Xiaowu Xu, MD, Yiping Mou, MD, FACS, Ke Chen, MS. Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the survival outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy( LDG).
METHODS: There were 240 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who received LDG at our institution from October 2004 to April 2013. Early surgical outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy( LADG) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) were compared and operative experiences were evaluated.
RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 93 underwent LADG and 147 had TLDG. There were 109 T1, 36 T2, 31 T3, and 64 T4a lesions. The median follow-up period was 31.5 months (range:4-106 months). Tumors recurred in 40 patients. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates according to the stage of tumor were 90.3% and 93.1% in stage I, 72.7% and 67.6% in stage II, and 34.8% and 41.5% in stage III, respectively. There were no signi?cant differences in early surgical outcomes such as operation time, blood loss and postoperative recovery between LADG and TLDG.
CONCLUSIONS: The ?ndings show that LDG for gastric cancer had acceptable long-term oncologic outcomes. And the early surgical outcomes of LADG and TLDG were similar.