Comparison of Surgical Outcomes for Finsterer and the Roux-en-Y Reconstruction after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: There have been surgical procedures to reconstruct the gastrointestinal continuity after distal gastrectomy. This study is aimed at comparing the surgical outcomes of reconstructing gastrointestinal continuity by the method of Finsterer and Roux-en-Y after distal gastrectomy due to cancer. Materials and methods. 86 patients, who underwent distal gastrectomy due to cancer, were divided into 2 groups for reconstructing gastrointestinal continuity from March 2014 to August 2018 at Viet Duc Hospital: group 1 (44 patients) by the Finsterer method and group 2 (42 patients) by the Roux-en-Y method. RESULTS: The concentrations of bilirubin and amylase in gastric liquid after first flatus were 97.6 mmol/l and 20016 mmol/l for group 1 and 0.5 mmol/l and 152 mmol/l for group 2 (p = 0.01), respectively. The rate of reflux with clinical manifestations was 45.7% for group 1 and 9.4% for group 2 (p = 0.001). The average operation time was 155.7 ± 25.9 (90-200) minutes for group 1 and 170.3 ± 22.3 (120-215) minutes for group 2 (p = 0.007). The number of lymph nodes was 19.1 ± 4.8 (13-37) for group 1 and 20.3 ± 4.5 (12– 33) for group 2 (p = 0.243). There was 1 case of mesenteric bleeding in group 2 (2.4%). The dumping syndrome occurred in group 1 (20%) and group 2 (9.4%) (p = 0.31). CONCLUSION: The Finsterer and Roux-en-Y methods proved to be equally effective in their feasibility and safety. However, the Roux-en-Y method was better than the Finsterer method at limiting bile reflux and gastritis.