Vitamin E Deficiency Begins within 6 Months after Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background

To clarify factors related to vitamin E malabsorption after gastric surgery, we evaluated serum vitamin E levels in patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

We studied 39 patients (26 men, 13 women; mean age, 61.7 years) who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Surgical procedures included 24 subtotal gastrectomies and 15 total gastrectomies. We measured serum levels of vitamin E before and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after gastrectomy. A level of less than 0.75 mg/dl was defined as a low vitamin E level.

Results

Serum vitamin E levels decreased to less than 0.75 mg/dl in 6 (15.4 %) of the 39 patients within 6 months after gastrectomy and in 7 (17.9 %) of the 39 patients within 1 year after gastrectomy. The proportion of patients with a low serum vitamin E level was significantly higher in the total gastrectomy group (p = 0.002). A low vitamin E level was significantly associated with a low total cholesterol level. Total cholesterol levels in low vitamin E levels patients were lower than normal vitamin E levels patients. None of the patients with a low vitamin E level had neuropathy.

Conclusions

The type of operation performed (total vs. subtotal gastrectomy) may be the major cause of vitamin E malabsorption after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Vitamin E deficiency probably begins within 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.     

Minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of gastroparesis

Background

Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder resulting in decreased quality of life. The gastric electrical stimulator (GES) is an alternative to gastrectomy in patients with medically refractory gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients treated with the gastric stimulator versus patients treated with laparoscopic subtotal or total gastrectomy.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who had surgical treatment of gastroparesis from January 2003 to January 2012. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed and symptoms were assessed with the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI).

Results

There were 103 patients: 72 patients (26 male/46 female) with a GES, implanted either with laparoscopy (n = 20) or mini-incision (n = 52), and 31 patients (9 male/22 female) who underwent laparoscopic subtotal (n = 27), total (n = 1), or completion gastrectomy (n = 3). Thirty-day morbidity rate (8.3 % vs. 23 %, p = 0.06) and in-hospital mortality rate (2.7 % vs. 3 %, p = 1.00) were similar for GES and gastrectomy. There were 19 failures (26 %) in the group of GES patients; of these, 13 patients were switched to a subtotal gastrectomy for persistent symptoms (morbidity rate 7.7 %, mortality 0). In total, 57 % of patients were treated with GES while only 43 % had final treatment with gastrectomy. Of the GES group, 63 % rated their symptoms as improved versus 87 % in the primary gastrectomy group (p = 0.02). The patients who were switched from GES to secondary laparoscopic gastrectomy had 100 % symptom improvement. The median total GCSI score did not show a difference between the procedures (p = 0.12).

Conclusion

The gastric electrical stimulator is an effective treatment for medically refractory gastroparesis. Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy should also be considered as one of the primary surgical treatments for gastroparesis given the significantly higher rate of symptomatic improvement with acceptable morbidity and comparable mortality. Furthermore, the gastric stimulator patients who have no improvement of symptoms can be successfully treated by laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy.     

Evaluation of Gastrectomy in Patients With Delayed Gastric Emptying After Antireflux Surgery or Large Hiatal Hernia Repair

Background

Revision antireflux surgery and large hiatal hernia repair require extensive dissection at the gastroesophageal junction. This may lead to troublesome symptoms due to delayed gastric emptying, eventually requiring gastrectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of gastrectomy for severely delayed gastric emptying after large hiatal hernia repair or redo antireflux surgery.

Methods

Eleven patients were treated between 1995 and 2010 and entered in the study. Preoperative and operative data were retrospectively collected. Standardized questionnaires were sent to all of the patients to evaluate symptomatic outcome.

Results

The primary intervention was Nissen fundoplication in nine patients, Toupet fundoplication in one, and cruroplasty in another. The repairs were for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease in five patients and a symptomatic large hiatal hernia in six. Subsequent gastrectomy was partial in four patients, subtotal in six, and total in one. There was one minor postoperative complication. After a mean (±SD) duration of 102 ± 59 months, nine patients were available for symptomatic follow-up. Eight patients experienced daily symptoms related to dumping. Daily symptoms indicative of delayed gastric emptying were present in seven patients at follow-up. Mean general quality of life was increased from 3.8 ± 2.2 before gastrectomy to 5.4 ± 1.8 at follow-up. Eight patients reported gastrectomy as worthwhile.

