A novel method for π-shaped esophagojejunostomy and double-tract reconstruction (DTR) as an alternative in totally laparoscopic or robotic proximal gastrectomy for treating upper third proximal early gastric cancer.

This study evaluated the impact of a new intracorporeal π-shaped esophagojejunostomy (EJS) and double-tract reconstruction (DTR) in totally laparoscopic and totally robotic proximal gastrectomy (TLPG or TRPG) for treating upper third early gastric cancer (U-EGC) in terms of intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes. Early proximal gastric cancer patients were identified based on a prospectively established database. From January 2017 to December 2018, these patients underwent intracorporeal π-shaped EJS and DTR after totally laparoscopic (n = 8) or robotic (n = 4) proximal gastrectomy (PG). We recorded and analyzed the baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes, including postoperative complications for these patients. No severe postoperative complications were observed following the operational procedures. Twelve patients (seven male and five female) diagnosed with cardia cancer (Siewert II and III) were enrolled, of which eight underwent the totally laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (TLPG), and four underwent the totally robotic proximal gastrectomy (TRPG). The mean operative time, blood loss, day of the start of the diet, and postoperative hospital stay was 235.54 ± 20.79 min, 50.65 ± 35.44 mL, 3.85 ± 0.65 days, and 12.45 ± 3.24 days, respectively. All patients presented with a diagnosis of stage I gastric cancer. The mean number of lymph node dissections and the maximum tumor diameter was 13.91 ± 4.63 and 2.18 ± 0.73 cm, respectively. After the operational procedure, using the iodoethylene contrast reagent, we observed that a large proportion of iodoethylene contrast agents entered the jejunum directly, and a small proportion entered the jejunum through the duodenum. Surgeons followed up with ten patients for more than 12 months and the remaining two patients for more than 24 months. None of the patients showed any signs of anastomotic stenosis or reflux esophagitis or anemia symptoms. This study presents a novel method for π-shaped EJS and DTR as an alternative in TLPG or TRPG for treating proximal early gastric cancer, and it offers better short-term postoperative and intraoperative surgical outcomes.