Reconstruction methods after radical proximal gastrectomy: A systematic review

The incidence of tumors located in the upper third of the stomach is increasing, and the use of radical proximal gastrectomy is becoming prevalent. After a proximal gastrectomy, various reconstructions are performed, but surgical outcomes are controversial. This study was performed to review clinical outcomes of reconstructions after proximal gastrectomy.

Inclusion criteria focused on postoperative complications of patients who underwent a proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Exclusion criteria were case reports; targeted data not investigated; a duplicate study reported in a larger cohort; esophageal sphincter preservation surgery; near-total gastrectomy; recurrence of tumor; and combined organ resection.

In total, 22 retrospective and 2 prospective studies were included. The studies investigated surgical outcomes of esophagogastrostomy (n = 10), jejunal interposition (n = 12), jejunal pouch interposition (n = 7), double tract jejunal interposition (n = 1), and tube-like stomach esophagogastrostomy (n = 5). Pooled incidences of reflux esophagitis or reflux symptoms for these procedures were 28.6%, 4.5%, 12.9%, 4.7%, and 10.7%, respectively. Incidences of postoperative complications were 9.5%, 18.1%, 7.0%, 11.6%, and 9.3%, respectively.

Despite increasing operation complexity, which perhaps increased the risk of other postoperative complications, currently used reconstructions present excellent anti-reflux efficacy. However, the optimal reconstruction method remains to be determined.