• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.578-581
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• 2001

We successfully treated a 59-year-old male with adenocarcinoma in the right lower lobe who had developed a dead space with prolonged air-leak, which continued for 21 days after lower and middle lobectomy, by creating artificial pneumoperitoneum. He had a history of subtotal gastrectomy due to stomach cancer 5 years ago. Artificial pneumoperitoneum was made after introducing a peritoneal dialysis catheter into the right upper quardrant. The chest tube was removed 14 days after creating pneumoperitoneum.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare quality of life of long-term survivors after a subtotal or a total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire and QLQ-STO22 questionnaire were used to assess quality of life of 166 patients on their 5th annual follow-ups after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. One hundred twenty-six patients underwent a subtotal gastrectomy and 40 patients a total gastrectomy. Results: The subtotal gastrectomy group revealed a trend to have better quality of life in functional scales (physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social), fatigue, pain, dyspnea, diarrhea and financial difficulties. The total gastrectomy group showed a trend to have better quality of life in the global health status and quality of life, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, appetite loss and constipation. In all scales of the EORTC QLQ-STO22, the subtotal gastrectomy group had a trend to have better quality of life. However these did not reach the statistical significance. Conclusion: Surgeons may not limit the extent of resection concerning long-lasting poor quality of life. Oncologically sound resection is recommended.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2004

Recently detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) has been increasing and the treatment strategies for gastric cancer have been changing. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between laparoscopically assisted (LADG) and hand-assisted laparoscopic gastrectomy (HALDG) and open distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. This review is directed toward providing gastric surgeons with recent advances in the treatment of EGC. We investigated the English language literature for the past 12 years through computer searches which focused on : 1) Patient demographics, 2) Operation time, 3) Intra-operative blood loss, 4) Depth of invasion, 5) CBC, 6)Weight loss, 7) Analgesic requirement, 8)Time NPO, 9) Length of hospital stay, 10) Tumor stage, 11) Lymph node (LN) dissection, 12) Position of LN resected, 13) Complications. Improved operative techniques and surgical instrumentation have facilitated the development of minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery. The short-term benefits of laparoscopic gastrectomy included less surgical trauma, less pain, rapid return of gastrointestinal function, and shorter hospital stay, with no change in operative outcome. Laparoscopic gastrectomy was better accepted by the patients as a good procedure and promptly brought the patients back to their previous lifestyle and activities of daily living. But the advantages of HALDG for gastric cancer, extended lymph node dissection and intracorporeal anastomosis are feasible and easier with the presence of the internal hand. The hand-assisted laparoscopic (HALDG) method reported the best results in lymph node dissection.This method is an alternative to total laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. LADG and HALDG, when compared with conventional open gastrectomy, have several advantages. When performed by a skilled surgeon, LADG and HALDG are safe and useful techniques for patients with early-stage gastric cancer. Their appropriateness for gastric cancer surgery require further study.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.206-212
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• 2007

Purpose: The number of laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomies (LADG) is gradually increasing for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) patients as a surgical modality for improving quality of life. However, there are few reports on laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG), mainly because this procedure is performed relatively infrequently, and the procedure is more complicated than LADG. This study was performed to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety, and surgical results of LATG with lymphadenectomy through a review of our experience. Materials and Methods: From July 2003 to June 2007, 77 LATG with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy were performed for patients with a preoperative diagnosis of EGC. The clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results: There were 49 males and 28 females in the study with a mean age of 61 years (range $30{\sim}85$ years). The mean operation time was 210 minutes (range $100{\sim}400$ minutes) and the operation time was gradually decreased as the case numbers increased. There were 13 operative morbidities (16.9%) and no operative mortalities. The restoration of bowel motility was noted at 3.2 postoperative days; a soft diet was started at 4.4 postoperative days and the duration of hospital stay was 10 days. There were 20 mucosal lesions, 32 submucosal lesions, 15 proper muscle lesions, 7 subserosal lesions and 3 serosal lesions. A total of 20 patients were treated by D2 lymph node dissection, 55 patients were treated by D1+$\beta$ lymph node dissection, and two patients were treated by D1+$\alpha$ lymph node dissection. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 42 (range $11{\sim}86$). Lymph node metastases were noted in 12 patients. Conclusion: This study indicated LATG could be applied safely and effectively for patients with EGC. However, a prospective study comparing laparoscopy-assisted versus open gastrectomy for short-term and long-term surgical outcome is needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2009

