Comparison of Intracorporeal Trapezoidal-shaped Gastroduodenostomy and Delta-shaped Anastomosis After Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: A Single-center Retrospective Study

Background: Laparoscopic/robotic distal gastrectomy (LDG/RDG) as a treatment for early gastric cancer has become increasingly and widely accepted for its minimal invasiveness and proportionate outcomes. Over the years, in addition to the LDG/RDG technique and the lymphadenectomy and gastrectomy procedures, various reconstruction methods have been developed and further improved upon. In particular, the number of minimally invasive intracorporeal anastomosis reconstruction techniques has been increasing. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 445 patients with gastric cancer who underwent reconstruction following LDG/RDG via either trapezoidal-shaped gastroduodenostomy (TAPESTRY; n=126) or delta-shaped anastomosis (DSA; n=319) at our hospital between April 2012 and May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Short-term surgical outcomes, including the operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, and complications, were compared between the 2 groups. Anastomosis-related complications, namely leakage, bleeding, stricture, and delayed gastric emptying, were monitored and graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: All operations were either performed or supervised by qualified surgeons. Patients' characteristics in the TAPESTRY group and the DSA group were biased in terms of the surgical approach, but they were well-balanced after propensity score matching. Overall anastomosis-related complications (Clavien-Dindo grade II or above) within 30 days after surgery in the TAPESTRY group were comparable with those in the DSA group, either all patients (1.5% vs. 5.0%, P=0.115) or after propensity score-matching analysis (2.1% vs. 6.5%, P=0.134). There were no records of reoperation or mortality during hospitalization in either group. Conclusions: TAPESTRY was performed safely, with a low rate of anastomosis-related complications. These findings suggest that trapezoidal-shaped gastroduodenostomy could be a feasible option for reconstruction in patients undergoing LDG/RDG.