ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Chirurgica 1999 June;54(6):389-94

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Mechanical reconstruction after total gastrectomy. Analysis of results

Santini L., Conzo G., Caracò C., Esposito B., De Stefano P., D’Ardis A.

Background. Stapling devices introduction in gastroesophageal surgery has allowed better results.
Methods. An analysis is made of a consecutive series of 108 patients operated on with total gastrectomy and mechanical esophagojejuno-stomy for gastric neoplasm, in the last decade (1984-1995).
Results. The incidence of anastomotic clinical leakage was 2.4% with a perioperative mortality of 0.9% (1 patient) while the incidence of stenosis, treated in every patient with endoscopic dilatation, was 3.2%. These data are in accordance with previous reports. After an accurate analysis of the factors influencing the complication rate pointed out that in most of the cases a technical error in the anastomosis confection is present.
Conclusions. The conclusion is drawn that the use of stapling devices in gastroesophageal surgery represents an elective indication. Never-theless it is mandatory to respect the principles of visceral mechanical anastomosis after an adeguate training.