P1.076. An Ex Vivo Experimental Study on the Correlation Between Flask-Shaped Gastric Tube Width and Abdominal Gastric Volume

Abstract

Abstract Topic Esophageal Cancer: Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Cancer Background After esophagectomy, conventional narrow gastric tubes ensure length but markedly reduce residual gastric volume, potentially impairing postoperative storage and digestion. A flask-shaped design may preserve intra-abdominal gastric capacity. This study examined the quantitative relationship between tube width and retained gastric volume using an ex vivo rabbit stomach model. Methods Ex vivo stomachs from New Zealand rabbits were used. The lesser curvature resection start point was at the junction of left and right gastric vessels, preserving the right gastric artery. Esophageal length was measured, and the required longitudinal gastric tube length along the greater curvature from fundus to pylorus was determined. A line connecting lesser and greater curvature points was trisected to define three width gradients, forming wide, medium, and narrow flask-shaped gastric tube models (n = 3 per group). Resection followed the line to each trisection point and extended along the greater curvature to the fundus apex. The lesser curvature edge was closed with double-layer continuous 6-0 absorbable sutures to form a sealed tube. The proximal end was clamped, and water injected until leakage. Tube width, anterior wall area, and maximum intra-abdominal gastric capacity were recorded and compared. Ethical approval was obtained(Approval No.XJTUAE2025-3876). Results Significant differences were observed among the wide, medium, and narrow groups in gastric tube width (P < 0.05; 2.67 ± 0.38 vs. 1.74 ± 0.15 vs. 0.78 ± 0.18 cm), anterior wall area of the intra-abdominal stomach (P < 0.05; 6.94 ± 2.47 vs. 11.21 ± 3.03 vs. 14.60 ± 3.00 cm2), and maximum intra-abdominal gastric volume (P < 0.05; 10.33 ± 2.52 vs. 26.33 ± 2.08 vs. 29.00 ± 2.65 mL). Both anterior wall area and maximum volume increased significantly as tube width decreased, with maximum volume showing a strong negative correlation with tube width (r = − 0.857, P = 0.003). Conclusion Under the premise of maintaining adequate longitudinal length, gastric tube width is negatively correlated with intra-abdominal gastric capacity. Reducing tube width significantly enhances gastric reservoir volume. These ex vivo findings provide experimental support for optimizing postoperative storage function, although clinical validation through in vivo studies remains necessary.