Efficacy of celiac branch preservation in Roux-en-y reconstruction after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

Background. The present study investigated the efficacy of preserving the celiac branch of the vagus nerve after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction. Methods. Between January 2004 and September 2008, a total of 159 consecutive patients who underwent LADG for gastric carcinoma were classified into groups according to preservation of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve-preservation group (P-LADG; n = 70) and the resection group (R-LADG; n = 89). The parameters analyzed included patient and tumor characteristics, operative details, postoperative outcomes, and nutritional state. The endoscopic findings of the gastric remnant and lower esophagus were evaluated at 12 months postoperatively. Results. In regard to postoperative complications, no significant differences were found between groups. With R-LADG, 14 patients suffered from dumping syndrome (15.7%), compared with only 2 patients with P-LADG (2.9%; P = .007). The amount of meal consumption compared with the preoperative value and the rate of weight reduction at 12 months postoperatively did not differ significantly between groups. Endoscopic findings showed significantly more residue with P-LADG (34.3%) than with R-LADG (16.9%; P = .011). Conclusion. The celiac branch is useful in regulating gastrointestinal motility by maintaining postoperative physiologic function. Celiac branch preservation seems to represent a feasible and beneficial method for LADG. (Surgery 2011;149:22-8.)