Da Vinci robot-assisted endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection with regional lymph node dissection using a 3D near-infrared video system: a single-center 5-year clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection (EFTGR) with regional lymph node dissection (LND) has been used for early gastric cancer (EGC) exceeding the indications for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The extent of the dissected lymph nodes is crucial. A 3D near-infrared (NIR) video robot system significantly enhances visualization of the lymphatic system. However, this system has not been used in EFTGR with LND. Thus, this study assessed the benefits of the 3D NIR video robot system in a clinical setting.

METHODS

Between February 2015 and September 2018, 24 patients with EGC exceeding the indications for ESD were treated with EFTGR and LND using a 3D NIR video system with the da Vinci surgical robot. Indocyanine green (ICG) was injected endoscopically around the tumor, and basin node (BN) dissection around the nodes was examined using the 3D NIR video system of the da Vinci Si surgical robot. Subsequently, robot-assisted EFTGR was performed. The primary outcome was the 5-year survival rate.

RESULT

During a 5-year follow-up of all 24 patients, an 80-year-old patient with an ulcer and T2 invasion was lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 23 patients, no mortality or recurrence was observed.

CONCLUSION

No metastasis or mortality occurred using the da Vinci robot-assisted EFTGR with LLND and a 3D NIR video system for patients who required radical gastrectomy for EGC in over 5 years. Hence, this may be a safe and effective method for radical gastrectomy; further studies are required confirming its effectiveness.

Endoscopic resection and laparoscopic lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer beyond conventional endoscopic treatment indications: a 10-year outcome study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection (EFTGR) with laparoscopic regional lymph node dissection (LLND) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with LLND have been investigated as treatment options for early gastric cancer beyond the absolute indications for ESD. However, comparative studies on the long-term outcomes of these procedures are lacking. This study aimed to analyze and compare the 10-year outcomes of both procedures in a real clinical setting.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and December 2013, 28 and 37 patients diagnosed with EGC beyond the absolute indications for ESD were treated with EFTGR with LLND and ESD with LLND, respectively. In both procedures, the dye was injected into the tumor. However, after injection and LLND, EFTGR was performed immediately in the EFTGR with LLND group, whereas LLND was followed by ESD in the ESD with LLND group. The primary endpoint was the 10-year survival rate.

RESULTS

The EFTGR with LLND group had one case of local recurrence (3.6%) and mortality (3.6%) each, while the ESD with LLND group had none (0.0% for both); however, the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.247 for each). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in complications such as ischemia and anastomosis leakage between the groups (P = 0.247).

CONCLUSIONS

When the procedures were properly applied, EFTGR with LLND and ESD with LLND did not increase the 10-year mortality in patients with EGC beyond the absolute ESD indications compared with conventional radical gastrectomy.

Clinical outcomes of minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer in patients beyond the indications of endoscopic submucosal dissection. Surg Endosc. 2018;32:3798-3805. [PMID: 29464402 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-018-6105-4]

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node dissection (ESN) and endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection with laparoscopic sentinel lymph node dissection (Hybrid-natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, Hybrid-NOTES) are minimally invasive treatment options for early gastric cancer (EGC) beyond the indications of ESD. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of ESN and Hybrid-NOTES.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients who had undergone ESN or Hybrid-NOTES for EGC from January 2009 to March 2013. A total of 48 patients, including 21 undergoing ESN and 27 undergoing Hybrid-NOTES, were enrolled. All patients had cancer stage T1N0M0, EGC less than 5 cm in size, and suspected submucosal invasion according to imaging or biopsy-proven diffuse-type histology.

RESULTS

In ESN and Hybrid-NOTES, the curative resection rates were 76.5% and 90.9% of patients, respectively. In the ESN group, 5 patients underwent an additional gastrectomy (1 for lymph node metastasis (LNM), 3 for surgical complications, and 1 for noncurative resection). In the Hybrid-NOTES group, 6 patients underwent additional gastrectomy, (1 for LNM, 3 for surgical complications, and 2 for noncurative resection). Of the 37 patients who were followed up in the long-term (a median follow-up of 59.8 months), one was found to have liver metastasis after ESN and received palliative chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

ESN and Hybrid-NOTES have shown favorable long-term outcomes despite their technical limitations. These methods may be utilized as a bridge between ESD and gastrectomy in cases of EGC with a high risk of LNM beyond the ESD indications.