Initial experience of single-incision plus one port left-side approach totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction

BACKGROUND Single incision plus one port left-side approach(SILS+1/L)totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy(TLDG)is an emerging technique for the treatment of gastric cancer.Reduced port laparoscopic gastrectomy has a number of potential advantages for patients compared with conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy:relieving postoperative pain,shortening hospital stay and offering a better cosmetic outcome.Nevertheless,there are no previous reports on the use of SILS+1/L TLDG with uncut Roux-en-Y(uncut R-Y)reconstruction.AIM To investigate the initial feasibility of SILS+1/L TLDG with uncut Roux-en-Y digestive tract reconstruction(uncut R-Y reconstruction)to treat distal gastric cancer.METHODS A total of 21 patients who underwent SILS+1/L TLDG with uncut R-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer were enrolled.All patients were treated at The Second Hospital of Shandong University.Reconstructions were performed intracorporeally with 60 mm endoscopic linear stapler and 45 mm no-knife stapler.The clinicopathological characteristics,surgical details,postoperative short-term outcomes,postoperative follow-up upper gastrointestinal radiography findings and endoscopy results were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS All SILS+1/L operations were performed by SILS+1/L TLDG successfully.The patient population included 13 men and 8 women with a mean age of 48.2 years(ranged from 40 years to 70 years)and median body mass index of 22.8 kg/m^2.There were no conversions to open laparotomy,and no other port was placed.The mean operation time was 146 min(ranged 130-180 min),and the estimated mean blood loss was 54 mL(ranged 20-110 mL).The mean duration to flatus and discharge was 2.3(ranged 1-3.5)and 7.3(ranged 6-9)d,respectively.The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 42(ranged 30-47).Two patients experienced mild postoperative complications,including surgical site infection(wound at the navel incision)and mild postoperative pancreatic fistula(grade A).Follow-up upper gastrointestinal radiography and endoscopy were carried out at 3 mo postoperatively.No patients experienced moderate or severe food stasis,alkaline gastritis or bile reflux during the follow-up period.No recanalization of the biliopancreatic limb was found.CONCLUSION SILS+1/L TLDG with uncut R-Y reconstruction could be safely performed as a reduced port surgery.