Usefulness of reconstruction with jejunal pouch in total gastrectomy for gastric cancer in early improvement of nutritional condition

Background: Roux-en-Y reconstruction with a jejunal pouch is a modified standard procedure in total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the usefulness of the reconstruction using a jejunal pouch in subsequent improvement of the nutritional condition of patients with gastric cancer after total gastrectomy. Methods: Sixteen patients with gastric cancer treated by total gastrectomy and reconstruction with simple Roux-en-Y from January 1993 to December 1996 and 14 patients treated by total gastrectomy and reconstruction with Roux-en-Y and jejunal pouch from January 1997 to December 1998 were investigated in regard to postoperative heartburn, changes in the body weight, and prognostic nutritional index. Results: Postoperative heartburn occurred in 1 patient (7.1%) among patients treated with Roux-en-Y and jejunal pouch and 3 (18.8%) among patients treated with simple Roux-en-Y. The body weight ratio at 1 year after operation in patients treated with Roux-en-Y and jejunal pouch (88.2% ± 4.2%) was significantly higher than that in patients treated with simple Roux-en-Y (80.0% ± 4.6%; P <0.01). The prognostic nutritional index ratios for patients treated with Roux-en-Y and jejunal pouch at 1 and 3 months after operation were 93.9% ± 9.1% and 101.7% ± 11.0%, respectively, and were significantly higher than that in patients treated with simple Roux-en-Y (86.2% ± 8.8% and 88.1% ± 8.2%, P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively). Conclusions: Reconstruction using a jejunal pouch in total gastrectomy is useful for an early improvement of the nutritional condition of patients with gastric cancer.