieved was significantly fewer (WMD:-2.11, 95%CI: -3.14, -1.07, P < 0.001; I² = 64.0%) in high BMI patients than in other patients. In addition, the amount of intraoperative blood loss was significantly larger in high BMI patients (WMD: 23.43, 95%CI: 20.05-26.81, P < 0.001; I² = 40.3%). Compared with non-high BMI patients, overweight and obese patients had a higher risk of postoperative complications (RR:1.26, 95%CI: 1.11-1.43, P < 0.001; I² = 39.1%), especially for wound infection (RR:1.62, 95%CI: 1.15-2.29, P < 0.01; I² = 18.8%) and postoperative ileus (RR:1.80, 95% CI: 1.05-3.09, P < 0.05; I² = 0%). However, there was no significant difference between two patient groups for postoperative recovery, major surgery-related complications (eg: anastomotic leakage, pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal bleeding) and postoperative mortality. Despite increased technical challenge and risk of postoperative complications, the majority of these complications may be minor and cured. Laparoscopic gastrectomy for GC was a feasible and safe procedure even for high BMI patients.

A multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial (phase III) comparing the quality of life between laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric Cancer (study protocol)

BACKGROUND

KLASS (the Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study) is a time-honored study group that has established laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal disease in Korea and has performed some important studies for the rationale of laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. A multi-center RCT (randomized controlled trial) to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer, named as KLASS 07, has been currently prepared in Korea.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed as gastric cancer, with clinical stage IA (T1N0M0) or IB (T1N1M0 / T2N0M0) according to the 7th edition of the Americal Joint Committee on Cancer System, were randomized to receive either TLDG or LADG. For surgical quality control, the surgeons participating in this trial had to have performed at least 50 gastrectomies and at least 30 gastrectomies annually (regardless of open or laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer). The patients who are allocated to TLDG group undergo intracorporeal anastomosis and those who are assigned to LADG undergo extracorporeal anastomosis for gastrointestinal reconstruction.

DISCUSSION

Thirty-one surgeons from 26 institutions were engaged in this trial. The primary endpoint is 30-day morbidity, and secondary endpoint is QOL assessed by the questionnaire score. The KLASS 07 trial is the first multi-center RCT to investigate whether there are significant and quantifiable differences between the QOL of TLDG and LADG. The findings from this trial are expected to be the critical clues for designing the detailed procedures during laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol of KLASS 07 (CKLASS 01) was registered in http://register.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03393182 (Date of registration: January 2nd, 2018.).

The Safety and Efficacy of Total Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy With Delta-Shaped Anastomosis Compared With Laparoscopic-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy

Aim:

To evaluate the safety and short-time benefits of enhanced recovery after surgery on hospital stay, recovery of gastrointestinal function and complications after total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with delta-shaped anastomosis, comparing with laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG).

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed in 134 patients with gastric cancer who were treated at Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Area Command from November 2013 to August 2015. A total of 70 patients underwent TLDG, and 64 patients underwent LADG. All patients were performed elective standard D2 total gastrectomy by 1 group of experienced surgeons. The short-term therapeutic benefits, including duration of flatus and defecation, postoperative pain, duration of postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups were analyzed.

Results:

Compared with LADG, TLDG had shorter time to the first flatus (74.09 ± 11.08 hours versus 84.11 ± 12.18 hours, P &lt; 0.001), earlier postoperative liquid diet intake (98.83 ± 10.63 hours versus 108.58 ± 13.08 hours, P &lt; 0.001), less dosage of pain killers (2.01 ± 0.85 versus 2.41 ± 0.85, P = 0.009), faster recovery with a shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.14 ± 0.3.43 days versus 9.97 ± 4.53 days, P = 0.009), There were no significant difference in operation time, blood loss, the number of lymph nodes retrieved, or the incidence of postoperative complications (anastomotic bleeding or leakage, wound infection, digestive tract dysfunction, thrombosis, or death; P &gt; 0.05).

Conclusions:

TLDG with delta-shaped anastomosis is a safe and effective fast-tract surgical approach for earlier gastric cancer, which would probably achieve the short-term curative effect. Further studies based on larger volumes and long-term effects are required to confirm these findings.

