The purpose of this study was to determine whether laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LDG) with D2 lymphadenectomy could be a standard treatment for cT2N0-1 gastric cancer. There have been few reports regarding the long-term outcomes of patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent LDG with D2 lymphadenectomy. The study included 32 patients who underwent LDG with D2 lymphadenectomy and 44 patients who underwent open distal gastrectomy (ODG) with D2 lymphadenectomy. There was no clinicopathologic difference in patient background between the groups. Operative duration was significantly longer in the LDG group than in the ODG group (297 ± 12 minutes versus 226 ± 10 minutes; P < 0.001). However, blood loss was significantly less (90 ± 27 mL versus 314 ± 23 mL; P < 0.001) and the number of days to assisted ambulation significantly shorter (1.1 ± 0.1 days versus 1.5 ± 0.1 days; P = 0.010) in the LDG group than in the ODG group. Median follow-up period was 60 months. The 5-year overall survival rates for the LDG group and the ODG group were 89.5% and 97.1%, respectively. The 5-year relapse-free survival rates for the LDG group and the ODG group were 88.0% and 97.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in overall and relapse-free survival rates between the groups. LDG with D2 lymphadenectomy for cT2N0-1 gastric cancer is oncologically and technically safe and feasible, and is an option in the surgeon's arsenal. Randomized controlled study including the investigation of cost-effectiveness should be conducted.
Long-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy versus open distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer