The Effect of Different Digestive Tract Reconstruction Methods on Postoperative Quality of Life After Proximal Gastrectomy

In the researchers' words

Gastric cancer ranks as the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In China, its incidence and mortality rank third among all cancers. While the global incidence of gastric cancer is declining, proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) are on the rise. Due to the unique characteristics of AEG, there is no standardized treatment consensus, making the selection of an optimal surgical approach and reconstruction method crucial for improving patient outcomes. For early-stage proximal gastric cancer and AEG, total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) are common surgical options. PG, increasingly favored for its function-preserving benefits, has been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to TG. While TG effectively removes lymph nodes and reduces reflux risk, it leads to permanent loss of gastric function and nutritional deficiencies. PG better preserves gastrointestinal function but is limited by the risk of reflux esophagitis, highlighting the need for improved reconstruction techniques. Several reconstruction methods exist after PG, including esophagogastric anastomosis, jejunal interposition, double-tract reconstruction (DTR), double-flap technique (DFT), and tubular gastric anastomosis, each with varying efficacy in preventing reflux. Studies suggest that DTR reduces…