Roux-en-Y Plus Distal Jejunal Pouch After Total Gastrectomy: A Prospective Study

Background/Aim: We previously described the safety of distal jejunal pouch with Roux-en-Y reconstruction after total gastrectomy. The present prospective study evaluated its clinical benefit. Patients and Methods: Forty-five patients with gastric cancer were preoperatively assigned to groups who underwent Roux-en-Y reconstruction with jejunal pouch (PRY) (n=23) or without pouch (RY) (n=22). Age, sex, grade of lymph node dissection, splenectomy and mode of laparotomy were analyzed, and body mass index (BMI), volume of food intake at one sitting and blood chemistry (total protein, hemoglobin, iron and cholesterol) were periodically assessed in both groups. Results: Post-surgical mortality and severe morbidity did not occur. Three and four patients in the PRY and RY groups, respectively, died of gastric cancer recurrence during the study. BMI at six months after surgery was significantly higher in the PRY than in the RY group (p<0.05). The percentage of food intake at one year after the procedure was significantly higher in the PRY than in the RY group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The distal jejunal pouch ameliorated postoperative weight loss and increased food intake. A distal jejunal pouch with PRY reconstruction may confer significant clinical advantages after total gastrectomy. The long-term clinical benefit of this procedure should be evaluated.