Tag Archives: Stomach

PUBLISHED: Laparoscopic Gastric Wedge Resection for a GIST

Laparoscopic Gastric Wedge Resection for a GIST
Vahagn G. Hambardzumyan, MD1Martin Goodman, MD2
1Yerevan State Medical University, Heratsi Hospital Complex
2Tufts University School of Medicine

The stomach is involved in multiple common ailments, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcers, and cancer, the latter of which can take many forms. Originally, GISTs arise from the connective tissue, or stroma, of the stomach, rather than the lining, from which the more common and more deadly gastric adenocarcinoma finds its origin. However, over time, study revealed that GIST arises from a very specific cell, called the interstitial cells of Cajal, that are responsible for the timing of contraction in the stomach and small intestine. GIST masses generally behave more indolently than gastric adenocarcinoma, with distant or lymph node metastases a rare feature, although involvement of the liver and peritoneum has been described. Due to this indolent nature, certain masses, once they have been identified as GIST through endoscopic biopsy, are candidates for surveillance. However, larger masses (as identified through evidence of necrosis on imaging) and rapidly growing masses are treated primarily with surgical resection. While in the past surgical resection would have involved a large abdominal incision and a lengthy postoperative recovery, laparoscopic techniques have allowed gastric resection to become a short procedure necessitating only an overnight stay.

PUBLISHED: Open Distal Gastrectomy

Open Distal Gastrectomy
Andrea L. Merrill, MDJohn T. Mullen, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital

A complete margin-negative (R0) resection remains the only potentially curative treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma. The choice of operation depends on the location of the tumor as well as the stage of disease. This patient presented with symptomatic anemia, and workup demonstrated gastritis and a small tumor in the distal stomach. Biopsies confirmed adenocarcinoma, and an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) staged this tumor as T2 N0. Staging scans showed no evidence of distant metastatic disease. Given that this patient had a relatively early stage tumor, they elected to proceed with upfront surgery, which in this case entailed a distal gastrectomy. This video shows an experienced gastric surgeon’s technique for performing an open distal gastrectomy with an “extended” D1 lymph node dissection.

PUBLISHED: Laparoscopic Resection of Gastric GIST Tumor

Laparoscopic Resection of Gastric GIST Tumor
Daniel Rice1David Rattner, MD2
1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
2Massachusetts General Hospital

This case illustrates a laparoscopic resection of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): the most common mesenchymal tumor found in the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs can be found anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract; however, they are most commonly found in the stomach and small intestine. These tumors are often associated with mutations in the KIT (receptor tyrosine kinase) and PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha) genes. Because it is difficult to achieve a permanent cure using protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib, surgical resection is the recommended therapy in most cases. While the surgical approach may vary on tumor characteristics, the laparoscopic approach is associated with low perioperative morbidity and mortality.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Distal Gastrectomy (Open)

Distal Gastrectomy (Open)
John T. Mullen, MD
Director, General Surgery Resident Program
Massachusetts General Hospital

 

An 80-year-old patient with anemia undergoes an upper endoscopy that reveals inflammation in the distal stomach. Biopsies identify it as an early intramucosal adenocarcinoma while an endoscopic ultrasound shows the tumor invading the muscle of the stomach. Given that there are no signs of metastasis, the patient presents for a potentially curative gastrectomy where Dr. John Mullen removes the distal two-thirds of the stomach, performs a D1 lymph node dissection and a partial D2 lymph node dissection, and reconstructs in a Billroth II fashion.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Laproscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Massachusetts General Hospital
Ozanan R Meireles MD
General and Gastrointestinal Surgeon

Dr. Meireles expertly conducts the world’s most commonly performed bariatric surgery for weight loss in this JoMI production on textbook sleeve gastrectomies.