[Total gastrectomy and viscerosynthesis]

A retrospective study of 134 total gastrectomies performed between 1982 and 1992 was conducted with regular follow-up. There were 96 males and 38 women (mean age 66.66 years, range 27-82). The indication for total gastrectomy was malignant tumour (n = 115), mostly adenocarcinoma (79.1%, 91/115) with 7 cases of stump degeneration after partial gastrectomy (5.2%) and benign lesions (n = 19), mostly gastric ulcers. Gastrectomy was associated with node dissection in 53 cancer cases (47.8% 53/115) and dissection of neighbouring organs in 16 patients. Y anastomosis with circular mechanical suture was performed in 78 cases (62.9%) with pre-stapling in 30 (38.5%). Operative mortality was 8.2% (11/134). The oesophagealjejunal disunion occurred in 7/133 patients (5.3%) including two fatal cases. Early reoperation was necessary in 10.5%. Long-term follow-up for 2 to 12 years in 119 patients gave the following data. For malignant tumours: 5-year survival rate 10.1% (n = 8), recurrence an anastomosis 6.3% (n = 5), distant recurrence 28.2% (n = 21). For all patients sequellae were: reflux oesophagitis 8.1% (n = 10), stenosis of the anastomosis 7.3% (n = 9) requiring late reoperation in 2. The quality of life was considered satisfactory by 28.57% (n = 8) and good in 39.29% (n = 11). These results were compared with those reported in the literature and led to the conclusion that the general view as to the gravity of gastrectomy should be reconsidered in light of the progress in viscerostapling.