How to examine anastomotic integrity intraoperatively in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy? Methylene blue testing prevents technical defect-related anastomotic leaks.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative methylene blue testing (IMBT), air leak testing, or endoscopy is used to assess the anastomotic integrity of esophagojejunostomy during open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has been widely used to treat gastric cancer in the last few decades. However, reports on testing anastomotic integrity in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy are limited. AIM: To explore the effects of IMBT on the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leaks (PALs) and identify the risk factors for PALs in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.
METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2019, patients who underwent totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy at the Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether or not they experienced an IMBT, the patients were divided into an IMBT group and a control group. If the IMBT was positive, an intraoperative suture was required to reinforce the anastomosis. The difference in the incidence of PALs was compared, and the risk factors were investigated.
RESULTS: This study consisted of 513 patients, 211 in the IMBT group and 302 in the control group. Positive IMBT was shown in seven patients (3.3%) in the IMBT group, and no PAL occurred in these patients after suture reinforcement. Multivariate analysis showed that risk factors for predicting positive IMBT were body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.357, P = 0.009), operation time > 4 h (HR = 55.881, P = 0.002), and insufficient surgical experience (HR = 15.286, P = 0.010). Moreover, 15 patients (2.9%) developed PALs in 513 patients, and the rates of PALs were significantly lower in the IMBT group than in the control group [2 of 211 patients (0.9%) vs 13 of 302 patients (4.3%), P = 0.0026]. Further analysis demonstrated that preoperative complications (HR = 13.128, P = 0.017), totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (HR = 9.075, P = 0.043), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 7.150, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for PALs.
CONCLUSION: IMBT is an effective method to evaluate the integrity of anastomosis during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, thus preventing technical defect-related anastomotic leaks. Preoperative complications, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy are independent risk factors for PALs. ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Core Tip: We reviewed the outcomes of 513 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy with and without intraoperative methylene blue testing at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. We found that intraoperative methylene blue testing is an effective method to evaluate the integrity of anastomosis during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy and could reduce the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leaks. Preoperative complications, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy are independent risk factors for postoperative anastomotic leaks.

INTRODUCTION

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, ranking fifth in incidence and third in mortality[1]. Totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has been widely used to treat gastric cancer[2-4]. Postoperative anastomotic leak (PAL) is a severe complication, and occurs in 1.7%-5.7% of patients with gastric cancer[5-7]. These complications could prolong hospital stay, increase medical expenses, cause poor quality of life, and subsequently worsen the long-term survival of patients[8-10].

It is well known that the defects of intraoperative anastomotic techniques are closely related to PALs[11-13]. Therefore, some PALs might be avoided if insufficiently integral anastomoses were immediately reinforced. Intraoperative methylene blue testing (IMBT), intraoperative air leak test, or intraoperative endoscopy has been used to assess the anastomotic integrity of esophagojejunostomy during open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer[6,14-15]. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has assessed the integrity of anastomosis during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Compared with open surgery, totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has the disadvantages of two-dimensional images, poor hand-eye coordination, limited operating space, fulcrum effect, and lack of haptic feedback[16-17]. Furthermore, according to the ERAS guidelines, abdominal drains should not routinely be placed after gastrectomy, which requires high-quality anastomosis[18-19]. Thus, a reliable anastomosis leak test is vital during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

In this study, we used IMBT to check the anastomotic integrity of esophagojejunostomy or gastrojejunostomy during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. This is the first study to assess the anastomotic integrity during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. We aimed to explore the effects of IMBT on the incidence and risk factors for PALs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients

We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy from January 2017 to December 2019. In our department, some surgeons think that IMBT is useful, while others are skeptical regarding its effects. Thus, two groups were formed: An IMBT group and a control group. Staging of the tumor was performed following the eighth edition of the AJCC Guidelines for gastric cancer[20]. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital.

The inclusion criteria were: (1) Patients who underwent totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction from January 2017 to December 2019; (2) Gastric cancer or adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction diagnosed via endoscopy and pathological identification; and (3) Patients whose surgical and demographic data were complete and reliable. The exclusion criteria were: (1) Patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy that used Billroth-I anastomosis; (2) Those who were converted to open surgery; (3) Those who were found to have distant metastases intraoperatively; (4) Those who did not undergo radical resection; and (5) Those who gave up treatment or were transferred to another hospital.

