title: Laparoscopic spleen-preserving no. 10 lymph node dissection for advanced proximal gastric cancer using a left approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed a novel procedure for spleen-preserving No. 10 lymph node (LN) dissection, which is difficult and advocates for patients with advanced proximal gastric cancer, except those with direct tumor extension to the spleen or definite LN metastasis at the splenic hilum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surgeon reveals the splenic vessels (SVs), and the assistant pulls up the lymphatic fatty tissue on the surface of the lower lobar vessels of the spleen (LLVSs). The surgeon then exposes the left gastroepiploic vessels (LGEVs), completely separating the LLVSs from the LGEV roots. After tracking the SV termini, the No. 11d LNs are carefully dissected and the upper lobar vessels of the spleen are exposed from their roots to the upper pole of the spleen. During this process, 2-4 branches of the short gastric vessels are skeletonized and divided at their roots. The LNs behind the SVs in front of Gerota's fascia are then dissected. The above procedure was performed on 118 consecutive patients with stage cT2-3 disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operation time was 20.4 ± 6.0 min (range 13-41 min), mean blood loss was 13.6 ± 4.0 ml (range 10-40 ml), and mean times to first flatus, fluid diet, and soft diet were 3.3 ± 1.2 days (range 2-8 days), 4.8 ± 1.6 days (range 3-14 days), and 8.1 ± 4.1 days (range 6-20 days), respectively. A mean 44.6 ± 17.3 LNs (range 22-103) were retrieved, including a mean 3.0 ± 2.4 (range 0-11) splenic hilar area LNs. At a median follow-up of 9 months, no patients had died or experienced recurrent or metastatic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This procedure is feasible and simplifies complicated laparoscopic No. 10 LN dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China, hcmlr2002@163.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qi-Yue
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Xian
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chao-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jia-Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xin-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D004435:Eating; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D061646:Operative Time; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013154:Spleen; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors