Appendix 1. Glossary of terms

Anastomosis: the surgical connection between two structures, usually hollow, tubular ones to maintain continuity, e.g. anastomosis of blood vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal tract

Bile: a dark green to yellowish‐brown fluid, produced by the liver that aids the digestion of lipids in the small intestine

Billroth‐I: an operation in which the pylorus is removed and the proximal stomach (or its remnant) is anastomosed directly to the duodenum

D2 lymphadenectomy: extended resection of lymph node basins around the stomach

Distal gastrectomy: a procedure in which the portion of the stomach distal to the antrum is excised

Duodenum: the first part of the small intestine (which follows after the stomach)

Endoscopically: using an endoscopy via mouth

Extracorporeal: occurring outside the body

Gastrectomy: a procedure where all or part of the stomach is surgically removed

Gastric: related to the stomach

Gastrojejunostomy: the surgical joining of the stomach and the jejunum to keep the continuity of the alimentary tract

Internal hernia: protrusions of the viscera through the peritoneum or mesentery, but remaining within the abdominal cavity

Intracorporeal: occurring within the body

Jejunal interposition: a reconstructive procedure putting a section of the jejunum between the remnant stomach and the duodenum to replace the missing section of the stomach after distal side of the stomach is resected

Lymphadenectomy: resection of the lymph node basin

Malignancy: malignant tumour

Mesenteric: related to mesentery (a tissue which attaches the intestines to the wall of the abdomen)

Mucosa: a moist membrane that lines various cavities in the body and surrounds internal organs

Physiologic: related to or characteristic of organism's normal function

Postgastrectomy syndrome: uncomfortable symptoms including fullness, delayed emptying, and cold sweat among others, which occur after gastrectomy

Reflux oesophagitis: inflammation of the distal oesophagus caused by bile which occurs after distal or total gastrectomy due to loss of valval function between the stomach and the oesophagus

Resection: surgical removal

Roux‐en‐Y: the surgical joining of the remnant stomach and the jejunum which is divided to make alternative pathway to divert bile flow away

Roux stasis: a symptom complex of postprandial fullness, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain occurring after a Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction without outlet stricture

Ulcer: a discontinuity or breach in the continuity of a body membrane

Appendix 2. CENTRAL search strategy

1. exp Stomach Neoplasms/

2. ((gastric or gastro* or stomach) adj3 (cancer* or carcinoma* or malignan* or tumor* or tumour* or neoplas* or adenocarcinoma*)).tw,kw.

3. 1 or 2

4. exp Gastric Bypass/

5. (Roux‐en‐Y or Roux‐Y).tw,kw.

6. ((Stomch or gastric or gastro*) adj3 bypass).tw,kw.

7. (gastrojejunostom* or gastro‐jejunostom* or ((gastrojejunal or gastro‐jejunal or jejunogastric or jejunum‐gastric or jejuno‐gastric) adj2 (anastomosis or fixation))).tw,kw.

8. Billroth*.tw,kw.

9. or/4‐8

10. 3 and 9

Appendix 3. MEDLINE search strategy

1. exp Stomach Neoplasms/

2. ((gastric or gastro* or stomach) adj3 (cancer* or carcinoma* or malignan* or tumor* or tumour* or neoplas* or adenocarcinoma*)).tw,kw.

3. 1 or 2

4. exp Gastric Bypass/

5. (Roux‐en‐Y or Roux‐Y).tw,kw.

6. ((Stomch or gastric or gastro*) adj3 bypass).tw,kw.

7. (gastrojejunostom* or gastro‐jejunostom* or ((gastrojejunal or gastro‐jejunal or jejunogastric or jejunum‐gastric or jejuno‐gastric) adj2 (anastomosis or fixation))).tw,kw.

8. Billroth*.tw,kw.

9. or/4‐8

10. 3 and 9

11. randomized controlled trial.pt.

12. clinical trial.pt.

13. random*.ab.

14. placebo.ab.

15. trial.ab.

16. groups.ab.

17. or/11‐16

18. exp animals/ not humans.sh.

19. 17 not 18

20. 10 and 19

Appendix 4. Embase search strategy

1. exp stomach tumor/

2. ((gastric or gastro* or stomach) adj3 (cancer* or carcinoma* or malignan* or tumor* or tumour* or neoplas* or adenocarcinoma*)).tw,kw.

3. 1 or 2

4. exp gastric bypass surgery/

5. exp gastrojejunostomy/

6. exp gastrectomy Billroth I/

7. (Roux‐en‐Y or Roux‐Y).tw,kw.

8. ((Stomch or gastric or gastro*) adj3 bypass).tw,kw.

9. (gastrojejunostom* or gastro‐jejunostom* or ((gastrojejunal or gastro‐jejunal or jejunogastric or jejunum‐gastric or jejuno‐gastric) adj2 (anastomosis or fixation))).tw,kw.

10. Billroth*.tw,kw.

11. or/4‐10

12. 3 and 11

13. random*.ab.

14. (placebo: or double‐blind:).mp.

15. clinical trial:.mp.

16. blind:.tw.

17. exp health care quality/

18. or/13‐17