Laparoscopic devine exclusion gastroenterostomy for the palliation of unresectable and obstructing gastric carcinoma.

The Devine exclusion gastroenterostomy is an effective procedure for the relief of gastric outlet obstruction in patients with unresectable carcinoma of the gastric antrum. We report on the successful laparoscopic application of this technique in two male patients aged 61 and 76 years with unresectable and obstructing antral gastric cancer. The operating time was 90 minutes for each patient, and the postoperative hospital stay was 3 and 4 days, respectively. There were no delays in gastric emptying and no recurrences of gastric outlet obstruction until the time of death, 3.5 and 9 months postoperatively, respectively. The laparoscopic approach to a Devine exclusion gastroenterostomy is a safe and effective minimally invasive approach to the palliation of unresectable obstructing gastric carcinoma.