Published online Dec 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i47.13332
Peer-review started: May 23, 2015
First decision: June 19, 2015
Revised: July 7, 2015
Accepted: September 13, 2015
Article in press: September 14, 2015
Published online: December 21, 2015
AIM: To describe the application of complete robotic gastrectomy with transvaginal specimen extraction (TVSE) for gastric cancer patients.
METHODS: Between July and November 2014, eight female patients who were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent a TVSE following a full robot-sewn gastrectomy. According to the tumor location, the patients were allocated to two different groups; two patients received robotic total gastrectomy with TVSE and the other six received robotic distal gastrectomy with TVSE.
RESULTS: Surgical procedures were successfully performed in all eight cases without conversion. The mean age was 55.3 (range, 42-69) years, and the mean body mass index was 23.2 (range, 21.6-26.0) kg/m2. The mean total operative time and blood loss were 224 (range, 200-298) min and 62.5 (range, 50-150) mL, respectively. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.6 (range, 3-5) d. The mean number of lymph nodes resected was 23.6 (range, 17-27). None was readmitted within 30 d of postoperation. During the follow-up, no stricture developed nor was any anastomotic leakage detected.
CONCLUSION: It is possible to perform a TVSE following a full robot-sewn gastrectomy with standard D2 lymph node resection for female gastric cancer patients.
Core tip: It is widely recognized that the natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) could reduce postoperative pain, length of stay, and morbidity. Although NOSE has been performed in different institutions, there has not been any report of transvaginal specimen extraction following full robot-sewn gastrectomy for female gastric cancer. This study describes the new application of complete robotic gastrectomy with transvaginal specimen extraction in eight patients with gastric cancer in Jinling Hospital. There were two different surgeries performed, robotic total gastrectomy and robotic distal gastrectomy.