Left colon substitution with His' angle following total gastrectomy. Surgical technique using stapling devices

To resolve the disadvantages of jejunal Roux-en-Y reconstruction following total gastrectomy, we attempted the use of left colon substitution with all anastomoses conducted using mechanical stapling devices. A His' angle was formed to reduce regurgitation esophagitis. About 25 cm of the left colon with the ascending branch of the left colic artery with an adequate blood supply was brought up to the remnant esophagus without tension on the mesentery. The colon graft was interposed between the esophagus and duodenum in an isoperistaltic fashion. Three anastomoses, esophagocolic, duodenocolic and colocolic, were completed with a circular stapling device. An end-to-side esophagocolonostomy was positioned about 3 cm distal from the blind end of the proximal colon stump. The proximal end of the left colon was pexied to the esophagus using 3-4 stitches to make a new His' angle. Gastrointestinal continuity was restored by a side-to-end colonoduodenostomy and an end-to-end colonocolonostomy. Fifteen gastric cancer patients underwent left colon substitution following total gastrectomy. The circular staple used for esophagocolonostomy and colonoduodenostomy was 25 mm in all patients, and for colonocolonostomy was 29 mm in 9 patients and 33 mm in 6 patients. No problems were encountered in any steps of the procedure, and faulty stapling was avoided. Neither anastomotic leakage nor necrosis of the interposed colon segment was seen, nor was late anastomotic stricture, in any patient. Barium radiograms of the interposed colon segment showed that the capacity and passage of the interposed colon were adequate, and regurgitation did not occur. Diet volume was satisfactory and weight loss minimal.