Technical and Survival Risks Associated With Esophagojejunostomy by Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We performed esophagojejunostomy after totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) using functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA) as the first choice and laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) using a circular stapler with a transorally inserted anvil as the second choice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 109 patients with gastric cancer who underwent TLTG and LATG. Among these, 100 patients underwent TLTG and the rest underwent LATG.

RESULTS: The length of resected esophageal segment in LATG patients was significantly longer than that in TLTG patients (P<0.001). The length of the resected esophagus segment was inversely correlated with body mass index in cases of esophagojejunostomy by FEEA (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that T factor, N factor, and severe complications were the independent factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Esophagojejunostomy using FEEA or a circular stapler with a transorally inserted anvil should be selected according to the length of the resected esophageal segment and/or body mass index.