Esophagojejunostomy with manual single layer suturing after a total gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Background We wished to verify the clinical usefulness of manually performed single layer suturing for an esophagojejunostomy after a total gastrectomy versus stapled suturing. Methods We compared retrospectively 24 patients who underwent manual single layer suturing with 38 patients who underwent stapled suturing. Results Anastomotic leakage was seen in one patient (4%) with single layer suturing and one patient (3%) with stapled suturing. No anastomotic stenosis was seen in the patients with single layer suturing. There was no difference in the operative time, blood loss, postoperative days for oral intake, or the length of hospital stay between the patients with single layer suturing and those with stapled suturing. Conclusions Manual single layer suturing is considered to be as safe as stapled suturing and is also thought to be clinically useful in reducing anastomotic failure for esophagojejunostomy. J. Surg. Oncol. 1997;66:127–129. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.