The Safety and Efficacy of Total Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy With Delta-Shaped Anastomosis Compared With Laparoscopic-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy

Aim:

To evaluate the safety and short-time benefits of enhanced recovery after surgery on hospital stay, recovery of gastrointestinal function and complications after total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with delta-shaped anastomosis, comparing with laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG).

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed in 134 patients with gastric cancer who were treated at Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Area Command from November 2013 to August 2015. A total of 70 patients underwent TLDG, and 64 patients underwent LADG. All patients were performed elective standard D2 total gastrectomy by 1 group of experienced surgeons. The short-term therapeutic benefits, including duration of flatus and defecation, postoperative pain, duration of postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups were analyzed.

Results:

Compared with LADG, TLDG had shorter time to the first flatus (74.09 ± 11.08 h versus 84.11 ± 12.18 h, P &lt; 0.001), earlier postoperative liquid diet intake (98.83 ± 10.63 h versus 108.58 ± 13.08 h, P &lt; 0.001), less dosage of pain killers (2.01 ± 0.85 versus 2.41 ± 0.85, P = 0.009), faster recovery with a shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.14 ± 0.3.43 d versus 9.97 ± 4.53 d, P = 0.009), There were no significant difference in operation time, blood loss, the number of lymph nodes retrieved, or the incidence of postoperative complications (anastomotic bleeding or leakage, wound infection, digestive tract dysfunction, thrombosis, or death; P &gt; 0.05).

Conclusions:

TLDG with delta-shaped anastomosis is a safe and effective fast-tract surgical approach for earlier gastric cancer, which would probably achieve the short-term curative effect. Further studies based on larger volumes and long-term effects are required to confirm these findings.

Preoperative weight loss program involving a 20-day very low-calorie diet for obesity before laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

The increased visceral fat in patients with obesity can increase the technical difficulty of surgery. This study was performed to evaluate a preoperative 20-day very low-calorie diet for obesity before laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

This prospective single-center study involved patients with obesity who were planning to undergo laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Obesity was defined according to the Japanese criteria: BMI ≥25 kg/m² or waist circumference ≥85 cm in men and ≥90 cm in women. The patients underwent a preoperative 20-day very low-calorie diet and received nutritional counseling. Weight loss, body composition, visceral fat mass, and operative outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were enrolled from September 2013 to August 2015. Their median age was 71 years, and 78.8% were men. Their median bodyweight and BMI were 72.3 kg (range, 53.8-82.5 kg) and 26.0 kg/m² (range, 23.5-31.0 kg/m² ), respectively. The patients achieved a mean weight loss of 4.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-5.1), corresponding to 3.2 kg (95%CI: 2.7-3.7 kg). Body fat mass was significantly decreased by a mean of 2.5 kg (95%CI: 1.9-3.1), whereas skeletal muscle mass was unaffected (mean: -0.20 kg [95%CI: -0.55-0.15]). The visceral fat mass reduction rate was high as 16.8% (range, 11.6%-22.0%). All patients underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy as planned. Severe postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III) was seen in only one patient (3.0%).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative 20-day very low-calorie diet weight loss program is promising for the treatment of obesity before laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Impact of body mass index on short-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy in Asian patients: A meta-analysis

AIM

To perform a meta-analysis to investigate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer (GC) in Asian patients.

METHODS

The PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies that focused on the impact of obesity on the short-term outcomes of LG for GC in Asian patients who were classified into a high BMI (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) or low BMI group (BMI < 25 kg/m²). The results are expressed using the pooled odds ratio (OR) for binary variables and standard mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables with 95% confidence interval (CI), and were calculated according to the fixed-effects model while heterogeneity was not apparent or a random-effects model while heterogeneity was apparent.

RESULTS

Nine studies, with a total sample size of 6077, were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the low BMI group, the high BMI group had longer operative time (SMD = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.21 to 0.32, P < 0.001), greater blood loss (SMD = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.12 to 0.25, P < 0.001), and fewer retrieved lymph nodes (SMD = -0.13, 95%CI: 0.18 to 0.07, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the high and low BMI groups in postoperative complications (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 0.95 to 1.33, P = 0.169), the duration of postoperative hospital stay (SMD = 0.681, 95%CI: -0.05 to 0.07, P = 0.681), postoperative mortality (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 0.78 to 4.89, P = 0.153), or time to resuming food intake (SMD = 0.00, 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.06, P = 0.973).

