Influence of liver function after laparoscopy-assisted vs totally laparoscopic gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Previously,some studies have proposed that total laparoscopic gastrectomy(TLG)is superior to laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy(LAG)in terms of safety and feasibility based on the related intraoperative operative parameters and incidence of postoperative complications.However,there are still few studies on the changes in postoperative liver function in patients undergoing LG.The present study compared the postoperative liver function of patients with TLG and LAG,aiming to explore whether there is a difference in the influence of TLG and LAG on the liver function of patients.AIM To investigate whether there is a difference in the influence of TLG and LAG on the liver function of patients.METHODS The present study collected 80 patients who underwent LG from 2020 to 2021 at the Digestive Center(including the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the Department of General Surgery)of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Xiamen University,including 40 patients who underwent TLG and 40 patients who underwent LAG.Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),γ-glutamyltransferase(GGLT),total bilirubin(TBIL),direct bilirubin(DBIL)and indirect bilirubin(IBIL),and other liver function-related test indices were compared between the 2 groups before surgery and on the 1^(st),3^(rd),and 5^(th) d after surgery.RESULTS The levels of ALT and AST in the 2 groups were significantly increased on the 1st to 2nd postoperative days compared with those before the operation.The levels of ALT and AST in the TLG group were within the normal range,while the levels of ALT and AST in the LAG group were twice as high as those in the TLG group(P<0.05).The levels of ALT and AST in the 2 groups showed a downward trend at 3-4 d and 5-7 d after the operation and gradually decreased to the normal range(P<0.05).The GGLT level in the LAG group was higher than that in the TLG group on postoperative days 1-2,the ALP level in the TLG group was higher than that in the LAG group on postoperative days 3-4,and the TBIL,DBIL and IBIL levels in the TLG group were higher than those in the LAG group on postoperative days 5-7(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed at other time points(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Both TLG and LAG can affect liver function,but the effect of LAG is more serious.The influence of both surgical approaches on liver function is transient and reversible.Although TLG is more difficult to perform,it may be a better choice for patients with gastric cancer combined with liver insufficiency.

Infrapyloric lymph node metastasis pattern in middle/lower gastric cancer:an exploratory analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study(IPA-ORIGIN)

To the Editor:Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in China.It is mainly found in the middle/lower part of the stomach,[1]where it commonly metastasizes from the infrapyloric lymph node(No.6).Previous studies reported that the risk of No.6 lymph node metastasis was different based on tumor locations.In lower gastric cancer patients,the metastatic rate of No.6 lymph node can reach up to 18.7%,and in upper gastric cancer,the rate is merely 1.9%.[2]The distance between the primary tumor and the pylorus was proved to be related to No.6 lymph node metastasis.However,most of the studies were retrospective and their lymph nodes dissection’s quality control was controversial.