[Back to the future: laparoscopic transgastric resection of a subepithelial tumor in the gastroesophageal junction].

Case report: Laparoscopic wedge resection of the subepithelial tumors of the stomach is a widely accepted and utilized approach. The use of this technique for lesions located near the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is rather limited by the high risk of consequential stenosis of the gastric inlet. The laparoscopic transgastric resection can be a feasible choice for this location. A 44-year-old male patient had been investigated for dysphagia, which confirmed a subepithelial gastric lesion. We performed the resection of the tumor using this technique. After the creation of pneumoperitoneum, the stomach was insufflated using an orogastric tube, then 3 balloon-type ports were inserted intragastrically. The 6×3×3 cm large tumor was resected and the mucosa was closed by running sutures. The specimen was placed into a plastic bag, then retrieved from the stomach and the abdominal cavity. The gastrotomy sites of the ports on the stomach were closed. A nasogastric tube was left in situ for 24-hours without any intraabdominal drains. The pneumoperitoneum time was 115 minutes long, blood loss or intraoperative complication was not noticed. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from the hospital three days after surgery. The histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma. Summary: Even though the follow-up of the patient is ongoing, according to the scientific literature, transgastric resection of subepithelial tumors located near the GEJ is a safe and effective technique, which provides good functional results, without having a higher risk for recurrence.