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis provides strong evidence that despite being associated with longer operative time, greater blood loss, and fewer retrieved lymph nodes, BMI has no significant impact on the short-term outcomes of LG for GC in Asian patients, including postoperative complications, the duration of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative mortality, and time to resuming food intake. BMI may be a poor risk factor for short-term outcomes of LG. Other indices should be taken into account.

Does high body mass index negatively affect the surgical outcome and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether high body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased postoperative complications and unfavorable prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients remain controversial. In the present study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of high BMI on surgical outcome, postoperative complications and long-term survival of GC patients.

METHODS

The related studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase databases. According to the BMI, all GC patients were classified into BMI ≥25 kg/m² group and BMI <25 kg/m² group. The relevant data was extracted and pooled effect size was assessed using a fixed effect model or random effect model.

RESULTS

A total of 36 relevant studies involving 30,642 GC patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that high BMI patients had longer operation time, fewer number of retrieved lymph nodes and larger amount of intraoperative blood loss than other patients, regardless of open gastrectomy or laparoscopic gastrectomy. In addition, the risk of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the patients with BMI ≥25 kg/m² than in those with BMI <25 kg/m², especially for infectious complications. However, high BMI had no negative impact on postoperative mortality and long-term survival of GC patients.

CONCLUSION

Despite the increased surgical difficulty and postoperative complications, high BMI was not associated with the prognosis of GC patients. To reduce the risk of postoperative complications, more meticulous operation technique and improved perioperative management should be necessary for high BMI patients.

Comparison of the short-term outcomes between delta-shaped anastomosis and conventional Billroth I anastomosis after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The conventional Billroth I anastomosis (cBIA) after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is performed through circular staple extracorporeally. Now, delta-shaped anastomosis (DA), which is performed using a linear stapler intracorporeally, becomes popular. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety between the 2 techniques.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library Central. Participants of any age and sex, who underwent DA, or cBIA after LDG, were considered following inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 11 articles, published between 2010 and 2017, fulfilled the selection criteria. The total sample size of these studies was 2729 cases, including DA group 1008 cases and cBIA group 1721 cases. Compared to cBIA group, patients in DA group had less blood loss (mean deviation [MD] = -0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.15 to -0.31, P < .001), fewer administration of analgesics (MD = -0.82, 95% CI = -1.58 to -0.05, P = .04), lower NRS score on POD 1 (MD = -0.84, 95% CI = -1.34 to -0.33, P = .001), lower NRS score on POD 3 (MD = -0.38, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.26, P < .001). Furthermore, compared to cBIA group, obese patients in DA group had fewer total number of complications (MD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.95, P = .04), shorter postoperative hospital stays (MD = -0.73, 95% CI = -1.18 to -0.28, P = .001), earlier first flatus (MD = -0.30, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.10, P = .004), fewer administration of analgesics (MD = -1.08, 95% CI = -1.61 to -0.55, P < .001), lower NRS score on POD 1 (MD = -0.68, 95% CI = -0.99 to -0.37, P < .001) and lower NRS score on POD 3 (MD = -0.63, 95% CI = -0.86 to -0.40, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with cBIA, DA is a safe and feasible procedure, with similar surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. In terms of postoperative recovery, DA is less invasive with quicker resume than cBIA, especially for the obese patients.

