[Total gastrectomy with mechanical sutures].

Between 1994-1996, nine consecutive patients underwent total gastrectomy with stapled sutures for II, III or IV TNM stage carcinoma (8 patients) or lymphoma (1 patient) of the middle or upper stomach. Digestive continuity was established by stapled end-to-side "ended", end-to-side and end-to-end Roux-en-Y (7 patients) and omega loop (2 patients) esophagojejunal anastomoses using circular staplers (EEA or ILS). The duodenal stump and the end of the Roux loop were closed with TA 55 or TA 30 linear stapler. Interjejunal anastomoses were hand sewn. Nasojejunal feeding catheter was placed for ten days in all patients. No postoperative mortality non anastomotic fistula occurred. One patient had duodenal stump leakage which closed spontaneously. In three patients postoperative chemotherapy with 5-FU and Leucovorian was associated. At late follow-up, there were two patients with reflux esophagitis cured by medical treatment and one patient with peritoneal and hepatic metastases at relaparotomy. In conclusion, the use of stapled sutures in total gastrectomy facilitates esophagojejunal anastomosis and improves suture reliability.