Conclusion

Gastrectomy after previous antireflux surgery or large hiatal hernia repair is safe with the potential to improve quality of life. Although upper gastrointestinal symptoms tend to persist, gastrectomy can be considered a reasonable, last-resort surgical option for alleviating upper gastrointestinal symptoms after this kind of surgery.     

Prognostic Significance of Non-curative Gastrectomy for Incurable Gastric Carcinoma

Background

To date, there is no convincing evidence regarding the benefits of non-curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. In the present study, we reviewed the outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for incurable gastric carcinoma and evaluated the prognostic significance of non-curative gastrectomy.

Methods

Between 2004 and 2011, a total of 197 patients undergoing elective surgery for incurable gastric carcinoma were divided into the gastric resection and non-resection groups. Patient survival was compared between the two groups, and the prognostic significance of non-curative gastrectomy was investigated using multivariate analysis.

Results

Overall, 162 (82.2 %) patients underwent non-curative gastrectomy with morbidity and mortality of 21.0 and 1.2 %, respectively. The median survival of patients undergoing non-curative gastrectomy was significantly longer than that of patients without gastrectomy (12.4 vs. 7.1 months, p = 0.003). Patients who received postoperative chemotherapy also showed significantly better survival than those without chemotherapy (13.2 vs. 4.3 months, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that non-curative gastrectomy was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 0.61, 95 % CI 0.40–0.93, p = 0.023) after adjusting for postoperative chemotherapy and other clinical factors. Median survival in patients receiving non-curative gastrectomy combined with postoperative chemotherapy was 13.9 months, which was significantly longer than gastrectomy alone (5.4 months), chemotherapy alone (9.6 months), and no treatment (3.2 months) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Primary tumor resection and postoperative chemotherapy are the most important prognostic factors for incurable gastric carcinoma. The survival benefits of non-curative gastrectomy need to be confirmed in a large-scale, randomized trial.     

Randomized controlled trial of the LigaSure vessel sealing system versus conventional open gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Purpose

LigaSure, a bipolar electronic vessel sealing system, has become popular in abdominal surgery but few clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

In this multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial, patients with curative gastric cancer were randomly assigned to undergo gastrectomy either with LigaSure or a conventional technique.

Results

Of the 160 patients enrolled, 80 were randomized to the LigaSure group and 78 to the conventional group. Patient characteristics were well balanced in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the LigaSure and conventional groups in blood loss (288 vs. 260 ml, respectively; P = 0.748) or operative time (223 and 225 min, respectively; P = 0.368); nor in the incidence of surgical complications or duration of postoperative hospital stay. In a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent gastrectomy that preserved the distal part of the greater omentum, the use of LigaSure significantly reduced blood loss (179 vs. 245 ml; P = 0.033), and the duration of the operation (195 vs. 221 min; P = 0.039).

Conclusions

LigaSure did not contribute to reducing intraoperative blood loss, operative time, or other adverse surgical outcomes. The usefulness of the device may be limited to a specific part of the surgical procedure in open gastrectomy.     

Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Fast-Track Surgery in Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background

Fast-track surgery (FTS) is a promising program for surgical patients and has been applied to several surgical diseases. FTS is much superior to conventional perioperative care. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of FTS and conventional perioperative care for patients undergoing gastrectomy using a systematic review.

Methods

We searched the literature in PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE up to November 2013. No language restriction was applied. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used for analysis by a fixed or a random effects model according to the heterogeneity assumption.

Results

In the present meta-analysis, we included five randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial from five studies. Compared with conventional care, FTS shortened the duration of flatus (WMD ?21.08; 95 % CI ?27.46 to ?14.71, z = 6.48, p < 0.00001 in the open surgery group; WMD ?8.20; 95 % CI ?12.87 to ?3.53, z = 3.44, p = 0.0006 in the laparoscopic surgery group), accelerated the decrease in C-reactive protein (WMD ?15.56; 95 % CI 21.28 to 9.83, z = 5.33, p < 0.00001), shortened the postoperative stay (WMD ?2.00; 95 % CI ?2.69 to ?1.30, z = 5.64, p < 0.00001), and reduced hospitalization costs (WMD ?447.72; 95 % CI ?615.92 to ?279.51, z = 5.22, p < 0.00001). FTS made no significant difference in operation times (p = 0.93), intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.79), or postoperative complications (p = 0.07).

