title: Laparoscopy-assisted D2 subtotal gastrectomy in early gastric cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to prove the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted subtotal gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection using 4 ports and an EEA stapler with a Billroth I anastomosis. From 1999 to 2001, 20 patients with EGC located in the distal stomach underwent laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomy (LABIG). A 4-port-technique was performed for omentectomy, vascular ligation, and D2 lymph node dissection. A mini-incision was created between the two ports in the epigastric area and a gastroduodenal anastomosis with an EEA stapler and a distal resection was performed. The mean operating time was 261.8 (170-410) minutes. There was one postoperative complication without any intraoperative transfusions or perioperative mortality. The number of harvested nodes was 31.9 +/- 11.4. Mean distance from the lesion to the margin of resection was 5.3 +/- 2.2 cm proximally and 4.0 +/- 2.0 cm distally. On average, oral liquids were started at the 4.7th (3rd-8th) postoperative day. LABIG is a safe and effective way of performing D2 gastrectomy in terms of morbidity and oncological principles. A randomized controlled clinical study to compare long-term survival and quality of life is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam-Joon
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Fleischer
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D016896:Treatment Outcome