The Hepatic Left Lateral Segment Inverting Method Offering a Wider Operative Field of View During Laparoscopic Proximal Gastrectomy

Background: In laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, the hepatic left lateral segment often obstructs the operative field of view, especially around the esophageal hiatus. Therefore, a safe retraction method is needed. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of inverting the hepatic left lateral segment in laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy. Methods: This was a retrospective review of 81 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy. Patients were divided into two groups, i.e., the Nathanson liver retractor group (n = 41) and hepatic left lateral segment inverting group (n = 40). The unedited video recordings of the procedures and the patients’ medical records were reviewed and compared. Results: The hepatic left lateral segment inverting method provided a more satisfactory view of the operative fields and a wider working space around the esophageal hiatus than the Nathanson liver retractor. No intraoperative hepatic congestion and significantly improved postoperative liver enzyme elevations were observed with hepatic left lateral segment inverting method compared with the Nathanson liver retractor method. Conclusions: In laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, the hepatic left lateral segment inverting method appears to provide improvements in both the operative field of view and liver protection compared with the Nathanson liver retractor method.