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For advanced proximal gastric cancer (GC), splenic hilar (No. 10) lymph nodes (LN) are crucial links in lymphatic drainage. According to the 14(th) edition of the Japanese GC treatment guidelines, a D2 lymphadenectomy is the standard surgery for advanced GC, and No. 10 LN should be dissected for advanced proximal GC. In recent years, the preservation of organ function and the use of minimally invasive technology are being accepted by an increasing number of clinicians. Laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar LN dissection has become more accepted and is gradually being used in operations. However, because of the complexity of splenic hilar anatomy, mastering the strategies for laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar LN dissection is critical for successfully completing the operation.

Aim: To investigate the splenic hilar vascular anatomy and the influence of splenic artery (SpA) type in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleen-preserving splenic lymphadenectomy (LTGSPL)., Methods: The clinical anatomy data of 317 patients with upper- or middle-third gastric cancer who underwent LTGSPL in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were collected. The patients were divided into two groups (concentrated group vs distributed group) according to the distance between the splenic artery's furcation and the splenic hilar region. Then, the anatomical layout, clinicopathologic characteristics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative variables were compared between the two groups., Results: There were 205 patients with a concentrated type (64.7%) and 112 patients with a distributed type (35.3%) SpA. There were 22 patients (6.9%) with a single branch of the splenic lobar vessels, 250 (78.9%) with 2 branches, 43 (13.6%) with 3 branches, and 2 patients (0.6%) with multiple branches. Eighty seven patients (27.4%) had type I splenic artery trunk, 211 (66.6%) had type II, 13 (4.1%) had type III, and 6 (1.9%) had type IV. The mean splenic hilar lymphadenectomy time (23.15 ± 8.02 vs 26.21 ± 8.84 min; P = 0.002), mean blood loss resulting from splenic hilar lymphadenectomy (14.78 ± 11.09 vs 17.37 ± 10.62 mL; P = 0.044), and number of vascular clamps used at the splenic hilum (9.64 ± 2.88 vs 10.40 ± 3.57; P = 0.040) were significantly lower in the concentrated group than in the distributed group. However, the mean total surgical time, mean total blood loss, and the mean number of harvested splenic hilar lymph nodes were similar in both groups (P > 0.05 for each comparison). There were also no significant differences in clinicopathological and postoperative characteristics between the groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: It is of value for surgeons to know the splenic hilar vascular anatomy when performing LTGSPL. Patients with concentrated type SpA may be optimal patients for training new surgeons.

Aim: To report the incidence and potential risk factors of small-volume chylous ascites (SVCA) following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy (LAG)., Methods: A total of 1366 consecutive gastric cancer patients who underwent LAG from January 2008 to June 2011 were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the patients based on the presence or absence of SVCA., Results: SVCA was detected in 57 (4.17%) patients, as determined by the small-volume drainage (range, 30-100 mL/24 h) of triglyceride-rich fluid. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the total number of resected lymph nodes (LNs), No. 8 or No. 9 LN metastasis and N stage were independent risk factors for SVCA following LAG (P<0.05). Regarding hospital stay, there was a significant difference between the groups with and without SVCA (P<0.001). The 3-year disease-free and overall survival rates of the patients with SVCA were 47.4% and 56.1%, respectively, which were similar to those of the patients without SVCA (P>0.05)., Conclusion: SVCA following LAG developed significantly more frequently in the patients with ≥32 harvested LNs, ≥3 metastatic LNs, or No. 8 or No. 9 LN metastasis. SVCA, which was successfully treated with conservative management, was associated with a prolonged hospital stay but was not associated with the prognosis.