Objective: To discuss the safety and feasibility in the preservation to hepatic branch of vagus nerve by the side-to-side tubular gastroesophageal anastomosis within the laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer(EGC).
Methods: Retrospective analysis on the intraoperative and postoperative data of 7 EGC patients receiving laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy from January 2014 to January 2015 was carried out. All the patients underwent the preservation of hepatic branch of the vagus nerve by side-to-side tubular gastroesophagreal anastomosis.
Results: All the 7 patients completed operations successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was (213.1 ± 22.1) minute, the mean reconstruction time was (56.9 ± 11.6) minute, and the mean blood loss was (38.6 ± 28.1) ml. Postoperative time to flatus was (2.4 ± 0.5) day, and postoperative hospital stay was (9.3 ± 0.9) day. No operation-related complications were observed. No severe malnutrition, no recurrence or death, and no severe esophageal reflux during follow-up period were found.
Conclusion: The preservation of hepatic branch of the vagus nerve by side-to-side tubular gastroesophagreal anastomosis within laparoscopic radical proximal gastrectomy for ECG is safe and feasible.