Introduction.

When performing a distal gastrectomy, the gastric remnant is supplied by the short gastric vessels. In this study we present a series of cases of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, with the variant of preserving the superior branch of the left gastric artery, with a small gastric remnant.

Methods.

Observational study, follow-up of a retrospective cohort of patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy between January 2017 and June 2019. All patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy were included. Clinical variables of the patients, intraoperative variables, information related to the pathology report and complications of the gastro-jejunal anastomosis were studied.

Results.

A total of 61 medical records of patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy were reviewed; preservation of the ascending branch of the left gastric artery was found in 73.8% of the patients (n = 45). The average number of lymph nodes resected was 24. There were a total of 10 complications, eight related to the anastomosis (three strictures, four leaks and one patient with bleeding from the upper digestive tract), and two patients who presented intra-abdominal collections. No statistical relationship was found between the preservation of the ascending branch of the left gastric artery and the presence of complications.

Discusion.

The variation that we present of the laparoscopic distal gastrectomy technique meets the oncological requirements in patients with gastric cancer and is not related to complications of the gastrojejunal anastomosis.

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