title: Comparison of laparoscopic and open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of minimally invasive gastrectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer is not well defined. The aim of the current study was to compare the operative outcomes and adequacy of resection of laparoscopic gastrectomy compared to open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical course of 15 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive gastrectomy or esophagogastrectomy for gastric cancer were compared with that of 21 patients who underwent open gastrectomy. Main outcome measures included operative time, blood loss, length of stay, morbidity, 30-day mortality, and adequacy of lymphadenectomy and resection margins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no conversion to laparotomy in the laparoscopic group. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (138 mL vs. 357 mL). There was no significant differences in the mean operative time (244 vs. 241 min.), transfusion rate (6% vs. 29%), median length of stay (6 vs. 7 days), morbidity (7% vs. 24%), or number of lymph nodes harvested (15 vs. 14 nodes) between the 2 groups. Resection margins were negative in all patients. There were no leaks and the 30-day mortality was 0 in both groups. Anastomotic strictures were higher in the laparoscopic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic gastrectomy is feasible and can be performed safely with adequate lymphadenectomy compared with open gastrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
authors.forename: J Esteban
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiyashi
authors.forename: Tien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabio
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ninh T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: 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