Outcomes of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric submucosal tumors: A retrospective multicenter study at 21 Japanese institutions

Aim

We conducted a multicenter study on classical laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) and LECS-related procedures to retrospectively clarify the safety, problems, and mid-term outcomes of these methods after their coverage by the national health insurance.

Methods

A total of 201 patients who underwent classical LECS/LECS-related procedures for gastric submucosal tumors (G-SMTs) in 21 institutions affiliated with the Laparoscopy Endoscopy Cooperative Surgery Study Group from April 2014 to March 2016 were included. Data was retrospectively obtained from the patients' charts.

Results

The most common surgical procedure was classical LECS (155 patients, 77.1%), non-exposed endoscopic wall inversion surgery (22 patients, 11.4%), a combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with non-exposure technique (16 patients, 8%), and closed LECS (two patients, 1%). Only six (3%) patients underwent LECS with gastrostomy. The mean operative time and blood loss were 188.4 (70–462) minutes and 23.3 (0–793) g, respectively. Ten (5%) patients developed postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo classification grade II or higher). Two patients needed reoperation due to postoperative bleeding or anastomotic leakage. All tumors were resected with negative margins. A total of 127 (63.2%) patients underwent follow-up observations for over 36 months, one of whom had a recurrence of peritoneal dissemination and one had poor oral intake.

Conclusion

Classical LECS and LECS-related procedures for G-SMTs have favorable short/mid-term outcomes.