title: Clinical outcomes of Roux-en-Y and Billroth I reconstruction after a distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: What is the optimal reconstructive procedure?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical advantages of Roux-en-Y (R-Y) and Billroth-I (B-I) reconstruction after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer by examining the postoperative symptoms based on a patient questionnaire and patient nutrition. In addition, this study determined which of the R-Y or B-I procedures is preferable following distal gastrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients who had undergone R-Y reconstruction and 50 patients who had undergone B-I reconstruction were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The operative and postoperative findings such as operating time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative hospital stay were evaluated as short-term clinical outcomes. Postoperative serum nutrition parameters, transition of body weight, incidence of residual gastritis, and clinical symptoms were evaluated as mid-term clinical outcomes. An assessment of symptoms was based on a questionnaire concerning dumping symptoms, reflux symptoms, food intake, and satisfaction with the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed in the operative and postoperative clinical parameters without stage grouping. The transition of serum nutrition parameters revealed no significant differences between the two groups for the preoperative and postoperative states. Dumping symptoms, reflux symptoms, and abdominal symptoms were less frequent in R-Y patients, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Moreover, the differences in body weight recovery rates were not found to be statistically significant between two groups. However, the incidence of residual gastritis was significantly less in R-Y patients (21.2%) than in B-I patients (68.8%) (p < 0.05). The questionnaire results regarding food intake and surgery satisfaction were not significantly different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Definite clinical advantages were not recognized in patients with R-Y reconstruction. B-I and R-Y reconstructive procedures should be selected according to the condition of each patient. However, the advantages of these reconstruction procedures following distal gastrectomy would only be revealed in large randomized controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Nanakuma 7-45-1, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan. t-shin@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shinnosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Katsuichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Hisanobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Takamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005763:Gastroenterostomy; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor