The current role of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of benign gastroduodenal diseases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The impressive breakthrough in laparoscopic surgery has urged several authors to adopt such an approach in the treatment of both benign and malignant gastric diseases, even though laparoscopic gastric resection has not yet met with widespread enthusiasm. The current work is aimed at illustrating the feasibility and assessing the efficacy of laparoscopic (LGRs) and laparoscopic-assisted (LAGRs) gastric resections in the treatment of non-malignant gastric conditions. METHODOLOGY: As of April 1997, we performed LGRs or LAGRs on a total of 24 patients (M:F=15:9; mean age: 43 years; range: 19-65 years), among whom 8 presented with chronic gastric ulcer, 4 had benign pyloric stenosis, 8 were affected with recurrent duodenal ulcers no longer amenable to treatment, and 4 with persistent symptomatic biliary reflux. Pre-operatively, all patients underwent blood tests, upper GI endoscopy coupled with biopsy, and barium swallow. Post-operatively, all patients were administered saline solution and water dextrane for the first 5 days; antibiotics (cefuroxim 4g i.v. daily) and analgesics (paracetamol 6g i.v. daily) for the first 48 hours. A hydrosoluble swallow was scheduled for the 5th post-operative day. RESULTS: The surgical procedure consisted of a Billroth II distal gastrectomy in 13 cases and total duodenal diversion with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy in 11. Among such patients, 18 underwent a totally laparoscopic procedure, whereas 6 had laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy, with the use of a Dexterity© device in 1 case. The mean duration of the procedure was 150min (range: 120-200), and blood losses were not remarkable. No intra-operative complication ever occurred. Post-operatively, we observed one case of retrogastric collection and incisional hernia in 1 patient who underwent a laparoscopic-assisted procedure. The abscess was drained percutaneously and hernia conventionally repaired 5 months post-gastrectomy. Post-operative hospital stay was 7 days on the average (range: 5-25). One patient was lost to follow-up. In the remaining cases, no major functional sequelae were observed at a mean follow-up of 19 months (range: 2-41), apart from 2 cases of transient diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery appears to be an invaluable tool for the treatment of gastric diseases and LGRs are a valid option in experienced hands and in selected centers, allowing patients to benefit from a less cumbersome hospital stay and fewer functional sequelae. The economic impact of such a practice, however, needs better clarification.