Purpose: Circular stapled gastrectomy has been the favored procedure with its feasibility and the shortened operative time, but anastomotic leakage, stenosis and bleeding have been reported as problems. The aim of this study was to identify what can be done to supplement the safety of this technique by examining the potential complications of performing circular stapled gastrojejunosomy after radical subtotal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: As subjects, this study selected 1,391 patients who underwent gastrojejunostomy after radical subtotal gastrectomy because of gastric cancer at our Department of Surgery from Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2007. The patients were divided into Group I (n=479) who underwent hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy, Group II (n=48) who underwent linear stapled gastrojejunostomy and Group III (n=864) who underwent circular stapled gastrojejunostomy. Group III was re-divided into two subgroups on the basis of the point of time that a visual check was intraoperatively performed at the anastomotic site: Group III-A (n=198) before and Group III-B (n=666) after. The characteristics and complications of the patients were then compared. Results: For the comparison of the complications between Group I, Group II and Group III, anastomotic leakage was found in 7 cases (1.5%) in Group I, in 1 case (2.0%) in Group II and in 10 case (1.2%) in Group III, and anastomotic stenosis were found in 4 cases (0.8%) in Group I, 1 case (2.0%) in Group II and 5 case (0.6%) in Group III. Anastomotic bleeding was found in 32 cases (6.7%) in Group I, in 5 cases (10.4%) in Group II and in 67 cases (7.7%) in Group III. For the comparison of complications between Group III-A and Group III-B, anastomotic bleeding was found in 57 cases (28.8%) in Group III-A and 10 cases (1.5%) in Group III-B and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.037). Conclusion: Circular stapled gastrojejunostomy after radical subtotal gastrectomy is recommended because of the safety and feasibility of this technique, but bleeding at the anastomotic site may be the critical issue. In conclusion, direct inspection for bleeding at the anastomotic site during the operation will improve the safety of performing circular stapler anastomosis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2001

Purpose: Roux stasis syndrome is the main complication of a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. The aim of this study was to compare the occurrence rate of Roux stasis syndrome with the passing of time in a conventional Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and in an uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. Materials and Methods: 50 patients (31 men and 19 women) had a conventional Roux-en-Y reconstruction and 53 patients (35 men and 18 women) had an uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The Roux stasis syndrome was defined by clinical criteria only. The criteria included one of the four following conditions at the time of follow-up: chronic upper abdominal pain, postprandial fullness, persistent nausea, and intermittent vomiting that are worsened by eating. Follow-up after surgery was done in all patients at $7\∼12,\;13\~18,\;19\~24,\;25\~30$, and $31\∼36$ months. Results: According to the criteria, the Roux stasis syndrome occurred in 40.0$\%$ of the patients at 7$\∼$12 months, 33.3$\%$ at $13\∼19$ months, $35.3\%$ at $19\∼24$ months, $32.0\%$ at $25\~30$ months, and $33.3\%$ at $31\∼36$ months after a conventional Roux-en-Y operation. The syndrome occurred in $22.6\%$ of the patients at $7\∼12$ months, $15.2\%$ at $13\∼18$ months, $17.1\%$ at $19\∼24$ months, $19.2\%$ at $25\∼30$ months, and $20\%$ at $31\∼36$ months after an uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Conclusion: In terms of occurrence pattern, only a little variance existed one year after both procedures. Comparing the Roux stasis syndrome in both procedures, the uncut Roux operation had better results than the conventional Roux operation.

