[Assessment of function preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer]

To assess function preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, the effectiveness of a reduction of the extent of gastrectomy, preservation of pylorus, and preservation of vagus nerve was evaluated. Postoperative physical results after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy with preservation of vagus nerve (group I, 32 cases), 2/3 distal gastrectomy with preservation of vagus nerve (group II, 12 cases), 2/3 distal gastrectomy without preservation of vagus nerve (group III, 21 cases) and 4/5 distal gastrectomy without preservation of vagus nerve (group IV, 81 cases), were investigated. Postoperative/ preoperative body-weight ratio in groups I (96.6%) and II (97.4%) was significantly higher than in groups III (92.2%) or IV (89.5%). The patients in groups I and II had fewer abdominal symptoms than in group IV. The gastric emptying pattern of patients in group I was slower than in the other groups. Contraction of the gallbladder in groups I and II was better than in group IV. The serum concentration of cholecystokinin after meals was low in group I, but increased rapidly in the other, groups. Reducing the extent of gastrectomy, preserving the pylorus, and preserving the vagus nerve, resulted in preservation of physical status after gastrectomy.