Totally laparoscopic verse laparoscopic assisted distal gastrostomy for gastric cancer: an update meta-analysis

Totally laparoscopic distal gastrostomy (TLDG) and laparoscopic- assisted distal gastrostomy (LADG) are the minimally invasive surgical technology for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of these two methods. Relevant studies were selected through electronic searches of EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science. In total, 21 non-randomized controlled studies containing 2475 patients in the totally laparoscopic distal gastrostomy and 1889 patients in the laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrostomy were included in this study. And operative time, operative blood loss, retrieved lymph nodes, time to liquid diet (days), postoperative hospital stay and overall complications were pooled and compared using meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between operative time (WMD = 0.38, 95% CI –10.43 –11.18, P = 0.95) and overall complications (RR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.91–1.30, P = 0.36). But totally laparoscopic distal gastrostomy had more advantages in aspects of intraoperative blood loss (WMD = 24.4, 95% CI 12.45–36.36, P < 0.0001), time to liquid diet (days) (WMD = 0.21, 95% CI 0.03–0.40, P = 0.03) and postoperative hospital stay (WMD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.31–1.13, P = 0.0006). Moreover, totally laparoscopic distal gastrostomy had more retrieved lymph nodes (WMD = –1.24, 95% CI–1.90 to–0.58, P = 0.0002). This meta-analysis indicates that totally laparoscopic distal gastrostomy may be a safe, feasible, and favorable surgical technology in terms of less blood loss, faster liquid diet, shorter postoperative hospital stay and more lymph nodes retrieved.

A comparison between two methods for tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare two methods of tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods

From March 2014 to November 2014, patients in whom TLDG had been engaged for middle third gastric cancer enrolled in this study. The patients were allocated to either the radiography or endoscopy group based on the type of tumor localization technique. Clinicopathologic outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.

Results

The accrual was suspended in November 2014 when 39 patients had been enrolled because a failed localization happened in the radiography group. The radiography and endoscopy groups included 17 (43.6 %) and 22 patients (56.4 %), respectively. Mean length of the proximal resection margin did not differ between the radiography and endoscopy groups (4.0 ± 2.6 and 2.8 ± 1.2 cm, respectively; P = 0.077). Mean localization time was longer in the radiography group than in the endoscopy group (22.7 ± 11.4 and 6.9 ± 1.8 minutes, respectively, P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of severe complications between the 2 groups (5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, P = 0.851).

Conclusion

As an intraoperative tumor localization for TLDG, radiologic method was unsafe even though other comparable parameters were not different from that of endoscopy group. Moreover, intraoperative endoscopic localization may be advantageous because it is highly accurate and contributes to reducing operation time.

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy after totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy: A single-center 7-year experience

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy in patients undergoing laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for gastric cancer.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 81 consecutive patients who underwent LTG with the same surgical team between November 2007 and July 2014 was performed. Four types of intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using staplers or hand-sewn suturing were performed after LTG. Data on clinicopatholgoical characteristics, occurrence of complications, postoperative recovery, anastomotic time, and operation time among the surgical groups were obtained through medical records.

RESULTS: The average operation time was 288.7 min, the average anastomotic time was 54.3 min, and the average estimated blood loss was 82.7 mL. There were no cases of conversion to open surgery. The first flatus was observed around 3.7 d, while the liquid diet was started, on average, from 4.9 d. The average postoperative hospital stay was 10.1 d. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 patients, nearly 17.3%. However, there were no cases of postoperative death.

CONCLUSION: LTG performed with intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using laparoscopic staplers or hand-sewn suturing is feasible and safe. The surgical results were acceptable from the perspective of minimal invasiveness.

Comparison of early-term effects between totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with delta-shaped anastomosis and conventional laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To compare early-term effects of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with delta-shaped anastomosis (D-STLDG) with conventional laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG).

METHODS

Clinical data of 24 patients who received D-STLDG from April 2013 to April 2014, and 45 patients who received LADG from March 2010 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The operative time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative recovery time of intestinal function, post-operative pain, the length of post-operative hospital stay and the incidence of post-operative complications (infection, obstruction and delayed gastric emptying) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All procedures were completed successfully and all patients of both groups were discharged smoothly from hospital. Compared with LADG, D-STLDG had shorter operative time (175.3±64.7 min vs. 205.8±42.2 min, P<0.05), less intra-operative blood (50.8±25.3 ml vs. 75.2±22.5 ml, P<0.05), shorter post-operative recovery time of intestinal function (1.2±0.5 d vs. 2.1±0.8 d, P<0.05), less post-operative pain (5.6±0.7 vs. 7.8±0.5, P<0.05), shorter post-operative hospital stay (8.5±2.2 d vs. 10.5±3.5 d, P<0.05). There were no significant difference in surgical margins achieved, the number of lymph nodes retrieved or the incidence of post-operative complications (infection, obstruction and delayed gastric emptying) (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The delta-shaped anastomosis of reconstructing the digestive tract in TLDG appears to be safe, feasible and associated to faster recovery.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of totally laparoscopic versus laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) has been developed in the hope of improving surgical quality and overcoming the limitations of conventional laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of evidence in support of these ideals.