Surgical methods and postoperative management

All surgeries were performed laparoscopically. Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy was reconstructed via an overlap anastomosis[21], and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was reconstructed via a Billroth-II anastomosis[22]. Lymph node dissection was performed according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines 2014 (ver. 4)[23]. This study used a 45-mm linear stapler (Johnson Company, United States) for the overlap anastomosis and a 60-mm linear stapler (Johnson Company, United States) for the Billroth-II anastomosis. In our department, we preferred the Billroth II anastomosis and Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy rather than the Billroth I anastomosis. A Billroth I anastomosis needs to preserve a large residual stomach, leading to insufficient tumor margins and significant anastomotic tension when the tumor location is relatively high and the diameter is large. In China, most gastric cancer cases are found in advanced stages, and the diameter of the tumor is often large compared to Japan and Korea[24-26]. In addition, Billroth I anastomosis has a greater risk of remnant gastritis and reflux esophagitis[27-28].

Postoperative management was conducted according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines (ver.4)[23]: The nasogastric tube was removed on postoperative day 1, and the abdominal drainage tube removed on postoperative day 5 without symptoms or inflammatory reactions. Abdominal CT, gastrointestinal tract angiography, or endoscopy was performed when an anastomotic leak was suspected.

Methylene blue testing technique

For the patients that underwent totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, we performed IMBT as follows (Figure 1A): After the digestive tract reconstruction (Figure 2A and A’), the nasogastric tube (18F) was delivered 5 cm from the distal end of the anastomotic stoma, gauze was wrapped around the anastomosis, and then the jejunum was clamped using an intestinal clamp 5 cm distal to the anastomosis. Next, normal saline was injected through the nasogastric tube to rinse and observe whether continuous bright red liquid flowed out of the nasogastric tube when pumping back. If the liquid was detected, we looked for and stopped the bleeding and then flushed repeatedly until the clear liquid was pumped back out. Next, we dissolved 2 mL (20 mg) of methylene blue into 50 mL of normal saline and injected it through the nasogastric tube in order to make the methylene blue liquid disperse evenly around the anastomosis (Figure 2B and B’). Finally, we observed whether the gauze around the anastomosis was stained blue; if there was blue staining (Figure 3), we identified the leak according to the blue-stained site, sutured it, and then changed the gauze and repeated the process.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of intraoperative methylene blue testing. A: Overlap anastomosis; B: Billroth-II anastomosis.

Figure 2

Surgery pictures and schematic pictures of intraoperative methylene blue testing. A: Surgery picture of esophagojejunostomy (overlap method); A’: Schematic picture of esophagojejunostomy (overlap method); B: Surgery picture of intraoperative methylene blue testing in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; B’: Schematic picture of intraoperative methylene blue testing in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; C: Surgery picture of Billroth-II anastomosis; C’: Schematic picture of Billroth-II anastomosis; D: Surgery picture of intraoperative methylene blue testing in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy; D’: Schematic picture of intraoperative methylene blue testing in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Figure 3

Positive results of intraoperative methylene blue testing.

For the patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, IMBT was performed as follows (Figure 1B): The nasogastric tube (18F) was indwelled 5 cm from the distal end of the anastomotic stoma after the digestive tract reconstruction (Figure 2C and C’). Next, we wrapped the anastomosis with gauze, and closed it with clamps 5 cm distal to the anastomosis. Then, the anastomosis was flushed with normal saline through the nasogastric tube; the needle was pumped back to observe whether there was bright red liquid flowing out of the nasogastric tube. If red liquid was present, we looked for and stopped the bleeding. The flushing was repeated until the clear liquid was extracted from the nasogastric tube. Next, 5 mL (50 mg) of methylene blue was dissolved into 500 mL of normal saline and injected through the nasogastric tube in order to evenly distribute the methylene blue liquid around the anastomosis (Figure 2D and D’). Finally, if blue liquid was present, we repeated the above procedures.

