title: Laparoscopy-assisted proximal gastrectomy with gastric tube reconstruction for early gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this report, laparoscopy-assisted proximal gastrectomy (LAPG) and gastric tube reconstruction using a mini-loop retractor (MLR) is described for the treatment of early gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early upper gastric carcinoma with no metastasis had been diagnosed in the subjects of this study. Five surgical ports were inserted into the abdomen. The stomach was lifted to the abdominal wall side with a MLR. Three of five gastric arteries were divided using ultrasonically activated coagulating shears and ligated with ligation forceps. A fixed gastric part with MLR was properly changed according to the lymph node dissection. Reconstruction with a gastric tube (20 cm long, 3 cm wide) using a circular stapler was performed through a small incision, through which the specimen was removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients underwent LAPG. The mean operating time and blood loss were 202 min and 236 ml, respectively. The operations were performed without serious complications. None was changed to a laparotomy, and there were no deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique of LAPG and gastric tube reconstruction using MLR for the treatment of proximal early gastric cancer was simple and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science (Surgery I), Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. ryu-aihara@maebashi.saiseikai.or.jp
authors.forename: Ryuusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Erito
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mochiki
authors.forename: Teturo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Mituhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyomasu
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome