Benefit of pyloroplasty to prevent gastric stasis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients undergoing extensive left-sided lymph node dissection

Backgrounds/Aims Intrahepatic cholangiocacinoma (IHCC) can result in spread of tumor cells to the lymph nodes (LNs) around the gastric lesser curvature. Extensive dissection of the gastric lesser curvature can induce injury to the extragastric vagus nerve branches that control motility of the pyloric sphincter and result in intractable gastric stasis. Herein, we presented our experience of preventive pyloroplasty added to resection of IHCC to address dissection-induced gastric stasis in 6 patients during 15-years. Methods We analyzed the survival outcomes of 54 IHCC patients presenting left-sided LN metastasis. Nine study patients who underwent extended left-sided LN dissection including lesser curvature LN dissection were selected and divided into 2 groups according to performance of preventive pyloroplasty and the incidence of gastric stasis was analyzed. Results All 54 patients were classified as stage IV due to T1-3N1M0 stage. The tumor recurrence rate were 56.4% at 1 year, 84.3% at 3 years and 84.3% at 5 years; and the overall patient survival rate were 51.9% at 1 year, 13.6% at 3 years and 6.8% at 5 years. In all 3 study patients who did not receive pyloroplasty, overt postoperative gastric stasis persisted for >10 days leading to prolonged hospital stay. In contrast, none of the 6 study patients who underwent pyloroplasty suffered from gastric stasis. Conclusions Pyloroplasty is a useful surgical option to prevent gastric stasis when extensive left-sided LN dissection is required in IHCC patients with LN metastasis who have very poor post-resection prognosis.