Definitions

We defined preoperative complications as one or more of the following: Anemia, malnutrition, diabetes, or pulmonary dysfunction. The World Health Organization's definition of anemia was used to define anemia: Hb concentration of < 12 g/dL in women and < 13 g/dL in men[29]. Malnutrition was defined by the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) criteria[30], which suggested two methods used to diagnose malnutrition: Method one: Body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2; method two: Unintentional weight loss combined with a low age-related BMI (< 20 kg/m2 in subjects < 70 years or < 22 kg/m2 in those ≥ 70 years) or low fat-free mass index (FFMI) (< 17 kg/m2 in men and < 15 kg/m2 in women). Positive IMBT was defined as the visualization of methylene blue on the gauze surrounding the anastomosis. PAL was defined as meeting one of the following criteria: (1) Gastrointestinal contents or bile-like fluid drained from the abdominal drainage tube; (2) Gastrointestinal radiography showed leakage of the contrast medium from the drainage tube; (3) Methylene blue was extracted from the abdominal drainage tube after the oral administration of methylene blue; (4) Abdominal CT examination showed that the gastrointestinal wall was incomplete, revealing gas and fluid leaks around the anastomosis; and (5) Anastomotic leaks were found under endoscopy after surgery.

Statistical analysis

Analyses were performed with statistic software SPSS for Windows Version 25.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States). Measurement data are expressed as the mean ± SD (normal distribution) or median (non-normal distribution). Count data are expressed as cases (rate). Univariate analysis was performed by the Chi-square test or a Fisher’s exact test when appropriate. Variables with P < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis, which was conducted using the logistic regression model. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

From January 2017 to December 2019, a total of 513 patients that underwent totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were analyzed retrospectively (211 patients in the IMBT group and 302 patients in the control group). Complete data of the intraoperative and postoperative findings are shown in Figure 4. The baseline data of the patients in the two groups are consistent, as shown in Table 1.

Figure 4

Schematic representation of study protocol and results. IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing.

Table 1

Demographic, surgical, and tumor characteristics of patients according to whether an intraoperative methylene blue testing was performed or not

Variable		IMBT group (211 cases)	Control group (302 cases)	χ2	P value
Gender	Male	130	182	0.095	0.759
	Female	81	120
Age (yr)	< 75	143	196	0.457	0.499
	≥ 75	68	106
BMI (kg/m2)	< 25	155	211	0.784	0.376
	≥ 25	56	91
Preoperative complications	Present absent	88123	111191	1.282	0.257
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy	Present absent	43168	61241	0.003	0.960
Degree of tumor differentiation	High	72	92	0.785	0.672
	Medium	95	142
	Low	44	68
Postoperative tumor pathological stage1	I	32	62	3.298	0.192
	II	62	94
	III	117	146
Surgeon’s experience	< 50 cases	21	24	0.624	0.429
	≥ 50 cases	190	278
Mode of surgery	TLTG	101	146	0.025	0.875
	TLDG	111	156
Operation time	< 4h	143	189	1.465	0.226
	≥ 4h	68	113
Amount of bleeding ≥ 400 mL	Present	79	100	1.024	0.312
	Absent	132	202

According to the 8th AJCC TNM staging system for gastric cancer. IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing; TLTG: Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; BMI: Body mass index; TLDG: Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Risk factors for positive IMBT

Seven patients (3.3%) had positive IMBT in the IMBT group, as detailed in Table 2. These cases were managed by additional suturing, none had a PAL, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 10.3 ± 1.1 d. Univariate analysis showed that surgeons with insufficient surgical experience (< 50 cases of totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy) were associated with a higher rate of positive IMBT (14.3% vs 2.1%, P = 0.021). Other risk factors included operation time > 4 h, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 (P = 0.008, 0.033, and 0.021, respectively), as shown in Tables 3 and 4. Multivariate analysis identified BMI > 25 kg/m2, operation time > 4 h, and insufficient surgical experience as independent risk factors for positive IMBT (P = 0.009, 0.002, and 0.010, respectively), as detailed in Table 5.

