A novel laparoscopic procedure for treating proximal early gastric cancer: laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preserving nearly total gastrectomy

Purpose Pylorus-preserving nearly total gastrectomy (PPNTG) is a function-preserving gastrectomy for treating proximal early gastric cancer that prevents rapid gastric emptying and reflux. In this report, we present a surgical technique for performing laparoscopy-assisted PPNTG (LAPPNTG). Methods The resection of the stomach was similar to that during conventional total gastrectomy, with the key difference being that the pyloric cuff was preserved to a length of 3–4 cm. Compared with standard total gastrectomy, the lymph node dissection along the right gastric vessels and the infrapyloric vessels were omitted. Reconstruction was performed with a jejunal interposition that was 30 cm in length, with preservation of the marginal vessels in a retrocolic fashion. Results Thirteen patients with cT1 cN0 proximal gastric cancer underwent LAPPNTG at our institution. The median length of the operation and estimated blood loss were 329 min and 138 ml, respectively. All resected specimens had tumor-free margins, and the median number of removed lymph nodes was 40. There were no serious postoperative complications and no patients underwent conversion to laparotomy. Conclusions Performing LAPPNTG with a jejunal interposition is feasible and might be an appropriate treatment for proximal early gastric cancer.