Laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy by using a double semipurse string suture method in minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

BACKGROUND: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of a double semipurse string suture method for jejunum fixation in laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy in minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (MIILE). METHODS: Two hundred and six esophageal cancer patients continuously receiving MIILE from March 2014 to February 2018 were enrolled. In all patients, the double semipurse string suture method was applied for jejunum fixation in laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy. The methods and details of this technique are introduced herein. General information, clinical data, postoperative complications and follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed, and the complication causes and treatment methods are discussed. RESULTS: Laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy-using the double semipurse string suture method was successfully performed in 206 patients. The operative time of laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy was 10.56±2.04 min. No conversion to laparotomy or postoperative death or serious infection associated with the jejunostomy tube occurred. The incidence of complications associated with the jejunostomy tube was 16.50% (34/206), and most of the complications were mild. Severe complications occurred in 2 cases (0.97%), which were cured after reoperation, without serious consequence. CONCLUSIONS: The double semipurse string suture method is safe, simple and feasible for the jejunum fixation in laparoscopic needle catheter jejunostomy in MIILE. It is worth popularization and clinical application.