Laparoscopic Versus Open Total Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter, Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study in China

BackgroundGiven the great technical difficulty and procedural complexity of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG), the technical and oncologic safety of LTG versus open total gastrectomy (OTG) in the field of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is yet undetermined.ObjectiveThis multicenter cohort study aimed to compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of LTG with those of OTG in AGC patients.Patients and MethodsIn total, 588 patients from 3 centers who underwent primary total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy, by well-trained surgeons with adequate experience, for pathologically confirmed locally AGC (T2N0–3, T3N0–3, or T4N0–3) between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015, were identified, and their clinical data were collected from three participating centers. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 450 cases (LTG, n = 225; OTG, n = 225) were eligible and assessed.ResultsNo significant difference in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates, or 5-year overall survival (OS) rates between both surgical groups were observed. Although LTG had significantly longer surgical time (262 vs. 180 min, p < 0.001), LTG was associated with fewer postoperative complications [relative risk (RR) 0.583, 95% CI 0.353–0.960, p = 0.047), less intraoperative bleeding (120 vs. 200 ml, p < 0.001), longer proximal margin resection (3 vs. 2 cm, p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative hospitalization (11 vs. 13 days, p < 0.001). The mortality rate was comparable in both groups.ConclusionsLTG was not inferior to OTG in terms of survival outcomes and was associated with shorter surgical and postoperative hospitalization time and fewer postoperative complications, suggesting LTG with D2 lymphadenectomy as an important alternative to OTG for patients with AGC, but to be carried out in highly experienced centers.

Surgical and oncological efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy versus open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer by propensity score matching: a retrospective comparative study

Purpose The application of laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) for resectable gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial compared with open total gastrectomy (OTG), especially for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients according to the inconsistent results demonstrated in the previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes between LATG and OTG in a population with more than 80% AGC patients by applying propensity score matching (PSM) method. Methods The data of 365 clinical stage I–III GC cases who underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy were retrospectively collected from January 2011 to April 2018 in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV of Peking University Cancer Hospital. Propensity scores were generated through taking all covariates into consideration and 131 pairs of patients receiving either LATG or OTG were matched. Intraoperative, postoperative, and survival parameters were compared in the matched groups accordingly. Risk factors for postoperative complications and overall survival were further analyzed. Results Patient characteristics in the LATG and OTG groups were well balanced after PSM. LATG showed advantages with respect to shorter time to ambulation, first flatus, and first whole liquid diet intake. No significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to postoperative complications as well as overall survival in terms of different pathological stage. Older age was found as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications, and pathological stage for overall survival as well. Conclusion LATG appears to have comparable surgical and oncological safety with OTG by experienced surgeons.

Laparoscopic versus open total gastrectomy for clinical stage I gastric cancer: Morbidity and mortality results from a prospective randomized multicenter controlled trial (CLASS02).

378 Background: The safety of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for the treatment of gastric cancer remains lack of clinical evidence. The aim of this study was to compare the safety of LTG for clinical stage I gastric cancer with the conventional open total gastrectomy (OTG). Methods: From January 2017 to September 2018, a total of 227 patients with clinical stage T1N0-1M0/T2N0M0 gastric cancer were enrolled in this clinical trial and randomly assigned to Laparoscopic Gastrectomy group (LG, n=113) or Open Gastrectomy group (OG, n=114). The morbidity and mortality within 30 days following surgery, the recovery course, and the postoperative hospital stay between LG group (n=105) and OG group (n=109) were compared. Clavien-Dindo classification system was used to stratify surgical complications. Results: The overall morbidity rate was not significantly different in each group (LG group: 19.05%; OG group: 20.18%; Rate difference [RD]: -1.14%, 95%CI, -11.75%-9.58%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 3 (2.86%) patients in LG group and 4 (3.67%) patients in OG group (RD: -0.81%, 95%CI, -6.52%-4.85%). In addition, there was no significant difference in the overall postoperative complication rate of 18.10% in LG group and 17.43% in OG group (RD: 0.66%, 95%CI, -9.61%-11.01%). Each subtypes of postoperative complication were not significantly different between groups. One patient in LG group died of intra-abdominal bleeding from splenic artery, and there was no significant difference in mortality between LG group and OG group (RD: 0.95%, 95%CI, -2.54%-5.20%). The distribution of severity was similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Experienced surgeons can safely perform LTG with lymphadenectomy for clinical stage I gastric cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT03007550.

Gastrobronchial Fistula After Re-Sleeve Gastrectomy: Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction: Gastro-bronchial fistula (GBF) is a rare and challenging complication of sleeve gastrectomy as it is the result of a chronic gastric leak and subsequent long-standing sub-phrenic abscess. In this article we report the first case of GBF after a re-sleeve gastrectomy. Case Presentation: a 42-years-old patient was admitted to our Unit because of the arise of sepsis, hypothension and cough with expectoration of enteral nutrition. The patient had a history of sleeve (2010) and re-sleeve gastrectomy (2017) for weight regain. On admission radiological signs of consolidation of the left pulmonary lobe and, after the swallowing of oral contrast, a little backward trans-diaphragmatic opacification of the main bronchus was described. An open total gastrectomy with a trans-abdominal atypical lower pulmonary lobe resection were performed. A post-operative ERAS protocol was adopted, and the patient was discharged in POD 9 in good conditions, after an uneventful recovery and feeding per os. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first case of a GBF after a re-sleeve gastrectomy, more evidences are needed before routinely advice a re-sleeve gastrectomy after a failed sleeve gastrectomy. Indeed, given that in revisional bariatric surgery the risk of gastric leak may be higher due to a greater tension applied on the staple line, the incidence of rare but serious complications such GBF may consequently increase.