Conclusions

Based on current evidence, the FTS protocol was feasible for gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy (distal subtotal gastrectomy, proximal subtotal gastrectomy, or radical total gastrectomy) via open or laparoscopic surgery. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings.     

Comparative Study of Diabetes Mellitus Resolution According to Reconstruction Type After Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Background

This study was conducted to investigate diabetes mellitus (DM) resolution after gastrectomy according to reconstruction type in gastric cancer patients.

Methods

Two hundred twenty-nine gastric cancer patients with DM who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent from May 2003 to December 2009 were enrolled. Changes in fasting blood sugar concentration and the dosage of oral hyperglycemic agents or insulin were compared between reconstruction types.

Results

The numbers of patients who underwent distal gastrectomy with a Billroth I (BI), Billroth II (BII), Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy (RYGJ), or total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (RYEJ) were 119 (51.7%), 54 (23.5%), 40 (17.4%), and 16 (6.9%), respectively. DM remitted in 45 (19.7%) patients: 18 BI patients (15.1%), 11 BII patients (20.3%), 8 RYGJ patients (20.0%), and 8 RYEJ patients (50.0%). DM improved in 85 (37.1%) patients: 41 BI patients (34.4%), 25 BII patients (46.2%), 15 RYGJ patients (37.5%), and 4 RYEJ patients (25.0%). The DM remission or improvement rate was higher in the duodenal bypass group (BII, RYGJ, RYEJ) than in the BI group (67.2% vs. 49.5%, P?=?0.022), and the DM remission rate was higher in the RYEJ group than in the distal gastrectomy group (50.0% vs. 17.3%, P?=?0.002).

Conclusions

Many gastric cancer patients with DM who received a gastrectomy showed remission or improvement of DM. The duodenal bypass group had higher DM remission or improvement rate than the BI group, and the RYEJ group had the highest DM remission rate.     

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Survival Difference Between Gastric Stump Carcinoma and Primary Upper Third Gastric Cancer

Background

The increased incidence of early gastric cancer in several Asian countries has been associated with an increase in gastric stump carcinoma (GSC) following gastric cancer surgery. The clinicopathological characteristics of GSC remain unclear because of the limited number of patients with GSC.

Methods

The clinicopathological characteristics, including the 5-year survival rate of patients with GSC following distal gastrectomy (167 patients), were compared with those of patients with primary upper third gastric cancer (PGC; 755 patients). The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with GSC were also compared between those who had initial surgery for gastric cancer (GSC-M group, 78 patients) and for benign lesions (GSC-B group, 89 patients).

Results

The GSC-B group has a greater male/female ratio (13.8 vs. 3.1) and a longer interval between initial gastrectomy and surgery for GSC (31.0 vs. 9.4 years) than the GSC-M group. The 5-year survival rate was not significantly different between the GSC-B group (49.0 %) and the GSC-M group (59.3 %, P?=?0.359). A comparison between the GSC group and the PGC group revealed a poorer 5-year survival rate for the GSC group (53.6 %) than the PGC group (78.3 %, P?<?0.001), and the same trend was observed even after stratification by the pathological stage.

Conclusions

Stump carcinoma arises earlier following gastrectomy for malignant disease than for benign disease. The prognosis was poor in patients with GSC compared to those with PGC. Early detection of GSC is necessary and an appropriate follow-up program should be established.     

Fast-track surgery in gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

Fast-track surgery aims to attenuate the surgical stress response, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stay. The goal of the present meta-analysis is to assess the safety and effectiveness of fast-track surgery in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer compared with conventional perioperative care.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and reference lists of the identified studies were searched to identify randomized clinical trials that compared fast-track surgery with conventional perioperative care in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Results

Five studies with a total of 400 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis shows that postoperative hospital stay (weighted mean difference (WMD) ?1.87 days, 95 % confidence interval (CI), ?2.46 to ?1.28 days, P?<?0.00001), time to first passage of flatus (WMD ?0.71 days, 95 % CI, ?1.03 to ?0.39 days, P?<?0.0001), and hospital costs (WMD ?505.87 dollars, 95 % CI, ?649.91 to ?361.84 dollars, P?<?0.00001) were significantly reduced for fast-track surgery. No significant differences were found for readmission rates (relative risk (RR), 1.97 95 % CI, 0.37 to 10.64, P?=?0.43) and total postoperative complications (RR, 0.99 95 % CI, 0.56 to 1.76, P?=?0.97).