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar (No. 10) lymphadenectomy to treat advanced upper gastric cancer (AUGC)., Methods: Between January and December 2012, 108 laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymphadenectomy along with total gastrectomy with routine D2 lymphadenectomy were performed consecutively at our hospital to treat clinical T2-3 (cT2-3) upper gastric cancers. The preoperative clinical T stage was cT2 in 36 patients and cT3 in 72 patients. A prospectively designed database tracked the 108 patients, including the completeness of their medical records and the adequacy of follow-up. Patient clinicopathological characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative surgical outcomes, morbidity and mortality, lymph node (LN) dissection, and postoperative follow-up were analysed retrospectively., Results: Laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymphadenectomy was successful in all 108 patients. The mean operation time was 169.3 ± 27.1 min, and the mean No. 10 lymphadenectomy time was 20.0 ± 5.7 min. The mean total blood loss was 46.2 ± 11.3 mL, and the mean blood loss from No. 10 lymphadenectomy was 14.3 ± 3.8 mL. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.9 ± 6.0 d. The intraoperative and postoperative morbidity rates were 3.7% and 12.0%, respectively; however, there was no postoperative mortality. A mean of 44.4 ± 17.6 LNs were retrieved from each specimen, including 3.0 ± 2.4 No. 10 LNs. Three patients (2.8%) with cT3 cancer had LN metastasis of the splenic hilus, including two patients with pathological T3 (pT3) and one patient with pathological T4a (pT4a) tumours, all located in the greater curvature. No splenic hilar LNs metastasis was evident in the patients with pT1 and pT2 tumours. At a median follow-up time of 18 mo (range, 12 to 23 mo), all patients were alive and none had experienced recurrent or metastatic disease., Conclusion: Laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymphadenectomy is feasible and effective to treat AUGC. Routine No. 10 lymphadenectomy may be unnecessary for AUGC without serosa invasion, unless T3 tumours are located in the greater curvature.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a modified delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy (DSG) in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG)., Methods: We performed a case-control study enrolling 63 patients with distal gastric cancer (GC) undergoing TLDG with a DSG from January 2013 to June 2013. Twenty-two patients underwent a conventional DSG (Con-Group), whereas the other 41 patients underwent a modified version of the DSG (Mod-Group). The modified procedure required only the instruments of the surgeon and assistant to complete the involution of the common stab incision and to completely resect the duodenal cutting edge, resulting in an anastomosis with an inverted T-shaped appearance. The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, anastomosis time and complications of the two groups were retrospectively analyzed using a prospectively maintained comprehensive database., Results: DSG procedures were successfully completed in all of the patients with histologically complete (R0) resections, and none of these patients required conversion to open surgery. The clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups were similar. There were no significant differences between the groups in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, extension of the lymph node (LN) dissection and number of dissected LNs (150.8 ± 21.6 min vs 143.4 ± 23.4 min, P = 0.225 for the operative time; 26.8 ± 11.3 min vs 30.6 ± 14.8 mL, P = 0.157 for the intraoperative blood loss; 4/18 vs 3/38, P = 0.375 for the extension of the LN dissection; and 43.9 ± 13.4 vs 39.5 ± 11.5 per case, P = 0.151 for the number of dissected LNs). The anastomosis time, however, was significantly shorter in the Mod-Group than in the Con-Group (13.9 ± 2.8 min vs 23.9 ± 5.6 min, P = 0.000). The postoperative outcomes, including the times to out-of-bed activities, first flatus, resumption of soft diet and postoperative hospital stay, as well as the anastomosis size, did not differ significantly (1.9 ± 0.6 d vs 2.3 ± 1.5 d, P = 0.228 for the time to out-of-bed activities; 3.2 ± 0.9 d vs 3.5 ± 1.3 d, P = 0.295 for the first flatus time; 7.5 ± 0.8 d vs 8.1 ± 4.3 d, P = 0.489 for the resumption of a soft diet time; 14.3 ± 10.6 d vs 11.5 ± 4.9 d, P = 0.148 for the postoperative hospital stay; and 30.5 ± 3.6 mm vs 30.1 ± 4.0 mm, P = 0.730 for the anastomosis size). One patient with minor anastomotic leakage in the Con-Group was managed conservatively; no other patients experienced any complications around the anastomosis. The operative complication rates were similar in the Con- and Mod-Groups (9.1% vs 7.3%, P = 1.000)., Conclusion: The modified DSG, an alternative reconstruction in TLDG for GC, is technically safe and feasible, with a simpler process that reduces the anastomosis time.

