title: What is the best reconstruction method after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed this prospective randomized study to evaluate what is the best reconstruction method after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-nine patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted or open gastrectomy for gastric cancer were analyzed from March 2006 to August 2007. Billroth I (B-I) anastomosis, Billroth II (B-II) with Braun anastomosis, and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) anastomosis were applied randomly. Additionally, the patients were divided into two groups based on treatment type: laparoscopic and open operation. Endoscopy and hepatobiliary scans were performed to investigate gastric stasis and enterogastric reflux. The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) was used to evaluate postoperative quality of life, and the hematologic test was used to assess nutritional aspect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endoscopy revealed that reflux after the R-Y anastomosis procedure was significantly less frequent than after the other anastomosis types at 12 months. Comparison of the GIQLI and the nutritional parameters between the reconstruction types revealed that there were no differences, but a significantly higher GIQLI score was observed in the laparoscopic group immediately following the procedure (P = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  R-Y anastomosis is superior to B-I and B-II with Braun anastomosis in terms of frequency of bile reflux, despite the fact that there is no difference in the postoperative quality-of-life index and nutritional status between reconstructive procedures. The laparoscopic approach is the better option than open surgery in terms of QOL in the immediate postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Gyenggi-do, Seongnam-si 463-707, South Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ju-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do Joong
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyuk-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han-Kwang
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Woo
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001655:Bile Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D004644:Emotions; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*