The Long-Term Results of Distal Gastrectomy by Mini-laparotomy in Early Gastric Cancer Patients

Abstract

IntroductionRadical distal gastrectomy by mini-laparotomy is an alternative surgical treatment modality with technical feasibility in early gastric cancer (EGC) patients. The aim of this study is to assess the oncologic feasibility of distal gastrectomy by mini-laparotomy in EGC patients through a long-term survival analysis based on the prospectively collected data. Patients and MethodsFrom January 2003 to November 2003, a total of 53 EGC patients who received distal gastrectomy by laparotomy were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into two groups, that is, the mini-laparotomy group (ML, n = 22) and the conventional laparotomy group (CL, n = 31). A comparative long-term survival analysis was performed. ResultsThe hospital stay was significantly shorter in mini-laparotomy group (P = 0.002). However, there were no significant differences in the pathologic results such as the resection margin and the number of harvested lymph nodes. In long-term survival results, there were no significant differences in disease-free and overall survival rate of the patients according to the method of laparotomy. ConclusionsRadical distal gastrectomy by mini-laparotomy in EGC patients would be also one of the minimally invasive surgical modality in oncologic aspect.