An experimental study of intramural blood supply network of the stomach wall.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A fundamental experiment was undertaken with reference to local resection with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. The intramural blood supply network of the stomach wall, about which no reports have previously appeared, was surgically investigated.

METHODOLOGY

Five pigs were used. The left gastric and the right gastroepiploic vessels and their branches were removed from all the animals. The right gastric vessels were also removed, while the short gastric and the left gastroepiploic vessels were preserved in the 1st pig. Only the short gastric vessels were preserved in the 2nd, and the right and the short gastric vessels in the 3rd. After resection of the whole stomach with the spleen, angiography was performed through the preserved arteries. The 4th and 5th pigs underwent the same procedures as the 1st, with additional local resection of the stomach in the 5th. Both pigs were maintained for 1 year and then, angiography was performed.

RESULTS

When the short gastric and the left gastroepiploic vessels, or the short and the right gastric vessels were preserved, the whole stomach continued to receive blood supply through the intramural network. Stomach wall resection therefore can be performed with no complications after these procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results confirm the possibility of local resection with lymphadenectomy as a treatment for gastric cancer.