METHODS

A systematic review of the two operation types (LADG and TLDG) was carried out to evaluate short-term outcomes including duration of operation, retrieved lymph nodes, estimated blood loss, resection margin status, technical postoperative complications, and hospital stay.

RESULTS

Twelve non-randomized observational clinical studies involving 2,255 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria. Operative time was not statistically different between groups (P > 0.05). The number of retrieved lymph nodes and the resection margin length in TLDG were comparable with those in LADG. Estimated blood loss was significantly less in TLDG than that in LAG (P < 0.01). Compared to LADG, TLDG also involved lesser postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.01) and earlier time to soft diet intake (P < 0.05). Time to flatus and postoperative complications were similar for those two operative approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

TLDG may be a technically safe, feasible, and favorable approach in terms of better cosmesis, less blood loss, and faster recovery compared with LADG.

Does overweight affect outcomes in patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer? A meta-analysis of 25 cohort studies

OBJECTIVE

Overweight was regarded as one of the risk factors for poor outcome after gastrectomy, but its influence on the surgical and postoperative outcomes of gastrectomy was unclear.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were conducted to include cohort studies which evaluated the influence of overweight on the surgical and postoperative outcomes of gastrectomy. Data was analyzed by RevMan 5.0.

RESULTS

Twenty-five cohort studies (18 518 patients) were included. Overweight patients were associated with longer operation time (mean difference 20.88, 95% confidence interval 14.07, 27.69), more intraoperative blood loss (mean difference 35.45, 95% confidence interval 9.24, 61.67), and less retrieved lymph nodes (mean difference -2.17, 95% confidence interval -3.51, -0.83) than normal patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy. And overweight patients were associated with longer operation time (mean difference 26.31, 95% confidence interval 21.92, 30.70), more intraoperative blood loss (mean difference 130.02, 95% confidence interval 75.49, 184.55), less retrieved lymph nodes (mean difference -3.18, 95% confidence interval -4.74, -1.61), longer postoperative hospital stay (mean difference 2.37, 95% confidence interval 0.03, 4.70) and more postoperative complications (risk ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.29, 1.80) than normal patients in open gastrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight might affect the clinical results of both laparoscopy-assisted and open gastrectomy, especially for open gastrectomy.

A body shape index has a good correlation with postoperative complications in gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

The relationship between obesity and surgical complications has been controversial. A Body Shape Index (ABSI) is a newly developed anthropometric index based on waist circumference adjusted for height and weight. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ABSI and surgical complications.

METHODS

From November 2001 to September 2012, 4,813 patients underwent curative resection for gastric cancer. ABSI was defined as waist circumference divided by (BMI(2/3)height(1/2)). Data of clinicopathologic characteristics and morbidity were collected by retrospective review. Binary logistic regression was used for multivariable analyses to determine whether ABSI was independently associated with postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The incidence of overall surgical complications was 13.4 %, and the most common complication was ileus (2.8 %). In the multivariable analysis, ABSI was an independent factor for overall complications [odds ratio (OR), 1.22; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.48; P = 0.041). However, BMI showed no statistical significance (OR, 1.03; 95 % CI 1.00-1.06; P = 0.063). In the subgroup analyses, ABSI was significantly associated with overall complications regarding open gastrectomy (OR, 1.26; 95 % CI 1.01-1.57; P = 0.039). Regarding laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy, ABSI had no significant effect on overall complications (P = 0.844).

CONCLUSIONS

ABSI shows good correlation with surgical complications in patients with gastric cancer. Further studies are needed for the various clinical roles of ABSI, and the results could be helpful to determine the effect of abdominal obesity on gastric cancer surgery and the clinical usefulness of ABSI.

