Early international results of laparoscopic gastrectomies.
BACKGROUND
The first totally laparoscopic Billroth II gastrectomy was performed in 1992. To date, laparoscopic gastrectomy has been performed by a small number of surgeons around the world and the laparoscopic approach has been extended to Billroth I and total gastrectomy. The aim of this study is to review the state of laparoscopically performed gastrectomies in the international scene.


METHODS
Questionnaires were prepared and sent to every surgeon in the world known by the authors or their contacts to have performed a laparoscopic gastrectomy. A questionnaire survey was started in July 1994 and completed by November 1994. Data collected included age, sex, type of gastric resection, technique of reconstruction after resection, average duration of surgery, time to liquid and solid intake, postoperative hospital stay, complications, and opinions of the surgeons.


RESULTS
Sixteen surgeons contributed to this study. A total number of 118 cases of laparoscopic gastrectomies, comprising Billroth I (11), Billroth II (87), vagotomy and antrectomy (10), and total gastrectomy (10) had been performed. The indications were gastric and/or duodenal ulcers and benign and malignant gastric tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic gastrectomy was found to be superior to the open technique by 10 of 16 surgeons because of faster recovery, less pain, and better cosmesis. The procedure was an expensive and long operation according to four. Two surgeons were uncertain of any benefit because of limited experience.
Goh
P M
PM
Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore.
Alponat
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Mak
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014628:Vagotomy / Q000379:methods