• 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.2 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2002

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shortterm outcome of a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy by comparing it with a jejunal interposition after a total gastrectomy in proximal gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: For 22 patients (12 men and 10 women) who underwent a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy, several clinical parameters were obtained from the medical records retrospectively. In this study, the data were collected between September 1993 and December 1999 at Chungnam National University Hospital, and the results were compared with those of 25 patients (17 men and 8 women) who underwent an isoperistaltic simple jejunal interposition. Results: The average operative time in the pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy group (220 minutes) was shorter than that in the jejunal interposition group (243 minutes) (P<0.05). The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly higher in the pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy group at 2 years after the operation. The body weight ratio (postoperative body weight/preoparative body weight) in patients who had a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy was significantly higher than that in patients with a jejunal interposition at 2 years after the operation. The jejunal interposition procedure had better outcomes in anastomotic site stricture, duration of hospital stay, and number of removed lymph nodes (P<0.05). Conclusions: We think that from the viewpoint of quality of life, a pylorus-preserving proximal gastrectomy, as well as a jejunal interposition, is a useful reconstruction method for early adenocarcinomas of the proximal stomach. However, stricture of the esophagogastrostomy site in the pyloruspreserving proximal gastrectomy is a common problem to be solved in the future.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.4 s.20
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• pp.238-245
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• 2005

Purpose: Ghrelin, produced primarily in the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, has been reported to reflect nutritional status and to control homeostasis by influencing food intake and adiposity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate nutritional status, as well as plasma and gastric tissue ghrelin levels, in patients with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients were analyzed by the degree of weight loss $(weight\;loss{\geq}5%\;or\;<5%)$ and the extent of gastrectomy (subtotal or total gastrectomy). Blood samples were collected from all patients preoperatively and postoperatively especially at seven days. Gastric tissues, including tumor and normal tissues, were obtained from the resected stomach. levels of plasma and tissue ghrelin were measured with a commercial ELISA kit. Results: There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics and ghrelin levels of plasma, gastric tumor tissue and normal tissue by the degree of weight loss. The ghrelin levels in plasma and tumor tissue showed no correlations with each other while the ghrelin level in tumor tissue was significantly lower than that in normal tissue. The degree of cellular differentiation also had an association with ghrelin production. A gastrectomy proved to decrease significantly plasma ghrelin levels, body mass index, and biochemical markers, regardless of the extent of gastric resection. Conclusion: These results show that gastric cancer affects the production of ghrelin in the gastric mucosa and that ghrelin is mainly produced in stomach even though it could be partially covered by endogenous ghrelin from other organs following a gastrectomy. However, we should further investigate which other factors have an impact on energy consumption, ghrelin secretion, and changes in ghrelin levels after a gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2009

Purpose: Subtotal distal gastrectomy has been accepted as the standard treatment for early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. EMR and ESD have been introduced to minimize the incidence of postgastrectomy syndrome, but these procedures can not detect lymph node metastasis and they have a risk for gastric perforation. Segmental gastrectomy has recently been applied for treating early gastric cancer, but its usefulness has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare segmental gastrectomy and distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for treating early gastric cancer that's developed on the gastric body. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all the patients who were diagnosed as having early gastric cancer that developed on the gastric body at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2004 through July 2007. During this period, 41 patients received segmental gastrectomy and 40 patients underwent subtotal distal gastrectomy. All the patients were studied via a biannual review of the body systems, a physical examination, endoscopy, computed tomography and the laboratory findings. Results: There were no significantly differences of the clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups. The changes of the nutritional status (Hb, TP, Alb and TC) and the body weight change were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were significantly more residual food in the SG group than that in the SDG group (RGB classification, Residual>Grade 2), but there were no differences for epigastric discomfort (P>0.05). Esophagitis developed at a similar rate for both two groups (LA classification, >Grade A), and bile reflux was found in only one patient of each group. Conclusion: We expected the reduction of esophagitis and gastritis and the improvement of nutritional status according to the type of procedure. Yet the results of our study showed no significant differences between the two study groups. More patients and a longer follow up time are needed for determining the advantage sand disadvantages of segmental gastrectomy.