Surgeons need to know that proximal gastrectomy methods dtr and dft outperform tg and eg in key outcomes for early gastric cancer.

• Reflux esophagitis rates were higher in eg compared to dft and dtr.
• Anastomotic stenosis was less common with dtr than eg.
• Dft achieved the highest 12-month hemoglobin levels; hospital stay was shorter compared to other methods.

Consider dtr and dft for improved patient outcomes and easier recovery in proximal early gastric cancer surgeries.