[Extended total gastrectomy: indications in the 3rd millennium].

BACKGROUND

Total extended gastrectomy (TEG) is indicated in the treatment of gastric cancer for necessity or to achieve an oncologic radicality. By this surgical treatment the stomach and other organs or a part of them involved by primitive tumor are removed.

METHODS

The authors report a study about 15 patients, out of 116 cases of gastric cancer, operated by TEG between 1990-1998. The middle-age of this patients was 63 years (range 45-76) and their general conditions were good in 9 cases and not-good in 6. The postoperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was carried out in all the patients, while preoperatively only in the most compromised patients. The surgical treatments were: 2 TG (total gastrectomy)+splenecomy; 3 TG+splenectomy+pancreatic resection; 4 TG+splenectomy+pancreatic resection+distal esophageal resection; 1 TG+distal esophageal resection; 2 TG+atypic hepatic resection; 1 TG+ atypic hepatic resection+duodenum resection; 2 TG+large intestine resection. While 10 patients were operated on to obtain radicality, 5 patients had a palliative treatment.

RESULTS

There was not perioperative mortality, but we have observed: one dehiscence of the duodenal stump and one pancreatic fistula treated with conservative therapy; one left subfrenic abscess treated with surgical therapy. The survival has been higher in the patients treated with radicality. On the basis of these cases, the authors consider: 1) the possibility to obtain radicality by TEG; 2) the gastric localizations more often associated to extravisceral neoplastic localization; 3) the role of extensive lymph node resection (III and IV level) to obtain oncological radicality or neoplastic reduction. CONCLUSIONS. On the basis of their personal experience and related literature, the authors conclude that TEG is indicated to: 1) obtain a better lymphadenectomy; 2) obtain an oncologic radicality; 3) reduce the neoplastic mass in order to facilitate adjuvant therapy; 4) avoid or treat neoplastic complications; 5) improve the quality of life.