Comparison between stapled and hand-suture esophago-jejunal anastomosis after total gastrectomy

Abstract

We studied 323 patients who underwent total gastrectomy after 1983 in our institute. In patients (group 1) esophago-jejunostomy was hand-sutured. while in 75 patients (group 2) it was stapled. In each group, we analyzed the duration and amount of bleeding during surgery, the rate of leakage and/or stenosis of the anastomosis, and the length of hospital stay after surgery. The esophago-jejunal anastomosis with autosuture instruments led patient to earlier discharge than hand-suture anastomosis. The rate of leakage was significantly less in the stapled suture group (group 1) than in the hand-suture group (group 2). These results indicate that the esophago-jejunal anastomosis using autosuture instruments reduces stomal leakage, compared to that using hand-suture.