Our Procedure of Robotic Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer with Lymph Nodes Dissection and Reconstruction Using Robotic Stapling Devices

Atsushi Itami, MD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-6088
Year Produced: 2020
Length: 11 min.


Robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer is increasing in prevalence, and not only distal but also total gastrectomy via robotic approach has been incorporated in our department. In conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy, ultrasonic devices have been used for lymph nodes dissection, which might occasionally cause postoperative pancreatic fistula. Robotic gastrectomy using multijoint articulating instruments such as monopolar scissors may reduce intraoperative injury to pancreas, because it can avoid touching the pancreas during lymphadenectomy around the pancreas. However, ultrasonic devices for robotic surgery system also have no articulation, although it is superior for capability of hemostasis to a monopolar cautery. And thus it is important to use these devices appropriately situation by situation. In robotic total gastrectomy, we usually use ultrasonic surgical scalpel for omentectomy, dissection around left gastroepiploic vessels and short gastric vessels, and dissection of lessor omentum. In lymphadenectomy around the right gastroepiploic vessels and suprapancreatic regions, monopolar scissors are mainly used. On the other hand, the next essential issue of total gastrectomy is the reconstruction. We apply robotic stapling technique for anastomosis in Roux en Y reconstruction. The functional end to end anastomosis is performed for esophagojejunostomy, followed by intracorpreal jejunojejunostomy. Mesenteric defect must be closed with non-absorbable stiches to prevent the internal hernia. Here, we show the procedure of total gastrectomy with lymph nodes dissection using both ultrasonic devices and monopolar scissors, and in addition, Roux en Y reconstruction using robotic linear staplers.