Conclusions

Fast-track surgery is safe and effective in gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Further randomized trials are needed to strengthen the conclusions.     

Metallic Stent Placement in Patients with Recurrent Malignant Obstruction in the Surgically Altered Stomach

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the technical feasibility and clinical effectiveness of expandable metallic stent placement in 196 patients with recurrent malignant obstruction in their surgically altered stomach.

Methods

The 196 patients were treated using five different types of gastric surgery performed for gastric cancer: total gastrectomy (type 1) in 73 patients; distal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy (type 2) in 39 patients; distal gastrectomy with a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy (type 3) in 21 patients; distal gastrectomy with a gastrojejunostomy (type 4) in 49 patients; and palliative gastrojejunostomy for unresectable gastric cancer (type 5) in 14 patients. The technical and clinical success rates, complications, dysphagia score, and influence of chemotherapy were evaluated and the complications compared between the two stent types. The overall survival and stent patency were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Stent placement was technically successful in 192 of 196 patients (97.9 %), with 184 of the 192 patients (95.8 %) showing symptomatic improvement. The mean dysphagia score improved from 3.24 ± 0.64 to 1.48 ± 0.82 (p < 0.001). The complication rate was 25 %. The incidence of stent migration was significantly higher in fully covered stents and in patients who underwent chemotherapy (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Chemotherapy was significantly associated with an increase of survival (p < 0.001). The median survival and stent patency were 131 and 90 days, respectively.

Conclusion

Placement of expandable metallic stents in patients with recurrent cancer after a surgically altered stomach is technically feasible and clinically effective. Chemotherapy was associated with increased stent migration and prolonged survival.     

Preoperative Prediction of Type 2 Diabetes Remission After Gastric Bypass Surgery: a Comparison of DiaRem Scores and ABCD Scores

Background

Gastric bypass surgery has been well accepted as a novel treatment modality for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese patients. Some scoring systems have been proposed for the selection of T2DM patients who are eligible for gastric bypass surgery. This study compares two scoring systems with regard to remission of T2DM after gastric bypass surgery.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 245 patients (150 females and 95 males) who had undergone gastric bypass surgery for the treatment of T2DM with 1 year follow-up. We examined the predictive power of complete remission of two scoring systems, the DiaRem score, and the ABCD score. The DiaRem score includes the factors of age, HbA1c, medication, and insulin usage. The ABCD score includes the factors of age, BMI, C-peptide level, and duration of T2DM. The rate of remission of T2DM after gastric bypass surgery was evaluated using both scoring systems.

Results

At 1 year after surgery, the percent weight loss was 26.5 % and the mean BMI decreased from 35.7 to 26.2 kg/m². The mean HbA1c decreased from 8.8 to 6.2 %. A significant number of patients showed improvement in glycemic control, including 130 (53.1 %) patients with complete remission (HbA1c?<?6.0 %), 36 (14.7 %) patients with partial remission (HbA1c?<?6.5 %), and 26 (10.6 %) patients with improvement (HbA1c?<?7 %). Both the DiaRem score and the ABCD score predicted the success of the gastric bypass surgery, but the ABCD score was better at differentiating patients with poorer score (27.9 vs. 9.1 %, p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

Gastric bypass surgery is a treatment option for obese T2DM patients. The ABCD score is better at predicting T2DM remission at 1 year after gastric bypass surgery than the DiaRem score.

     

Gastrectomy in Advanced Gastric Cancer Effectively Palliates Symptoms and May Improve Survival in Select Patients

Background

The role of gastrectomy in the face of incurable gastric cancer is evolving. We sought to evaluate our experience with incomplete (i.e., R2) gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer.

Methods

We reviewed 210 locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancers (1992–2008). Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between three groups: gastrectomy (N?=?99), exploration without resection (N?=?66), and no surgery (N?=?45).

