title: [Laparoscopic gastrectomy in gastric cancer: experience in four patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of the laparoscopic surgery has allowed its incorporation to the surgical treatment of gastric cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy in gastric cancer in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective data in four patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer from May to August of 2005 was reviewed. Demographic data, clinical characteristics and postoperative results were registered. Patients were staged according to TNM-AJJC staging system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients aged 48 to 80 years (three males), underwent a completely laparoscopic R0 gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. Two patients underwent total gastrectomy. A subtotal Billroth II gastrectomy was performed in the other two patients. The mean operative time was 260 minutes (Range 180-330). There were no conversions to open surgery. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.5 days (Range 6-7 days). There were no complications. According to pathology, one patient presented carcinoma in stage IA, two patients in stage IB and one patient in stage IIIB. The mean number of lymph nodes dissected was 40 (Range 35-54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a feasible procedure with good postoperative results in this preliminary experience.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Digestiva, División de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. aescalon@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escalona
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crovari
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boza
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Devaud
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*