Esophagogastric tube reconstruction with stapled pseudo-fornix in laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy: a novel technique proposed for Siewert type II tumors

Purpose The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is increasing, but laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy is not widely accepted due to the absence of a standardized technique of reconstruction. This report describes a novel technique of esophagogastric tube reconstruction in laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy for Siewert type II tumors. Methods Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, sometimes with transhiatal distal esophagectomy, was performed. After a perigastric, suprapancreatic, and lower thoracic paraesophageal lymphadenectomy, a gastric tube of 35-mm width was prepared. An esophagogastric tube anastomosis with pseudo-fornix was made with a no-knife linear stapler to prevent postoperative reflux esophagitis. Results Fifteen patients with Siewert type II tumors underwent this operation. They included six patients with early-stage cancer, six at high risk for transhiatal total gastrectomy due to several comorbidities, and three who needed palliative tumor resection. The mean operation time was 315 min. One postoperative anastomotic leak was treated conservatively, and three anastomotic stenoses were resolved with endoscopic balloon dilatation. Postoperative 1-year follow-up endoscopy revealed four cases of reflux esophagitis that were well controlled by medication. Conclusions This new technique of reconstruction was feasible. With the advantage of a gastric tube, a tension-free anastomosis was possible even for bulky tumors that needed lower esophagectomy. Although long-term follow-up and a larger number of patients are required to evaluate long-term functional outcomes and oncological adequacy, our procedure has the potential of becoming a treatment of choice for early-stage Siewert type II tumors and/or for some selected high-risk patients who need tumor resection.