• 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.20 no.3
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

Distal gastrectomy with Billroth I or II reconstruction may cause duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER), thereby resulting in digestive or respiratory symptoms. The mainstay of treatment is medication with proton pump inhibitors. However, these drugs may have limited effects in DGER. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been proven to be highly effective in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but it cannot be performed optimally for GERD that develops after gastrectomy. We report the case of a 72-year-old man with a history of distal gastrectomy and Billroth I anastomosis due to early gastric cancer. GERD due to bile reflux occurred after surgery and was refractory to medical therapy. The patient underwent Roux-en-Y conversion from Billroth I gastroduodenostomy and hiatal hernia repair with only cruroplasty. Fundoplication was not performed. His symptoms improved significantly after the surgery. Therefore, laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and Roux-en-Y conversion can be an effective surgical procedure to treat medically refractory DGER after Billroth I gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term surgical and long-term functional outcomes of Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 697 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for operable gastric cancer between January 2009 and December 2012. The patients were classified into three groups according to the reconstruction methods: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y. The parameters evaluated included patient and tumor characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Endoscopic findings of the remnant stomach were evaluated according to the residue, gastritis, bile (RGB) classification and the Los Angeles classification 1 year postoperatively. Results: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y were performed in 165 (23.7%), 371 (53.2%), and 161 patients (23.1%), respectively. Operation time was significantly shorter ($173.4{\pm}44.7$ minute, P<0.001) as was time to first flatus ($2.8{\pm}0.8$ days, P=0.009), time to first soft diet was significantly faster ($4.3{\pm}1.0$ days, P<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter ($7.7{\pm}4.0$ days, P=0.004) in Billroth I in comparison to the other methods. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien-Dindo grade III occurred in 61 patients (8.8%) with no statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.797). Endoscopic findings confirmed that gastric residue, gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis were significantly lower in Roux-en-Y (P<0.001) patients. Conclusions: Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for middle-third gastric cancer is beneficial in terms of long-term functional outcome, whereas Billroth I reconstruction for distal-third gastric cancer has a superior short-term surgical outcome and postoperative weight change.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2007

Purpose: The only curative treatment for gastric carcinoma is surgery and it is still under debate which reconstruction method is better after performing gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. The typical reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy are Billroth I, Billroth II and Roux-en Y reconstruction. Yet it is difficult to compare these methods and not so much is known about which reconstruction is better in terms of the physiologic and nutritional function. With this background, we compared two reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy (Billroth I versus Roux-en Y reconstruction) in terms of the long term physiologic function and nutritional status to create a reference for selecting reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, 663 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for early gastric carcinoma filled out questionnaires every six months after operation, and these questionnaires evaluated the physiologic function. To evaluate their nutritional status, blood tests were performed every six months to check their albumin, protein and hemoglobin levels, and we checked the body weight every 6 months as well. Results: The total score of the 15 questions on the questionnaire concerned with the physiologic function showed no difference between the two groups at every evaluation time, and both groups showed very low total scores, indicating tolerable physiologic function after operation. When comparing each question between two the groups, only symptoms of regurgitation and food passage showed a difference between the two groups, showing that the Roux-en Y group had better function in terms of these two symptoms. The Billroth I group showed a better nutrition status, indicating that the level of albumin, protein and hemoglobin were higher in the Billroth I group, with statistical significance. Body weight loss was severe in the Roux-en Y group. Conclusion: The physiologic function is slightly better in the Roux-en Y group in terms of some symptoms such as regurgitation and food passage. However, the nutritional status is better in the Billroth I group. In conclusion, because we cannot definitely ascertain which reconstruction is better when we consider both the physiologic and nutritional functions, it is reasonable that surgeon should choose reconstruction methods according to their experience and preference.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2011