Results

Clinicopathologic characteristics were similar between groups. Symptoms successfully resolved after gastrectomy in 48 % with a complication rate of 32 % and mortality of 6 %. Overall median survival for all patients was 6.2 months: 10.0 months after gastrectomy, 4.1 months after exploration without resection, and 5.3 months for no surgery (p?<?0.001). Perioperative complications were the only predictor of symptom resolution following resection (OR?=?0.175). Resolution of symptoms (p?<?0.001, Hazards Ratio (HR)?=?0.09) and preoperative nausea/vomiting (p?=?0.017, HR?=?0.55) improved survival, while linitis plastica (p?=?0.035, HR?=?4.05) and spindle cell morphology (p?=?0.011, HR?=?1.98) were predictors of poor survival in patients undergoing resection.

Conclusions

Gastrectomy in the setting of advanced gastric cancer may be useful in up to half of patients with an acceptable perioperative mortality rate. Symptom resolution offers a potential survival advantage but is dependent upon a complication-free course, so should only be considered selectively.     

Laparoscopic pyloroplasty is a safe and effective first-line surgical therapy for refractory gastroparesis

Introduction

Surgical options for symptomatic delayed gastric emptying include gastric stimulator implantation, subtotal gastrectomy, and pyloroplasty. Pyloroplasty has been shown to improve gastric emptying yet is seldom described as a primary treatment for gastroparesis. We present a single-institution experience of laparoscopic Heineke–Mikulicz pyloroplasty (LP) as treatment for gastroparesis.

Methods and Procedures

A prospective foregut surgery database was queried for LP over a 5-year period. Charts were reviewed for indications, complications, symptom score, and outcomes. Gastroparesis was defined by (1) abnormal gastric emptying study, (2) endoscopic visualization of retained food after prolonged NPO status, or (3) clinical symptoms suspicious of vagal nerve injury following complex re-operative foregut surgery. Results were analyzed using a paired T test and single-factor ANOVA.

Results

One hundred and seventy-seven LP patients were identified and reviewed. One hundred and five had a concurrent fundoplication for objective reflux. There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to laparotomy. Overall morbidity rate was 6.8 % with four return to OR and two confirmed leaks (1.1 % leak rate). Average length of stay was 3.5 days, and readmission rate was 7 %. Eighty-six percent had improvement in GES with normalization in 77 %. Gastric emptying half-time decreased from 175 ± 94 to 91 ± 45 min. Nineteen patients (10.7 %) had subsequent surgical interventions: gastric stimulator implantation (12), feeding jejunostomy and/or gastrostomy tube (6), or subtotal gastrectomy (4). Symptom severity scores for nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and early satiety decreased significantly at 3 months.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic pyloroplasty improves or normalizes gastric emptying in nearly 90 % of gastroparesis patients with very low morbidity. It significantly improves symptoms of nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. Some patients may go on to another surgical treatment for GP, but it remains a safe and less invasive alternative to a subtotal gastrectomy in these clinically challenging patients.

     

Advantages of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy over laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Background

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer has become common due to improvement of the surgical techniques and devices for laparoscopic surgery. Although laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) has several advantages over open distal gastrectomy, little has been reported about the safety and feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG).

Methods

Between October 2005 and June 2007, 80 laparoscopic distal gastrectomies with regional lymphadenectomies were performed for patients with gastric cancer. After 24 patients underwent LADG and 56 patients underwent TLDG, the clinical data were compared between the two groups.

Results

The groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, tumor size, macroscopic type, depth of invasion, histologic type, lymph node metastasis, and length of proximal margin. However, when only the patients with gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach were compared between the two groups, the length of the proximal margin was significantly longer in the TLDG group (p < 0.05). The mean blood loss was significantly less in the TLDG group (p < 0.05). The patients in the TLDG group recovered earlier and thus had a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay. Furthermore, the C-reactive protein level on postoperative day 7 was lower in the TLDG group than in the LADG group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the postoperative complications between the two groups.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that TLDG has several advantages over LADG including smaller wounds, less invasiveness, and better feasibility of a secure ablation. The TLDG procedure yields safe anastomosis independently of the patient’s constitution or the location of the cancer. Therefore, TLDG is considered to be a useful technique for patients with gastric cancer.     