Aim: To investigate whether computed tomography with 3D imaging (3DCT) can reduce the risks associated with laparoscopic surgery., Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study evaluating the efficacy of preoperative 3DCT of the splenic vascular anatomy on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node (LN) dissection for upper- or middle-third gastric cancer. The clinical records of 312 patients with upper- or middle-third gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleen-preserving splenic lymph node dissection in our hospital from January 2010 to June 2013 were collected, and the patients were divided into two groups (group 3DCT vs group NO-3DCT) depending on whether they underwent 3DCT or not. Clinicopathologic characteristics, operative and postoperative measures, the number of retrieved LNs, and complications were compared between these two groups. Patients were further compared regarding operative and postoperative measures, the number of retrieved LNs, and complications when subdivided by body mass index ( ≥ 23 and < 23 kg/m(2)) and the number of operations performed by their surgeon (≤ 40 vs > 40)., Results: The mean numbers of retrieved splenic hilar LNs were similar in patients in group 3DCT and group NO-3DCT (2.85 ± 2.33 vs 2.48 ± 2.18, P > 0.05). The operation time and blood loss at the splenic hilum were lower in the patients in group 3DCT (P < 0.05 each). The postoperative recovery time and complication rates were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05 each). Subgroup analysis showed that the operation time at the splenic hilum in patients with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m(2) was significantly shorter in patients in group 3DCT than in group NO-3DCT (20.27 ± 5.84 min vs 26.17 ± 11.01 min, P = 0.003). In patients with a BMI < 23 kg/m(2), the overall operation time (171.8 ± 26.32 min vs 188.09 ± 52.63 min, P = 0.028), operation time at the splenic hilum (19.39 ± 5.46 min vs 23.74 ± 9.56 min, P = 0.001), and blood loss at the splenic hilum (13.27 ± 4.96 mL vs 17.98 ± 8.12 mL, P = 0.000) were significantly lower in patients in group 3DCT than in group NO-3DCT. After 40 operations, the operation time (18.63 ± 4.40 min vs 23.85 ± 7.92 min, P = 0.000) and blood loss (13.10 ± 4.17 mL vs 15.10 ± 4.42 mL, P = 0.005) at the splenic hilum were significantly lower in patients who underwent 3DCT, but there were no significant between-group differences prior to 40 operations., Conclusion: 3DCT is critical for surgical guidance to reduce the risks of splenic LN dissection. This method may be important in safely facilitating laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic LN dissection.

Background: To explore the feasibility of laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymph node dissection in a left-sided approach for advanced proximal gastric cancer., Methods: The clinical data of 32 patients with advanced proximal gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymph node dissection from June 2010 to December 2011 were analyzed., Results: Laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymph node dissection using a left-sided approach was successfully performed for all patients without open conversion. The mean operation time was 206.4±54.3 minutes, mean intraoperative blood loss was 68.2±34.1 ml, mean number of No. 10 lymph nodes dissected was 2.8±2.1, mean number of positive No. 10 lymph nodes was 0.6±1.2, and the incidence of No. 10 lymph node metastasis was 11.6%. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.3±1.5 days. The postoperative morbidity rate was 9.4%, and there was no postoperative death. Splenic lobar vessels of all 32 patients were anatomically classified and divided into three types: 4 patients had a single lobar vessel, 22 had two lobar vessels and 6 had three lobar vessels., Conclusions: Laparoscopic spleen-preserving No. 10 lymph node dissection for advanced proximal gastric cancer using a left-sided approach is technically feasible. It simplifies the complicated surgical procedure of No. 10 lymph node dissection and leads to the popularization and promotion of this technique.