T-shaped technique for esophagojejunostomy in laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the application of a T-shaped esophagojejunostomy technique using a linear stapler in laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study that included patients who underwent the T-shaped esophagojejunostomy using a linear stapler in laparoscopic total gastrectomy from 2017 to 2023. Results: A total of 106 patients (mean age, 60.62 ± 11.8 (range 26–88 years) were included. The male-to-female ratio was 2.7:1. The gastric lesion was located in the upper third of the stomach in 21.1% of the cases and in the middle third in 76.2% of the cases. Minor intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 8.1% and 4.2% of the cases, respectively. No anastomotic leaks or perioperative deaths occurred during the study period. There were two (1.4%) cases of technical failure during esophagojejunostomy creation during surgery. The mean operative time was 209.5 ± 35.2 (range 140–300) minutes, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.6 ± 1.9 (range 5–15) days. There were three (2.0%) cases of mild anastomotic stricture and one (0.7%) case of anastomotic recurrence. Conclusion: T-shaped esophagojejunostomy using a linear stapler in laparoscopic total gastrectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.