Surgical outcomes and risk assessment for anastomotic complications after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-flap technique for upper-third gastric cancer

Background Double-flap technique (DFT) has received increased attention as an anastomotic procedure preventing reflux esophagitis after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) for upper-third gastric cancer. However, incidence of anastomotic stricture still remains high. This study was a retrospective review aimed to demonstrate details of surgical outcomes and to assess risk factors for anastomotic complications using pre-operative CT image after LPG with DFT (LPG–DFT). Methods Patient background data, surgical outcomes, post-operative courses, and complications for patients who underwent LPG–DFT from January 2013 to June 2017 were collected. In addition to the details of short-term outcomes, risk factors for anastomotic stricture and gastroesophageal reflux were analyzed. Results The study sample was 147 patients, including 139 patients with upper-third gastric cancer and 8 patients with submucosal tumor of the upper-third stomach. The overall morbidity rate was 12.2% (18/147), and 97.3% (143/147) of the patients achieved R0 resection. Twelve (8.3%) patients required endoscopic balloon dilatation for anastomotic stenosis, and six (4.2%) suffered regurgitation grade ≥ B in the Los Angeles classification. Multivariate analysis revealed that diameter of the esophagus