Laparoscopic reinforcement suture on staple-line of duodenal stump using barbed suture during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer

PURPOSE: Duodenal stump fistula (DSF) is a serious complication after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Although risk evaluation and management of DSF were presented by some investigators, there was no technical attempt has been made to prevent DSF during laparoscopic gastrectomy until now. METHODS: Consecutive 99 patients were enrolled from April 2014 to February 2016 in 2 institutes. All patients were performed laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. After cutting of duodenal stump, laparoscopic reinforcement suture (LARS) commenced with continuous invagination method or interrupted method by barbed suture. Clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients had comorbidity including 5 patients with duodenal ulcer. Most patients were performed distal gastrectomy with B-II, and 10 patients total gastrectomy with Roux en Y esophagojejunostomy. Although there were 2 esophagojejunostomy leakage and 1 artificial lesser curvature leakage, DSF did not occurred at all in this study. Mean operation time was 3 hours and mean LARS procedure time was 8 minutes. CONCLUSION: LARS of duodenal stump can be considered as one of prevention methods of DSF during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. So this new technique will be necessary to appropriately evaluate by prospective randomized controlled trial in the future.