BENIGN GASTRIC TUMORS - MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACH

Background: Historically, major subsets of benign gastric tumors requi ring surgical excision have required open laparotomy. Methods: We have used laparoscopy to resect lesions in eight such patients. Lesion loc ations were gastroesophageal junction (one), gastric body (three), and pylorus (four). Four lesions were successfully located by instrument palpation. Six lesions were excised using gastrotomy, eversion of tumo r, and resection, followed by stapled gastrotomy closure. The lesion a t the posterior GE junction was evaluated through a gastrotomy and res ected transgastrically. The two pyloric lesions were removed by laparo scopic distal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy. Results: Procedure ti mes were 55-210 min; oral feeding was instituted on postoperative day 1-5; patients were discharged 1-6 days postoperatively. Conclusions: B enign tumors of the stomach may be approached and resected laparoscopi cally; a transgastric, intra-organ approach is safe and efficient; lap aroscopic distal gastrectomy is safe and technically feasible; patient s have a shorter recovery interval and shorter postoperative hospital stay. Cautious progress in this field is recommended.