Risk analysis of jejunal orientation on the incidence of dysphagia after total gastrectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

[BACKGROUND] Dysphagia is a common complication after total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy for gastric cancer. Dysphagia leads to impaired quality of life in the short- and long-term postoperative period and affects patient prognosis. The reasons for the occurrence of dysphagia have been controversial, for which we provide new insights. We compared the effects of different jejunal positions on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia in patients with gastric cancer.

[METHODS] A total of 116 patients who underwent radical total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy for gastric cancer were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: right esophagojejunostomy (REJ) and left esophagojejunostomy (LEJ). Clinical and pathologic characteristics, incidence of postoperative dysphagia and other surgical complications were compared between the two groups.

[RESULTS] After grouping the patients, there were 60 patients in the REJ group and 56 patients in the LEJ group. The incidence of postoperative dysphagia was higher in the REJ group than in the LEJ group (p = 0.035) 17 (28.3%) and 7 (12.5%) respectively. Anastomotic stenosis occurred in one patient in the REJ group, and displacement of the jejunum occurred in six patients after imaging, and two of them underwent secondary surgical treatment to severe dysphagia, which was not found in the LEJ group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LEJ was an independent protective factor for dysphagia and anastomotic fistula was an independent risk factor for dysphagia (P < 0.05). The jejunal position had the greatest impact on dysphagia.

[CONCLUSIONS] LEJ can effectively reduce the incidence of dysphagia in gastric cancer patients after esophagojejunostomy. Clinical and follow-up outcomes demonstrate the superiority of the LEJ reconstruction method in the treatment of TG and EJ.