Purpose: The Roux en Y method has rarely been performed due to longer operation time and high risk of complication, despite several merits including prevention of bile reflux. We conducted a retrospective review of the result of Roux en Y reconstruction using two circular staplers after subtotal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: From December 2008 to May 2009, a total of 26 patients underwent Roux en Y reconstruction using two circular staplers after subtotal gastrectomy, and seventy-two patients underwent Billroth-I reconstruction. Roux en Y anastomosis was performed using two circular staplers without hand sewing anastomosis. We compared clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes between the two groups. All patients underwent gastrofiberscopy between six and twelve months after surgery to compare the bile reflux. Results: No significant differences in clinicopathologic findings were observed between the two groups, except for the rate of minimal invasive surgery (P=0.004) and cancer stage (P=0.002). No differences in the rate of morbidity (P=0.353) and admission duration (P=0.391) were observed between the two groups. Gastrofiberscopic findings showed a significant reduction of bile reflux in the remnant stomach in the Roux en Y group (P=0.019). Conclusions: When compared with Billroth-I reconstruction, Roux en Y reconstruction using the double stapler technique was found to reduce bile reflux in the remnant stomach without increasing postoperative morbidity. Based on these results, we planned to begin a randomized controlled clinical trial for comparison of Roux en Y reconstruction using this method with Billroth-I anastomosis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2008

Purpose: Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG), which retains pyloric ring and gastric function, has been accepted as a function-preserving procedure for early gastric cancer for the prevention of postgastrectomy syndrome. This study was compared laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preerving gastrectomy (LAPPG) with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction (LADGB I). Materials and Methods: Between November 2006 and September 2007, 39 patients with early gastric cancer underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in the Department of Surgery at Korea Cancer Center Hospital. 9 of these patients underwent LAPPG and 18 underwent LADGBI. When LAPPG was underwent, we preserved the pyloric branch, hepatic branch, and celiac branch of the vagus nerve, the infrapyloric artery, and the right gastric artery and performed D1+$\beta$ lymphadenectomy to the exclusion of suprapyloric lymph node dissection. The distal stomach was resected while retaining a $2.5{\sim}3.0\;cm$ pyloric cuff and maintaining a $3.0{\sim}4.0\;cm$ distal margin for the resection. Results: The mean age for patients who underwent LAPPG and LADGBI were $59.9{\pm}9.4$ year-old and $64.1{\pm}10.0$ year-old, respectively. The sex ratio was 1.3 : 1.0 (male 5, female 4) in the LAPPG group and 2.6 : 1.0 (male 13, female 5) in the LADGBI group. Mean total number of dissected lymph nodes ($28.3{\pm}11.9$ versus $28.1{\pm}8.9$), operation time ($269.0{\pm}34.4$ versus $236.3{\pm}39.6$ minutes), estimated blood loss ($191.1{\pm}85.7$ versus $218.3{\pm}150.6\;ml$), time to first flatus ($3.6{\pm}0.9$ versus $3.5{\pm}0.8$ days), time to start of diet ($5.1{\pm}0.9$ versus $5.1{\pm}1.7$ days), and postoperative hospital stay ($10.1{\pm}4.0$ versus $9.2{\pm}3.0$ days) were not found significant differences (P>0.05). The postoperative complications were 1 patient with gastric stasis and 1 patient with wound seroma in LAPPG group and 1 patient with left lateral segment infarct of liver in the LADGB I group. Conclusion: Patients treated by LAPPG showed a comparable quality of surgical operation compared with those treated by LADGBI. LAPPG has an important role in the surgical management of early gastric cancer in terms of quality of postoperative life. Randomized controlled studies should be undertaken to analyze the optimal survival and long-term outcomes of this operative procedure.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.225-229
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• 2004

Purpose: Some patients develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after a gastrectomy for stomach cancer. Therefore, we conducted this research to gain an understanding of esophageal acidity and motility change. Materials and Methods: From July 2002 to March 2004, the cases of 15 randomized patients with stomach cancer who underwent a radical subtotal gastrectomy (RSG) with Billroth I(B-I) reconstruction (n=12) or a radical total gastrectomy (RTG) with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) gastroenterostomy (n=3) were analyzed. We investigated the clinical values of the ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring and esophageal manometry in these patients, just before discharge from the hospital after an operation. Results: GERD was present in three patients ($20\%$). Compared with two reconstructive procedures, 3 of the 12 patients in the RSG with B-I group had GERD; however, none of RTG with R-Y group had GERD. Compared with pathologic stage, 2 of 9 patients in stage I, 1 of 2 patients in stage II, none of 3 patients in stage III, and none of 1 patient in stage IV had GERD. Esophageal manometry was performed in 10 patients. Nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD) was present in 7 patients. Conclusion: Some patients had GERD as a complication following a gastrectomy for stomach cancer. We suspect that the postoperative esophageal symptom is due to not only bile reflux but also gastroesophageal acid reflux. Therefore, careful observation is recommended for the detection of GERD.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2019