Table 2

Characteristics of positive intraoperative methylene blue testing

Patient No.	Location of leak on anastomotic wall	Operation model	Dehiscence	Management	PAL	Postoperative hospital stays (d)
1	Posterior wall	TLTG	Present	Suturing	No	10
2	Posterior wall	TLTG	Absent	Suturing	No	9
3	Posterior wall	TLTG	Absent	Suturing	No	11
4	Joint opening	TLTG	Absent	Suturing	No	10
5	Joint opening	TLTG	Absent	Suturing	No	11
6	Left wall	TLDG	Absent	Suturing	No	12
7	Left wall	TLDG	Present	Suturing	No	9

IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing; PAL: Postoperative anastomotic leak; TLTG: Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; TLDG: Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Table 3

Clinicopathological characteristics of the patients according to the results of intraoperative methylene blue testing and postoperative anastomotic leaks

Variable	IMBT group	IMBT		P value	Control group	PAL		P value
		Negative	Positive (%)			Negative	Positive (%)
Cases	211	204	7 (3.3)	-	302	289	13(4.3)	-
Gender
Male	130	126	4 (3.1)	1.0	182	173	9 (4.9)	0.575
Female	81	78	3 (3.7)		120	116	4 (3.3)
Age (yr)
< 75	143	139	4 (2.8)	0.541	196	191	5 (2.6)	0.70
≥ 75	68	65	3 (4.4)		106	98	8 (7.5)
BMI (kg/m2)
< 25	155	153	2 (1.3)	0.021	211	206	5 (2.4)	0.025
≥ 25	56	51	5 (8.9)		91	83	8 (8.8)
Preoperative complications
Absent	123	120	3 (2.4)	0.454	191	187	4 (2.0)	0.018
Present	88	84	4 (4.5)		111	102	9 (8.1)
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Absent	168	165	3 (1.8)	0.033	241	234	7 (2.9)	0.028
Present	43	39	4 (9.3)		61	55	6 (9.8)
Degree of tumor differentiation
High	72	70	2 (2.8)	0.784	92	88	4 (4.3)	1.000
Medium	95	92	3 (3.2)		142	136	6 (4.2)
Low	44	42	2 (4.5)		68	65	3 (4.6)
Postoperative tumor pathological stage1
I	32	30	2 (6.3)	0.493	62	59	3 (4.8)	0.754
II	62	60	2 (3.2)		94	89	5 (5.3)
III	117	114	3 (2.6)		146	141	5 (3.4)

According to the 8th AJCC TNM staging system for gastric cancer. IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing; PAL: Postoperative anastomotic leak; BMI: Body mass index.

Table 4

Surgical variables according to the results of intraoperative methylene blue testing and postoperative anastomotic leaks

Variable	IMBT group	IMBT		P value	Control group	PAL		P value
		Negative	Positive (%)			Negative	Positive (%)
Cases	211	204	7 (3.3)	-	302	289	13 (4.3)	-
Operation time (h)
< 4	143	142	1 (0.7)	0.008	184	177	7 (4.0)	0.577
≥ 4	68	62	6 (8.8)		118	112	6 (5.1)
Amount of bleeding (mL)
< 400	132	130	2 (1.5)	0.136	202	194	8 (4.0)	0.765
≥ 400	79	74	5 (6.3)		100	95	5 (5.0)
Mode of operation
TLTG	100	95	5 (5.0)	0.200	146	136	10 (6.8)	0.046
TLDG	111	109	2 (1.8)		156	153	3 (1.9)
Surgeon’s experience (cases)
< 50	21	18	3(14.3)	0.021	24	21	3 (12.5)	0.074
≥ 50	190	186	4 (2.1)		278	268	10 (3.6)

IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing; PAL: Postoperative anastomotic leak; TLTG: Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; TLDG: Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Table 5

Risk factors for positive intraoperative methylene blue testing and postoperative anastomotic leaks analyzed by multivariate analysis

Variable	B	Standard deviation	Wald	Exp(B)	Odds ratio (95%CI)		P value
					Lower limit	Upper limit
IMBT
BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2	2.123	0.810	6.862	8.357	1.707	40.922	0.009
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy	1.326	0.805	2.715	3.767	0.778	18.245	0.099
Operation time ≥ 4 h	4.023	1.319	9.303	55.881	4.212	741.381	0.002
Inexperienced surgeons	2.727	1.052	6.719	15.286	1.944	120.167	0.010
PAL
BMI > 25 kg/m2	1.289	0.858	2.259	3.630	0.676	19.498	0.133
Preoperative complications	2.575	1.081	5.671	13.128	1.577	109.268	0.017
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy	1.967	0.740	7.063	7.150	1.676	30.506	0.008
TLTG	2.206	1.091	4.083	9.075	1.069	77.070	0.043

