DBE is an effective approach for confirming VCE results. In patients with complete small-bowel investigation by VCE, the best insertion route for DBE can be reliably indicated using a time index based on the VCE records.
Objective
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the data of 69 consecutive patients who underwent LECS, including laparoscopy‐assisted endoscopic resection (LAER) and endoscopy‐assisted laparoscopic wedge resection (EAWR), for pathologically confirmed gastric GISTs of less than 5 cm in diameter from January 2006 to October 2012.
Results
The tumor was located at the upper third of the stomach in 22 patients, the middle third in 38 and the lower third in nine, with a mean tumor size of 2.8 ± 1.6 cm. The operating time was 81.6 ± 31.8 min in the LAER group and 86.3 ± 28.5 min in the EAWR group (P = 0.776). Intraoperative blood loss was 29.8 ± 15.4 mL in the LAER group and 31.4 ± 11.6 mL in the EAWR group (P = 0.561). Most patients had a very low or low risk of tumor recurrence, while six had an intermediate risk of tumor recurrence. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 4.6 days. Only two patients had postoperative complications after LECS, both of whom were treated successfully without open surgery. During a median follow‐up of 35 months, all patients were disease‐free, with no tumor recurrence or metastases.
Conclusion
LECS is a minimally invasive and safe alternative approach which can achieve fast recovery and satisfactory short‐term outcomes for appropriately selected patients with gastric GISTs.
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