Gasless laparoscopy-assisted versus open resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the upper stomach: preliminary results.
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare neoplasms with malignant potential. Surgery is the definitive management for resectable nonmetastatic lesions. Although minimally invasive resection has been established for GISTs, it is still considered unfeasible when tumors are near the esophagogastric junction. This study aimed to compare the relative efficacy of gasless laparoscopy-assisted (GLA) and open approaches for resection of GISTs.


METHODS
Between January 2006 and December 2008, 28 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for upper GIST were reviewed retrospectively. Among these patients, 15 underwent GLA procedures and 13 underwent open surgeries.


RESULTS
Patient demographics, comorbidities, and tumor characteristics (mean tumor size and prognosis) were similar for both groups. All patients underwent wedge resection. The mean operating time (129.6 versus 110.8 minutes), mean estimated blood loss (35.5 versus 40.3 mL), mean day of first flatus (2.7 versus 3.2 days), mean tumor size (2.5 versus 2.6 cm), and tumor prognosis or complication rate (13.3% versus 7.7%) between the GLA and open surgery groups were not significantly different. The length of maximal wound (P < 0.001), visual analog scale on postoperative days 1 (P = 0.001), 2 (P = 0.001), and 3 (P = 0.001), the mean time for resuming oral intake (P = 0.028), and the length of hospital stay (P = 0.005) in the GLA group were significantly lesser than the corresponding values in the open surgery group. None of the patients had dysphagia or died.


CONCLUSIONS
GLA method is a safe and feasible procedure for resecting GISTs of the upper stomach. In addition, it offers better cosmetic results, less pain, and faster recovery.
Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jin-Ming
JM
Wu
Chin-Yao
CY
Yang
Ming-Yang
MY
Wang
Ming-Hsun
MH
Wu
Ming-Tsan
MT
Lin
D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome