The major symptoms of advanced hepatopancreatic-biliary cancer are biliary obstruction, pain and gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). For obstructive jaundice, surgical treatment should de consider in recurrent stent complications. The role of surgery for pain relief is marginal nowadays. On the last, there is no consensus for treatment of malignant GOO. Endoscopic duodenal stents are associated with shorter length of stay and faster relief to oral intake with more recurrent symptoms. Surgical gastrojejunostomy shows better long-term results and lower re-intervention rates, but there are limited data about laparoscopic approach. We performed a systematic review of the literature, according PRISMA guidelines, to search for articles on laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy for malignant GOO treatment. We also report our personal series, from 2009 to 2017. A review of the literature suggests that there is no standardized surgical technique either standardized outcomes to report. Most of the studies are case series, so level of evidence is low. Decision-making must consider medical condition, nutritional status, quality of life and life expectancy. Evaluation of the patient and multidisciplinary expertise are required to select appropriate approach. Given the limited studies and the difficulty to perform prospective controlled trials, no study can answer all the complexities of malignant GOO and more outcome data is needed.

A patient with gastroduodenal obstruction caused by an unresectable gastroduodenal or periampullary cancer cannot ingest food and/or liquid. The patient's quality of life rapidly deteriorates, resulting in a dismal prognosis. Stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy has been previously reported, and here, we evaluate the laparoscopic procedure.

We performed laparoscopic stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy in 18 patients with unresectable gastroduodenal or periampullary cancers. Data on operation time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative course were retrospectively collected.

The mean operation time was 152 min, and conversion to open surgery was not required in any patients. Postoperative complications occurred in three patients (17%) and included cholangitis, anastomotic ulcer hemorrhage, and enterocolitis. The mean time to oral intake was 4.5 days, and the mean and median duration of oral intake were maintained for 133 and 88 days, respectively.

Laparoscopic stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy is a safe and effective procedure that allows patients with gastroduodenal outlet obstruction to eat again and improve the quality of their remaining life.