High Survival in Patients Operated for Small Isolated Liver Metastases from Gastric Cancer: A Multi-institutional Study

Background

Although several studies have reported the outcomes of surgery for the treatment of liver metastases of gastric cancer (GLM), indications for liver resection for gastric metastases remain controversial. This study was designed to identify prognostic determinants that identify operable hepatic metastases from gastric cancer and to evaluate the actual targets of surgical therapy.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was performed on outcomes for 24 consecutive patients at five institutions who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer followed by curative hepatectomy for GLM between 2000 and June 2012.

Results

Overall 5-year survival and median survival were 40.1 % and 22.3 months, respectively. Uni- and multivariate analyses showed that liver metastatic tumour size less than 5 cm was the most important predictor of overall survival (OS, p = 0.03). Four patients survived >5 years. Repeat hepatectomy was performed in three patients. Two of these patients have remained disease-free since the repeat hepatectomy.

Conclusions

GLM patients with metastatic tumour diameter less than 5 cm maximum are the best candidates for hepatectomy. Hepatic resection should be considered as an option for gastric cancer patients with liver metastases.     

Does Roux-en-Y gastrectomy for gastric cancer influence glucose homeostasis in lean patients?

Background

Cancer gastrectomy seems to benefit type 2 diabetes; however, results are conflicting. In a prospective protocol, including retrospective information, the aim was assessment of changes in glucose profile in patients with both normal and deranged preoperative glucose homeostasis.

Methods

Patients (N = 164) with curative subtotal or total Roux-en-Y gastrectomy for gastric cancer (n = 92), or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity (RYGB, n = 72) were preoperatively classified into diabetes (including prediabetes) and control group. Postoperative diabetes outcome was stratified as responsive or refractory, and results in controls were correspondingly defined as stable or new-onset diabetes (NOD), according to fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. Dietary intake and biochemical profile was documented. Statistical methods included analysis of variance, multivariate logistic regression, and propensity score matching according to postoperative weight loss.

Results

Age of cancer cases was 67.9 ± 11.5 years, 56.5 % males, initial body mass index (BMI) 24.7 ± 3.7, current BMI 22.6 ± 3.8 kg/m², and follow-up 102.1 ± 51.0 months, whereas in bariatric individuals age was 51.4 ± 10.1 years, 15.3 % males, initial BMI 56.7 ± 12.2, current BMI 34.8 ± 8.1 kg/m², and follow-up 104.1 ± 29.7 months. Refractory disease corresponded to 62.5 % (cancer) versus 23.5 % (bariatric) (P = 0.019), whereas NOD represented 69.2 versus 23.8 % respectively (P = 0.016). Weight loss (ΔBMI) was associated with diabetes response in cancer patients but not with NOD. No difference between subtotal and total gastrectomy was detected. Divergent outcomes (refractory vs. responsive) were confirmed in BMI-similar, propensity-matched cancer gastrectomy patients with preoperative diabetes, consistent with weight-dependent and -independent benefits.

Conclusions

Diabetes response was confirmed, however with more refractory cases than in bariatric controls, whereas high proportions of NOD occurred. Such dichotomous pattern seems unusual albeit consistent with previous studies.     

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: feasibility study

Background

The benefits and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for remnant gastric cancer are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the detailed procedure and to evaluate the clinical short-term outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) compared with open total gastrectomy (OTG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC).

Methods

Of 1,247 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer in our department at Kyushu University Hospital from January 1996 to May 2012, 22 patients who underwent successful curative resection of RGC with precise nodal dissection were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients underwent LTG and the remaining ten patients underwent OTG. We analyzed the clinical short-term outcomes of LTG and compared the results between LTG and OTG groups to evaluate the safety and feasibility of LTG.

Results

Twelve patients with RGC successfully underwent LTG without open conversion and morbidity. The mean operation time of LTG, 362.3 ± 68.4 min, was significantly longer than that of OTG (p = 0.0176), but the mean blood loss of LTG, 65.8 ± 62 g, was smaller than that of OTG (p < 0.01). The mean postoperative times to resumption of water and food intake were significantly shorter in the LTG group than in the OTG group (p < 0.01). The overall 3-year survival rate was comparable between the LTG and OTG groups (77.8 vs. 100 %; p = 0.9406).

