title: [Laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy: a report of 71 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients with gastric cancer received laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Among them radical total gastrectomy was performed in 8 cases, proximal partial gastrectomy in 16 cases, proximal partial gastrectomy combined with splenectomy in 3 cases, and distal partial gastrectomy in 44 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine cases had laparoscopic-assisted surgery performed successfully, but 2 cases were converted to open surgery. The mean operation time was (343 +/- 52) min for total gastrectomy, (268 +/- 62) min for proximal gastrectomy, (312 +/- 64) min for proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy, and (283 +/- 44) min for distal gastrectomy respectively. The mean volume of blood loss was (267 +/- 220) ml in total gastrectomy, (150 +/- 103) ml in proximal gastrectomy, (333 +/- 116) ml in proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy, (139+/- 84) ml in distal gastrectomy respectively. The mean numbers of harvested lymph nodes were (34.3 +/- 11.8). The mean time was (4.1 +/- 1.1) d for gastrointestinal function recovery, (3.5 +/- 1.0) d for patient's taking general activity, (5.0 +/- 1.2) d for taking liquid food. The short-term efficiency was obvious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy is a feasible, safe and minimally invasive treatment and can achieve the same outcomes as the open operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinan Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. yupeiwu01@vip.sina.com
authors.forename: Pei-wu
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zi-qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Hua-xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome