• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2002

Purpose: The proper reconstructive technique after a partial gastrectomy for an adenocarcinoma of the stomach is often debated, but few data exist to clarify the issue. The aim of this study was to compare retrospectively the early postoperative results and complications after different anastomoses used during a partial gastrectomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the hospital records of 218 patients who had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Chosun University Hospital between January 1997 and July 2000. Of the 218 subtotal gastrectomies performed with curative intent, 127 reconstructions were Billroth I gastrectomies and 91 were Billroth II gastrectomies. The following data were analyzed: age, sex, tumor size, gastric resection margin, timing of removal of the nasogastric tube, first bowel movement, resumption of oral feeding, and postoperative complications. Results: The timing of removal of the nasogastric tube was significantly earlier in the Billroth Igroup than in the Billroth II group ($27.9\pm13.9$ hours and $69.7\pm68$ hours, respectively)(P<0.05). Resumption of oral feeding was possible on day $4.6\pm1.5$ in the Billroth I group and on dsy $5.2\pm1.5$ in the Billroth II group (P<0.05). There were no anastomotic leakage, postoperative bleeding, and postoperative mortality among the patients in either group. Conclusions: the Billroth lgastrectomy should be considered for patients undergoing a partial gastric resection for gastric cancer due to its physiological benefits and acceptable rate of complication.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2007

Purpose: The proper reconstruction technique to use after a distal subtotal gastrectomy for a gastric carcinoma, there has been a subject for debated what is the proper reconstruction technique. The aim of this study was to compare the gastricemptying time and the quality of life following both B-I and B-II reconstructions after a distal gastrectomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: We studied 122 patients who had undergone a distal gastrectomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma between June 1999 and July 2002 at our hospital. 51 patients underwent B-I group, and 71 patients underwent B-II group. To evaluate the gastric-emptying time, we analyzed the T1/2 time by means of radionuclide scintigraphy using a gamma camera after ingestion of an $^{99m}Tc$-tin-colloid steamed egg. The nutritional status was measured by the weight change. Postgastrectomy syndrome was evaluated using an abdominal symptoms survey. Dumping syndrome was measured using the Sigstad dumping score. Results: The gastric-emptying time was somewhat delayed in the B-I group after a 6 month period, but there was no difference after 12 months between the two groups. There was less weight loss in the B-I group than in the B-II group (P=0.023). Fewer abdominal symptoms were occurred in the B-I group than in the B-II group. Dumping syndrome occurred less frequently in the B-I group than in the B-II group (P=0.013). Conclusion: In our study, the Billroth I reconstruction led to less weight loss, a better nutritional status, and a better quality of life than the Billroth II reconstruction. We concluded that after a distal subtotal gastrectomy, the Billroth I reconstruction would be considered when the procedure is oncologically suitable.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.169-173
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• 2005

Background: Gastric polyps encompass a wide variety of lesions that most commonly arise from the gastric epithelium. However, coincidental gastric carcinomas have rarely been reported, being found in $1.5{\sim}2.1%$ of patients with hyperplastic polyps. The sizes and the pathologies of polyps seem to be important in the application of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to classily gastric polypoid lesions after a gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: During a follow-up endoscopy study, 23 patients were found to have developed gastric polyps after a gastrectomy. Most of those polyps were removed by using an endoscopic polypectomy. We performed clinical and pathologic evaluations of the gastric polyps in the remainding in the stomach after a gastrectomy, Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.5 years old with the incidence of polyps remainding in the stomach after a gastrectomy increasing after the first year following the gastrectomy. The sizes of the polyps ranged from 0.3cm to 3.5cm in diameter and the numbers of polyps below 1.0cm were 19 (82.6%). The anastomotic site was the most prevalent place 10 (43.2%), followed by the cardia 6 (26.0%) and the body 4 (17.3%). Among 23 gastric polypoid lesions Yamada types of gastric polyps in the remainding in the stomach were as follows: 1 case in type I, 12 cases in type II, 9 cases in type III, 1 case in type IV. The pathologic diagnoses of the polyps were hyperplastic polyps in 6 cases, tubular adenomas in 2 cases and inflammatory polyps in 15 cases. Conclusion: Endoscopic polypectomy is believed to be important in assessing the precise diagnosis of gastric polyps remainding in the stomach. In this study, hyperplastic polyps were found to have no malignant potential, despite their sizes. As a result aggressive biopsy with a polypectomy of gastric polyp afier gastrectomy is recommended and frequent follow-up be performed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.561-566
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• 1999

