Laparoscopic-assisted versus open proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction for Siewert type II-III adenocarcinomas of esophago-gastric junction: a retrospective observational study of short-term outcomes.

Background: Currently, the surgical approach to adenocarcinomas of esophago-gastric junction (AEG) remains controversial. Function-preserving gastric surgeries are becoming more popular, with proximal gastrectomy with double-tract anastomosis being one of the most important for AEG. Meanwhile, with the increasing use of laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of gastric cancer, the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy with double-tract anastomosis for Siewert type II-III AEG need to be further clarified.

Methods: Data of patients with Siewert type II/III AEG was collected at our center from October 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. 61 patients underwent open proximal gastrectomy with double-tract anastomosis (OPG-DT group) and 52 underwent laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy with double-tract anastomosis (LAPG-DT group). The clinical features, surgery, and short-term outcomes of patients in these 2 groups were collected to assess the safety and feasibility of LAPG-DT.

Results: A total of 113 patients were analyzed, there were 98 males and 15 females. No death during the operation. The differences in the number of lymph nodes, time to first flatus time to first eating, postoperative hospital stay, Additional analgesics were not statistically significant between two groups. Although the operative duration of LAPG-DT group was significantly longer than that of the OPG-DT group [(217±61) (161±14) min, P=0.000), while less blood loss and less stress in LAPG-DT group. Early and late postoperative complications were similar between two groups.

Conclusions: Although laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy with double-tract anastomosis requires long operative time, it is associated with less bleeding and milder stress. Therefore, it is a safe and feasible surgical method.