Three cases of synchronous laparoscopic resection for gastric and colonic cancer.

Case 1 was an 84-year-old female who suffered from a superficial elevated lesion within depressed area (0 IIc+IIa) from the lesser curvature to the posterior wall at the middle corpus of the stomach and a depressed lesion with a circumferential embankment (type 2) at the sigmoid colon. Case 2 was a 70-year-old male who suffered from a superficial depressed lesion (0 IIc) at the lesser curvature of the gastric angle and a superficial elevated lesion (0 IIa) at the cecum. Case 3 was a 58-year-old male who suffered from a superficial depressed lesion (0 IIc) from the lesser curvature to the posterior wall at the middle corpus of the stomach, and an elevated lesion (type 1) and a depressed lesion with a circumferential embankment (type 2) at the sigmoid colon. In 3 cases, we first inserted 5 or 6 trocars and performed laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with groups 1 and 2 lymph node dissection according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. Subsequently, in case 1, 1 additional port was inserted at the right lower quadrant for sigmoidectomy; in case 2, two trocars were added for ileocecal resection; and in case 3, one additional port was inserted at the median hypogastric region for sigmoidectomy. In cases 1 and 2, Billroth II reconstruction was performed using a laparoscopic linear stapling device (endo-GIA) and, in case 3, Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed using endo-GIA, after distal gastrectomy. The double stapling technique using a conventional circular stapling device was performed after pulling out the specimen from the paraumbilical port after colectomy in case 1, whereas an end-to-end triangular suture using endo-GIA was used extracorporeally through the paraumbilical port in case 2 and the median hypogastric port in case 3. The operative durations of cases 1, 2, and 3 were 315, 340, and 495 minutes and the amounts of blood loss were 80, 300, and 440 mL, respectively. Except for the need to retain the drain until the tenth postoperative day because of serous discharge in case 1, no postoperative complications occurred. The postoperative commencement of oral feeding was on the fifth day in case 1 and on the third day in cases 2 and 3. All cases made a quick recovery and they were discharged from hospital on the nineteenth, thirteenth, and tenth day after operation, respectively. Double cancer patients with gastric and colonic carcinomas were thought to be very suitable for laparoscopic surgery because by avoiding a total median skin incision, there is less wound pain and quicker postoperation recovery.