Background: It is not easy to surgically correct caustic pharyngeal strictures and a lot of effort is required to restore normal swallowing after the surgery. The authors reviewed the course in patients who underwent pharyngocolostomy. Material and Method: From August 1995 to March 1998, 6 patients with caustic stricture underwent esophageal reconstruction surgery. The time of injury to the replacement of the esophagus was from 3 months to 2 years and 4 months. The left colon was used in all patients. The surgical route was used under the sternum in 5 patients and through the esophageal hiatus in 1 patient. In the cervical anastomoses, the cervical pharyngocolic anastomosis was performed on the left pyriform sinus after a partial resection of the thyroid cartilage in 3 patients and on the posterolateral aspect of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor in 3 patients. Result: Postoperative complications consisted of a dysphagia in 3 patients and left vocal cord palsy in 1 patient. There was no cervical anastomotic stricture. Revisional procedures consisted of an esophageal dilation and free jejunal graft in 1 patient, supraglottic scar band resection in 1 patient, and colonic mucosal resection in 1 patient. Swallowing training was required in the 3 patients with dysphagia. Restoration of normal swallowing was obtained in all patients between the 9th and the 303rd day. Conclusion: Pharyngocolostomy is a satisfactory method of treatment for patients with intractable caustic stricture. Pharyngocolojejunostomy is an effective alternative for esophagocologastrostomy in cases where gastric outlets are involved.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.4 s.20
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• pp.252-259
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• 2005

To clarify the clinicopathologic features of small-cell carcinomas (SCC) of the stomach, we reviewed three cases of surgically treated SCC. The first case was a pure SCC, with severe pancreatic invasion and peritoneal seeding. A gastro-jejunostomy was performed. Postoperative chemotherapy was performed with CDDP and VP-16 (8 cycles) but showed disease progression (PD); a consecutive chemotherapy with CDDP and irinotencan (2 cycles) also showed PD. A third line with CDDP, VP16, ifosfamide, and mesna was followed by a 4th line (CDDP and Taxol). The male patient died with liver metastasis and peritoneal seeding 14 months after the operation. The second case was a SCC mixed with a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Profound lymphadenopathy and liver metastasis were found. Two cycles of preoperative chemotherapy with TS-1 and CDDP were performed, which showed nearly complete remission for lymphadenopathy and partial response for the primary tumor site and liver metastatic lesion. A total gastrectomy and extended lymphadenectomy was performed. There were no viable cancer cells in 35 retrieved lymph nodes. Postoperative chemotherapy using the same regimen was performed for 4 cycles. Enlarged liver metastasis was found at the follow-up CT scan, so a posterior segmentectomy of liver was performed. After liver surgery, the chemotherapy regimen was changed to irinotecan and cisplatin. This male patient has been in good health for the f4 months since gastric surgery. The third case was a pure SCC, and a subtotal gastrectomy was performed curatively. That male patient received 5 cycles of TS-1 and is still in good health 14 months after operation.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2007

We report our experience with a case of performing laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy along with pancreas-preserving splenectomy for treating early gastric cancer. laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy was planned for a 62-year-old male patient with a double early gastric cancer located in the upper and lower third of the stomach. Five trocars were placed and we used a harmonic scalpel to dissect the greater curvature. Enlarged splenic hilar lymph node was encountered and they were proved to be metastasis by frozen section biopsy. We then performed total gastrectomy with pancreas-preserving splenectomy for the purpose of completely dissecting the lymph nodes along the splenic artery and splenic hilum. We created a 4 cm sized longitudinal mini-laparotomy below the xiphoid process to remove the specimen, and anastomosis was done via the Roux-en-Y method. The patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative days after an uneventful recovery. Our experience shows that laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with pancreas-preserving splenectomy is a relatively safe procedure for treating upper third early gastric cancer with metastatic splenic hilar lymph nodes.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.4 s.20
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• pp.246-251
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• 2005

Purpose: Benign anastomotic stricture after an esophagojejunostomy using EEA stapler following a radical total gastrectomy is one of the most serious complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence risk factors, and treatment associated with benign stricture. Materials and Methods: From March 1998 to February 2001, 436 patients underwent an esophagojejunostomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis using an EEA stapler followed by an endoscopy. Thirty three of the 436 patients(5.5%) developed an anastomotic stricture; included 24 of the 33 patients had a benign stricture. Nine patients with a malignant stricture were excluded. Results: The median age of the 436 patients was 57 years $(23{\sim}85\;years)$. Two hundred ninety two patients were male, and 144 patients were female. The median time to diagnosing the stricture was 1.5 months $(0.5{\sim}6months)$. There was no statistical significance in any of the risk factors, including the diameter of the stapling device, the status of adjuvant treatment, the status of reflux esophagitis, and a clinical history of diabetes and hypertension. The strictured patients were treated with balloon dilatation, one to three times, with symptom relief. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant risk factors. However, further study of the vascularity of anastomoses and benign strictures needs to be considered. In the anastomotic strictured patients endoscopic balloon dilatation appeared to be the first line of treatment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.117-123
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• 2007

