A technique for esophagojejunostomy following robot-assisted gastrectomy: a liner stapler and barbed suture device-based technique: a case series

Background: Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy after total or proximal robot-assisted gastrectomy is technically more demanding than gastroduodenostomy and gastrojejunostomy for distal gastrectomy, as well as laparoscopic surgery. We have established a safe and simple esophagojejunostomy procedure using a liner stapler attached to the Da Vinci Surgical System and a barbed suture device. Patients and methods: For esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction, we choose the “overlap method,” in which entry holes were made at the left of the esophageal stump and at 5 cm of the anal side in antimesentric area of the jejunum, followed by anastomosis on the left of the esophagus using SureForm (blue 45 mm) and hand-sewing closure of the common entry hole with V-Loc. We analyzed the short-term surgical outcomes of all patients. Results: 23 patients underwent this reconstruction technique. None of the patients required any further open surgeries. The mean time to perform anastomosis was 24.7±2.8 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in 22 patients; a single patient developed minor anastomotic leakage (Clavien–Dindo grade 3), which was treated with conservative therapy employing a drainage tube. Conclusion: Our esophagojejunostomy method following robot-assisted gastrectomy is simple and feasible, with acceptable short-term outcomes, and could represent the procedure of choice for esophagojejunostomy.