Conclusions

This study shows that LTG is a feasible and reliable procedure for the treatment of RGC in terms of short-term outcomes.     

Short-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Single Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (LSAGB) for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Lower BMI (<30 kg/m2) Patients

Background

Bariatric surgery is an efficient procedure for remission of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in morbid obesity. However, in Asian countries, mean body mass index (BMI) of T2DM patients is about 25 kg/m². Various data on patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery showed that control of T2DM after surgery occurs rapidly and somewhat independent to weight loss. We hypothesized that in non-obese patients with T2DM, the glycemic control would be achieved as a consequence of gastric bypass surgery.

Methods

From September 2009, the 172 patients have had laparoscopic single anastomosis gastric bypass (LSAGB) surgery. Among them, 107 patients have been followed up more than 1 year. We analyzed the dataset of these patients. Values related to diabetes were measured before and 1, 2, and 3 years after the surgery.

Results

The mean BMI decreased during the first year after the surgery but plateaued after that. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin level decreased continuously. The mean fasting and postglucose loading plasma glucose level also decreased.

Conclusion

After LSAGB surgery in non-obese T2DM patients, the control of T2DM was possible safely and effectively. However, longer follow-up with matched control group is essential.     

Progression from laparoscopic-assisted to totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: comparison of circular stapler (i-DST) and linear stapler (BBT) for intracorporeal anastomosis

Background

Billroth I (B-I) gastroduodenostomy is an anastomotic procedure that is widely performed after gastric resection for distal gastric cancer. A circular stapler often is used for B-I gastroduodenostomy in open and laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy. Recently, totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) has been considered less invasive than laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy, and many institutions performing laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy are trying to progress to TLDG without markedly changing the anastomosis method. The purpose of this report is to introduce the technical details of new methods of intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy using either a circular or linear stapler and to evaluate their technical feasibility and safety.

Methods

Seventeen patients who underwent TLDG with the intracorporeal double-stapling technique using a circular stapler (n = 7) or the book-binding technique (BBT) using a linear stapler (n = 10) between February 2010 and April 2011 were enrolled in the study. Clinicopathological data, surgical data, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.

Results

There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery in any of the 17 patients. The usual postoperative complications following gastroduodenostomy, such as anastomotic leakage and stenosis, were not observed. Anastomosis took significantly longer to complete with DST (64 ± 24 min) than with BBT (34 ± 7 min), but more stapler cartridges were needed with BBT than with DST.

Conclusions

TLDG using a circular or linear stapler is feasible and safe to perform. DST will enable institutions performing laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy with circular staplers to progress to TLDG without problems, and this progression may be more economical because fewer stapler cartridges are used during surgery. However, if an institution has already been performing δ anastomosis in TLDG but has been experiencing certain issues with δ anastomosis, converting from δ anastomosis to BBT should be beneficial.     

Early Improvement of Postprandial Lipemia After Bariatric Surgery in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Background

Bariatric surgery (BS) is able to positively influence fasting lipid profile in obese type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM), but no data is available on the impact of BS on postprandial lipid metabolism neither on its relation with incretin hormones. We evaluated the short-term (2 weeks) effects of BS on fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism in obese T2DM patients and the contribution of changes in active GLP-1.

Methods

We studied 25 obese T2DM patients (age?=?46?±?8 years, BMI?=?44?±?7 kg/m²), of which 15 underwent sleeve gastrectomy and 10 underwent gastric bypass. Lipid and incretin hormone concentrations were evaluated for 3 h after ingestion of a liquid meal before and 2 weeks after BS.

Results

After BS, there was a significant reduction in body weight (p?<?0.001), fasting plasma glucose (p?<?0.001), fasting plasma insulin (p?<?0.05), HOMA-IR (p?<?0.001), and fasting plasma lipids (p?<?0.05). The meal response of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol was significantly lower compared to pre-intervention (p?<?0.05, p?<?0.001). In particular, the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) of plasma triglycerides decreased by 60 % (p?<?0.005). The meal-stimulated response of active GLP-1 increased, reaching a statistical significance (p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

BS leads to an early improvement of fasting and postprandial lipemia. The fall in fasting triglycerides is associated with an improvement of insulin resistance, while the reduction of postprandial lipemia is likely related to reduced intestinal lipid absorption consequent to bariatric surgery.