Purpose: The surgical treatment of gastric cancer that invades adjacent organs is a radical gastrectomy with combined resection including the adjacent organs or a palliative operation by performing either a gastrojejunostomy or gastrectomy. However, since it is impossible to determine the exact stage of the cancer, either T or N, in the case of palliative surgery, it is inappropriate to predict patient prognosis. This study analyzes the prognoses for patients whose final TNM stages are determined by a combined resection performed due to macroscopical infiltration into the adjacent organs. Materials and Methods: Of 2,452 patients that underwent surgery for gastric cancer at our hospital from 1983 to 2002, we evaluated 102 patients where a combined resection was performed because direct infiltration into the adjacent organs was discovered. Results: Univariate analysis showed that the survival rate differed by the depth of invasion into the gastric walls, the degree of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, pathological TNM stage, surgical curability, the location of tumor, and histological differentiation. By multivariate analysis, it was found that the surgical curability, the location of the tumor and the degree of lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: It is suggested that even when infiltration into adjacent organs is suspected, radical surgery should be performed as to allow a prediction of prognosis through an exact determination of disease stage, and to improve the survival rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.310-316
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• 2006

Background: We study the QOL (quality of life) & functional improvement in patients underwent esophageal surgery for cancer by the viewpoint of the patient and would like make the guideline of recovery course. Material and Method: Between Dec. 1996$\sim$Aug. 2002, 250 patients were operated and 57 patients was enable interview, didn't have evidence of recurrence & survived more than 1 year postoperatively at Asan Medical Center. Questionnaire made by direct or telephone interview & include diet habitus, change of body weight, G-E (gastroesophageal) reflux, dumping symptom, change of daily life. Result: There were 53 men (93%), 4 women (7%) with mean age of $62.05{\pm}8.7$ (range: $37{\sim}94$). Operation method was Ivor Lewis operation in 43 case (75.4%), Esophagocolojejunostomy 4 case (7.1%), Mckeown operation 10 case (17.5%). In Diet habitus, 55 patients (96.5%) ate more than three times in a day with mean diet frequency was 3.5 times/day, 51 patients (89.5%) have been ate solid, regular diet, 5 patients (8.8%) enable to eat liquid diet. To compare with preoperative state, 32 patients (56.9%) had a diet speed more than 80%, 28 patients (39.1%) had a diet amount more than 80%. 32 patients (56.9%) had a little change of body weight within a 10%, 25 patients (43%) had a improvement rather than preoperative state. In G-E reflux, 4 patients (7%) had a reflux after every diet, 27 patients (47.4%) had a little reflux after diet. In dumping symptom. 7 patients (12.3%) had a diarrhea after meal. 38 patients (66.6%) had a normal activity 19 patients (33.3%) had a decreased activity. At present state, majority (53 patient-93%) of patient were satisfactory to the operation result, in spite of discomfort from time to time. In the emotional status, 50 patients (88%) had a well sleeping without disturbance. 65% of patients were comfortable in the psychology state. 39% of patients had a libido. Compare with their median age (63 y), it's a normal varient. Conclusion: QOL in patients underwent esophageal surgery for esophageal cancer nearly recovery to preoperative state.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.152-157
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• 2005

Purpose: A total gastrectomy is generally peformed for the treatment of upper third gastric cancer. However, the optimal extent of resection for early-stage upper third gastric cancer is still controversial. In this research, we compared the nutritional status and the quality of life in patients who underwent a total gastrectomy with uncut Roux en Y esophagojejunostomy with those in patients who underwent a proximal gastrectomy with esophagogastrostomy for treatment of upper third gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 50 patients with no evidence of recurrent disease following curative surgery for upper third gastric cancer. Among this group, 25 patients underwent a total gastrectomy (TG) and 25 patients a proximal gastrectomy (PG). 8 TG and 4 PG patients were excluded from this study because of death, refusal to interview etc. The nutritional status was assessed by measuring body weight, serum albumin, serum hemoglobin, and serum total protein. The gastrointestinal function and the quality of life were assessed by Cuschieri grading and modified Visick qrading. Results: In analysis of covariance of age and preoperative serum albumin, PG patients demonstrated lower weight loss (P=0.038), elevated serum albumin (P=0.049), and better outcome based on modified Visick grading (P=0.016) than TG, but there were no significant differences in the serum hemoglobin change (P=0.165), serum total protein change (P=0.435), and Cuschieri grading (P=0.064) between the preoperative and the postoperative data. Conclusion: In this study, a proximal gastrectomy led to a better nutritional status and quality of life than a total gastrectomy, as judged from the low weight loss, elevated serum albumin and better modified Visick grade.