Background: Billroth I anastomosis is one of the most common reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Intracorporeal Billroth I (ICBI) anastomosis and extracorporeal Billroth I (ECBI) anastomosis are widely used in laparoscopic surgery. Here we compared ICBI and ECBI outcomes at a major gastric cancer center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 2,284 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy between 2009 and 2017. We divided the subjects into ECBI (n=1,681) and ICBI (n=603) groups, compared the patients' clinical characteristics and surgical and short-term outcomes, and performed risk factor analyses of postoperative complication development. Results: The ICBI group experienced shorter operation times, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays than the ECBI group. There were no clinically significant intergroup differences in diet initiation. Changes in white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels were similar between groups. Grade II-IV surgical complication rates were 2.7% and 4.0% in the ECBI and ICBI groups, respectively, with no significant intergroup differences. Male sex and a body mass index (BMI) ${\geq}30$ were independent risk factors for surgical complication development. In the ECBI group, patients with a BMI ${\geq}30$ experienced a significantly higher surgical complication rate than those with a lower BMI, while no such difference was observed in the ICBI group. Conclusion: The surgical safety of ICBI was similar to that of ECBI. Although the chosen anastomotic technique was not a risk factor for surgical complications, ECBI was more vulnerable to surgical complications than ICBI in patients with a high BMI (${\geq}30$).

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2002

Purpose: We compared the quality of life (QOL) and nutritional outcomes following both Billroth I (BI) and Billroth II (BII) reconstructions after a subtotal gastrectomy in order to identify which reconstruction would produce a better QOL and nutritional outcomes and to provide better follow-up management. Materials and Methods: We studied 273 patients without evidence of recurrent disease following a curative distal subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Among them, 135 underwent a BI reconstruction and 138 a BII reconstruction. The nutritional status was assessed by using levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin, iron, and vitamin B12 and by calculating the relative body weight, the body mass index, and the percentage of body fat. The QOL was measured by using the Troidl score and by treatment-specific symptoms based on the criteria, somewhat modified by the authors, of Korenaga and others. Results: There was no significant difference in QOL between the BI and the BII groups. More than half of the patients revealed anemia, regardless of the type of reconstruction. The serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level of the BII group was lower than that of the BI group. The BII group showed a tendency toward lower hemoglobin levels and serum iron concentrations than the BI group did. Conclusions: The quality of life was not impaired in most patients after either a BI or a BII reconstruction. However, both resulted in iron deficiency anemia, although the incidence was higher after a BII reconstruction. The patient's serum iron and vitamin B12 should be measured periodically and these must be administered if the measurements reveal a below normal range.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2013

Purpose: The intracorporeal reconstruction after laparoscopic gastrectomy can minimize postoperative pain, and give better cosmetic effect, while it may have technical difficulties and require the learning curve. This study aimed to analyze the surgical outcome of intracorporeal reconstruction according to the surgeon's experience comparing with extracorporeal procedure. Materials and Methods: From January 2009 to September 2011, intracorporeal reconstruction in laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer was performed for 71 patients (Intra group). During same period, 231 patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (Extra group). These patients were classified into initial (1st to 20th case of intra group), intermediate (21th to 46th case), and experienced (after 47th case) phases. Results: Intracorporeal procedures included 35 cases of Billroth-I, 30 Billroth-II and 6 Roux en Y reconstructions. In the initial phase, operation time (P=0.022) were significantly longer for the patients of intra group than them of extra group. Although the difference was not significant, the length of hospital stay was longer and complication rate was higher in the intra group. In intermediate and experienced phases, there was no difference between two groups in operation time and hospital stay. In these phases, complication rate was lower in the intra group than the extra group (3.9% versus 9.7%). The pain scale was significantly lower post operation day 5 in the intra group. Conclusions: Intracorporeal reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was feasible and safe, and the technique was stabilized after 20th case if the surgeon has sufficient experiences when we compared it with extracorporeal reconstruction.