Comparison between totally laparoscopic and laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer with a short follow-up: a meta-analysis

Laparoscopic surgery has become common in the treatment of gastric cancer because of improvements of both surgical techniques and devices. The aim of this study was to compare totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) implemented by experienced laparoscopic surgeons. Studies and relevant literature regarding LADG versus TLDG were searched for in the PubMed and Embase databases. Operative time, volume of bleeding, number of retrieved lymph nodes, time to first flatus, duration of postoperative hospitalization, and postoperative complications in LADG and TLDG were pooled and compared by meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the effect of TLDG. Six recent studies of 1644 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with LADG, TLDG had advantages of less bleeding (WMD -17.79, 95% CI -32.57 to -3.02, P=.02), shorter time to first flatus (WMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.06, P=.001), and shorter postoperative hospitalization (WMD -0.32, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.12, P=.002). Operative time, mean number of lymph nodes retrieved, and postoperative complication rate were not statistically different (P>.05). Compared with LADG, TLDG significantly reduced bleeding, time to first flatus, and postoperative hospital stay and can be considered a useful technique for patients with gastric cancer.

Short-term outcome of total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for overweight and obese patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer has been firmly established in recent decades but still is a difficult procedure, especially for obese patients, as with open surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the perioperative outcome of total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for early gastric cancer patients with a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 25 kg/m(2) and to consider countermeasures to this.

METHODS

Perioperative outcomes were compared between 42 patients with a BMI exceeding 25 kg/m(2) [overweight or obese group (OWG)] and 174 patients with a BMI lower than 25 kg/m(2) [normal or underweight group (NWG)] who underwent TLDG between September 2010 and December 2012.

RESULTS

The BMI was 26.0 ± 1.4 kg/m(2) in the OWG group and 22.0 ± 2.1 kg/m(2) in the NWG group (P < 0.001). The groups did not differ in terms of age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, presence of diabetes, number of retrieved lymph nodes, number of metastatic lymph nodes, or metastatic lymph node ratio. The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to the extent of lymph node dissection [OWG: D1 (11.9 %), D1+ (66.7 %), D2 (21.4 %) vs NWG: D1 (5.2 %), D1+ (51.7 %), D2 (43.1 %); P = 0.020] or tumor size (OWG: 25.5 ± 20.2 mm vs NWG: 33.0 ± 17.2 mm; P = 0.037). Differences in operation time (OWG: 212 ± 31 min vs NWG: 200 ± 35 min; P = 0.005) and estimated blood loss (OWG: 15 ± 22 ml vs NWG: 10 ± 34 ml; P = 0.013) seemed to have a minimal impact clinically. Postoperative complications including infectious complications and recovery after surgery did not differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

For overweight and obese patients, TLDG was managed safely. The procedure was considered to be difficult but sufficiently feasible.

Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and Billroth II gastrojejunostomy for gastric cancer: short- and medium-term results of 139 consecutive cases from a single institution

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and associated 3-year survival outcomes of the totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for the treatment of gastric cancer.

METHODS

Herein, we analyzed the clinical data from 139 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who received TLDG at our institution from March of 2007 to March of 2013.

RESULTS

TLDG was successfully carried out in 139 patients; no cases were converted to open surgery. The mean operation time was 228.6 ± 51.0 minutes, mean blood loss was 131.2 ± 85.2 mL, and mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 31.1 ± 9.0. The average time to flatus, time to fluid diet, and length of hospital stay were 3.6 ± 1.1 days, 4.8 ± 1.6 days, and 9.8 ± 4.0 days, respectively. The postoperative morbidity was 10.1%. A total of 135 patients were followed for a subsequent 1-73 months (median, 24.0 months). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 82.3% and 82.9%, respectively. When divided by stage, the 3-year DFS for stage I, II, and III were 100%, 86.2%, and 48.8%, respectively; and the 3-year OS for stage I, II, and III were 98.0%, 92.3%, and 51.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this preliminary report, TLDG was found to be a safe, feasible, and efficacious procedure for the treatment of gastric cancer with encouraging 3-year overall and stage-by-stage survival rates.