Comparison of long-term quality of life between Billroth-I and Roux-en-Y anastomosis after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Background:The results of studies comparing Billroth-I(B-I)with Roux-en-Y(R-Y)reconstruction on the quality of life(QoL)are still inconsistent.The aim of this trial was to compare the long-term QoL of B-I with R-Y anastomosis after curative distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 140 patients undergoing curative distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in West China Hospital,Sichuan University from May 2011 to May 2014 were randomly assigned to the B-I group(N=70)and R-Y group(N=70).The follow-up time points were 1,3,6,9,12,24,36,48,and 60 months after the operation.The final follow-up time was May 2019.The clinicopathological features,operative safety,postoperative recovery,long-term survival as well as QoL were compared,among which QoL score was the primary outcome.An intention-to-treat analysis was applied.Results:The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups.There were no statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates,and postoperative recovery between the two groups.Less estimated blood loss and shorter surgical duration were found in the B-I group.There were no statistically significant differences in 5-year overall survival(79%[55/70]of the B-I group vs.80%[56/70]of the R-Y group,P=0.966)and recurrence-free survival rates(79%[55/70]of the B-I group vs.78%[55/70]of the R-Y group,P=0.979)between the two groups.The scores of the global health status of the R-Y group were higher than those of the B-I group with statistically significant differences(postoperative 1 year:85.4±13.1 vs.88.8±16.1,P=0.033;postoperative 3 year:87.3±15.2 vs.92.8±11.3,P=0.028;postoperative 5 year:90.9±13.7 vs.96.4±5.6,P=0.010),and the reflux(postoperative 3 year:8.8±12.9 vs.2.8±5.3,P=0.001;postoperative 5 year:5.1±9.8 vs.1.8±4.7,P=0.033)and epigastric pain(postoperative 1 year:11.8±12.7 vs.6.1±8.8,P=0.008;postoperative 3 year:9.4±10.6 vs.4.6±7.9,P=0.006;postoperative 5 year:6.0±8.9 vs.2.7±4.6,P=0.022)were milder in the R-Y group than those of the B-I group at the postoperative 1,3,and 5-year time points.Conclusions:Compared with B-I group,R-Y reconstruction was associated with better long-term QoL by reducing reflux and epigastric pain,without changing survival outcomes.Trial Registration:ChiCTR.org.cn,ChiCTR-TRC-10001434.

Efficacy and safety of bridging therapy and direct mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel occlusions:a meta-analysis

To the Editor:Acute large vessel occlusion(LVO)is responsible for most acute ischemic stroke(AIS),a common cause of disability and death worldwide.Randomized controlled clinical trials(RCTs)provided evidence endorsing intravenous thrombolysis(IVT,also termed bridging therapy[IVT])and endovascular thrombectomy over IVT alone as the current standard treatment for people with LVO in the anterior circulation.[1]The current American and European guidelines recommend using IVT for all eligible individuals with LVO before direct mechanical thrombectomy(d-MT)(class of recommendation-I).Recent RCTs suggest that MT was noninferior to BT in terms of efficacy and safety,[2,3]which contradict the results from multiple meta-analyses favoring BT over d-MT.[4]The benefit of routine IVT for eligible individuals before thrombectomy has become controversial.BT is associated with complications,including the risk of vasospasm,distal emboli,or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.