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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2014; 20(46): 17297-17304
Published online Dec 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i46.17297
Current status of function-preserving surgery for gastric cancer
Takuro Saito, Yukinori Kurokawa, Shuji Takiguchi, Masaki Mori, Yuichiro Doki
Takuro Saito, Yukinori Kurokawa, Shuji Takiguchi, Masaki Mori, Yuichiro Doki, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data.
Correspondence to: Yukinori Kurokawa, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2-E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. ykurokawa@gesurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-6-68793251 Fax: +81-6-68793259
Received: May 27, 2014
Revised: July 16, 2014
Accepted: September 5, 2014
Published online: December 14, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: We reviewed the current status of two function-preserving surgeries for gastric cancer (GC), pylorus-preserving surgery and proximal gastrectomy (PG). Although both procedures appear to be oncologically safe for early GC, issues regarding postoperative quality of life remain, especially with PG. The effect of the reconstruction method after PG on postoperative quality of life was analyzed, including the novel double tract reconstruction method, which is expected to overcome disadvantages associated with esophagogastrostomy and jejunal interposition reconstruction. Although some reports showed a benefit with function-preserving surgery, further randomized trials are needed.