Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y reconstruction using conventional linear stapler in robotic total gastrectomy for gastric...

Robotic stapling devices have been designed to create staple formation equivalent to conventional laparoscopic stapling. In gastric cancer surgery, however, any advantages the robotic stapler has in maneuverability compared to standard laparoscopic stapling devices remain unclear [1]. We applied robotic-assisted laparoscopic stapling techniques during reconstruction after robotic total gastrectomy (RTG) for gastric cancers (GCs) as "fusion surgery". Here, we outline our stapling technique and retrospectively evaluate surgical outcomes of laparoscopic staplers in patients undergoing RTG for GCs.

This is a single-center retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. We performed robotic gastrectomy (RG) for GCs on 70 patients at the Wakayama Medical University Hospital (WMUH) between May 1, 2017 and July 31, 2019. RG was adopted for all patients with GCs in whom curative gastrectomy was applicable. All operations were performed by a single surgeon (T.O.). Of our 70 consecutive patients who underwent robotic gastrectomy for GCs, 22 underwent RTG with Roux-en-Y reconstruction using laparoscopic staplers. All RTG procedures were performed using the da Vinci Surgical System. The duodenum and abdominal esophagus were transected using a 45 mm long laparoscopic linear stapler. After total gastrectomy, we performed antecolic Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Jejunojejunostomy was completed under direct vision following retrieval of the stomach. In robotic view, an intracorporeal side-to-side esophagojejunostomy was constructed using a laparoscopic linear stapler [2]. The 22 patients were followed-up for at least 3 months. Follow-up data were obtained from the hospital database, including the patient background, tumor characteristics, and surgical data. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien-Dindo grade 2 were regarded as clinically significant postoperative complications [3].

The duration of operation and reconstruction were 385 min and 81 min, respectively. The median intraoperative bleeding was 45 ml. There were no conversions to conventional laparoscopy or open surgery in all patients. Of these 22 patients, one patient had postoperative pneumonia (Grade 2) and another developed postoperative intraabdominal bleeding (Grade 3a) [3]. No anastomosis-related complications developed in all patients.

Regarding short-term surgical outcomes, robotic-assisted laparoscopic stapling techniques for reconstruction after RTG, "fusion surgery" are both feasible and safe for GCs. This study had several limitations. It was a retrospective study. Moreover, it was conducted at a single institution and the sample size was small (n = 22).