Laparoscopic gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer

Objective: To present our initial results in the laparoscopic treatment of gastric cancer.

Methods: Between March 2002 and June 2005, 12 selected patients with resectable distal gastric cancer and oncological indication for radical treatment underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Results: There were 9 men and 3 women. The mean age was 62.6 years (range: 45-78). Ten D2 subtotal gastrectomies, with B-II reconstruction in 7 and B-III reconstruction in the remaining 3, were performed. In 6 patients, reconstruction was performed entirely by laparoscopy, while in the remaining 4 patients extracorporeal reconstruction was performed. Two total gastrectomies were performed: one was performed entirely by laparoscopy while in the other, laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy with extracorporeal esophagojejunal anastomosis was carried out. The mean operating time was 197.6 +/- 36.9 (130-260) minutes, although mean operating time was 142.5 minutes in the subgroup that underwent subtotal gastrectomy with extracorporeal anastomosis compared with 190.8 minutes when totally laparoscopic anastomosis was performed (p < 0.002). There were no intraoperative complications or conversions. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients: postoperative ileus for 7 days in 1 patient, intra-abdominal abscess requiring laparotomy in 1 patient and esophagojejunal anastomotic leak that resolved without reintervention in a third patient. Oral intake was reinitiated at 72 hours in 9 patients, while a further 2 required 5 days and the patient with postoperative ileus required 8 days. The mean length of postoperative stay was 10.7 +/- 7.3 (6-28) days. The mean number of resected nodes was 21.3 +/- 5 (16-31). There was 1 locoregional recurrence at 14 months in a patient with stage IIIB tumor after a mean follow-up of 25.8 months (4-73).

Conclusions: Laparoscopic gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer is technically feasible and is an alternative to open surgery in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality and oncological effectiveness when performed by teams with experience in laparoscopy and with appropriate patient selection.