IMBT: Intraoperative methylene blue testing; PAL: Postoperative anastomotic leak; BMI: Body mass index; TLTG: Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

Comparison of incidence of PALs

PAL occurred in 15 (2.9%) patients, including 2 in the IMBT group and 13 in the control group. The rate of PALs was significantly lower in the IMBT group than in the control group [2 of 211 patients (0.9%) vs 13 of 302 patients (4.3%), P = 0.0026].

Risk factors for PALs

The clinical characteristics of the patients with anastomotic leaks are shown in Table 6. The diagnosis time of PALs was 5.8 ± 2.0 d after surgery, postoperative hospital stay was 19.3 ± 3.5 d, and the abdominal drainage tube placement time was 17.3 ± 3.2 d. All 15 patients improved and were discharged from the hospital, and no one died. In the univariate analysis, patients with BMI > 25 kg/m2 (8.8% vs 2.4%, P = 0.025), preoperative complications (8.1% vs 2.0%, P = 0.018), totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (6.8% vs 1.9%, P = 0.046), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (9.8% vs 2.9%, P = 0.028) were associated with PALs, as shown in Tables 3 and 4. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative complications (hazard ratio [HR] = 13.128, P = 0.017), totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (HR = 9.075, P = 0.043), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 7.150, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for PALs (Table 5).

Table 6

Characteristics of postoperative anastomotic leaks

Patient No.	Group	Day of diagnosis after surgery (d)	TLTG or TLDG	Tumor staging1	Procedure used for patients	Time of placement of abdominal drainage tube (d)	Postoperative Hospital stays (d)
1	IMBT group	6	TLTG	IIB	Drainage	15	16
2	IMBT group	8	TLTG	IIIA	Second surgery + Drainage	20	21
3	Control group	4	TLTG	IA	Drainage	18	19
4	Control group	5	TLTG	IIA	Drainage	13	15
5	Control group	9	TLTG	IIB	Drainage	19	21
6	Control group	8	TLTG	IIB	Drainage	12	14
7	Control group	5	TLTG	IIIC	Drainage	18	20
8	Control group	3	TLTG	IIIC	Drainage	16	18
9	Control group	8	TLTG	IIB	Second surgery + Drainage	21	24
10	Control group	7	TLTG	IIIB	Second surgery + Drainage	22	25
11	Control group	7	TLTG	IIIC	Second surgery + Drainage	17	21
12	Control group	5	TLDG	IIIA	Drainage	12	14
13	Control group	3	TLDG	IIA	Second surgery + Drainage	17	18
14	Control group	3	TLDG	IIIA	Second surgery + Drainage	19	20
15	Control group	6	TLDG	IIIC	Second surgery + Drainage	20	23

According to the 8th AJCC TNM staging system for gastric cancer. PAL: Postoperative anastomotic leak; TLTG: Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy; TLDG: Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

DISCUSSION

Anastomotic leaks are among the most common and severe complications after totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy and are the main risk factor for patients' postoperative death[8-10]. The integrity of the anastomosis, which is closely related to the anastomotic technique, is a prerequisite for tissue healing and is essential for preventing anastomotic leaks[6,12]. In totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, we used IMBT to check the integrity of the anastomosis. The results showed that IMBT reduces the incidence of PALs, which is consistent with the IMBT results in open total gastrectomy[14].

Several methods are available to assess the integrity of the anastomosis. An intraoperative air leak test was proposed by Kanaji to check anastomotic integrity during open radical gastrectomy[6] and showed that this test reduces the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leaks; however, the intraoperative air leak test did not show the exact site of the leaks and only depicted the approximate area. Celik et al[14] showed a low incidence of anastomotic leaks in the methylene blue testing group (3.7% vs 14.4%, P = 0.007) in which methylene blue is injected via a nasogastric tube to check the integrity of the anastomosis during an open total gastrectomy. Some researchers[31] who performed an intraoperative endoscopic examination during laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery showed a low incidence of anastomotic leaks (0 vs 8%, P = 0.0412) and a low reoperation rate (0 vs 8%, P = 0.0412). However, it is a challenge to find gastroscopic instruments as well as an experienced endoscopist. Our study confirmed that IMBT is an important method for assessing anastomotic integrity in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, which detects anastomoses and pinpoints the areas of the leaks. Furthermore, we examined the anastomosis during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, whereas previous studies focused on esophagojejunal anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy.

This study found seven IMBT-positive patients whose anastomosis was reinforced with sutures, and none of them developed PALs. Our study indicated that patients with an operative time > 4 h, those with a BMI > 25 kg/m2, and insufficient surgical experience were associated with a higher risk of positive IMBT. Previous studies have shown that technically relevant factors such as prolonged operative time, excessive BMI, and inexperience of the surgeon are strongly associated with the occurrence of PALs[6,32-33]. Therefore, we recommend performing IMBT in patients with these high-risk factors.

However, two patients (0.9%) with negative IMBT developed PALs in this study, meaning that the cause of the anastomotic leaks is complex. This study found that patients with preoperative complications, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy are at a higher risk for PALs. Previous studies have indicated that anemia, malnutrition, and pulmonary insufficiency are also strongly associated with the occurrence of PALs[13,32,34], and are consistent with the results of our study. Kawamura et al[35] showed that the rate of anastomotic leaks is significantly higher in the laparoscopic total gastrectomy group (5.0 %) than in the laparoscopic distal gastrectomy group (1.2%), which is consistent with our study. However, there is still controversy about whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy leads to PALs. Gorur et al[36] reported that chemotherapy affects cell proliferation and the formation of collagenous fiber, which is a key component of anastomotic healing. Some studies reported that neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not increase the risk of PALs[37,38]. Our study suggested that neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a risk factor for PALs. We hypothesized that patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy have increased tissue toughness and adhesion within the abdominal cavity, resulting in increased surgical damage, thus leading to PALs. Therefore, we should pay close attention to patients with the above-mentioned risk factors.

This study has its limitations. First, it is a single-center retrospective study, which needs to be further confirmed by a multicenter, randomized controlled study with a larger sample size. Second, our study did not compare the IMBT, intraoperative air leak test, and intraoperative endoscopy. Finally, the methylene blue testing could not prevent PALs caused by non-technical factors.

CONCLUSION

In summary, IMBT can find technical defects within an anastomosis, and suturing can reduce the incidence of anastomotic leaks after totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Independent risk factors associated with PALs include preoperative complications, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

We hypothesized that intraoperative methylene blue testing (IMBT) could reduce the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leaks (PALs) in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Research motivation

IMBT, air leak testing, or endoscopy is used to assess the anastomotic integrity of esophagojejunostomy during open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. To the best of our konwledge, this is the first study to assess the anastomotic integrity during totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Research objectives

To explore the effects of IMBT on the incidence of PALs and identify the risk factors for PALs in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Research methods

The difference in the incidence of PALs was compared between the IMBT group and the control group. Logistic regression analysis was used to clarify the risk factor for positive IMBT and PALs.

Research results

Positive IMBT was shown in 7 patients (3.3%) in the IMBT group, and no PAL occurred in these patients after suture reinforcement. Moreover, 15 patients (2.9%) developed PALs, and the rate of PALs was significantly lower in the IMBT group than in the control group [2 of 211 patients (0.9%) vs 13 of 302 patients (4.3%), P = 0.0026]. Further analysis demonstrated that preoperative complications (hazard ratio [HR] = 13.128, P = 0.017), totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (HR = 9.075, P = 0.043), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 7.150, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for PALs.

Research conclusions

IMBT can find technical defects within an anastomosis, and suturing can reduce the incidence of PALs in totally laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Independent risk factors associated with PAL include preoperative complications, totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Research perspectives

Randomized controlled trials are expected to be conducted to measure the effects of IMBT.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Zhu JF for his review of our statistics.