title: Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopically Assisted Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to evaluate the surgical outcomes as well as the morbidity and mortality of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) compared to laparoscopically-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG), and to confirm the feasibility and safety of TLTG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2009 and January 2014, 56 patients underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Among them, 27 underwent TLTG using a linear stapler and 29 underwent LATG using a circular stapler for esophagojejunostomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinicopathological characteristics did not differ significantly between groups, except for stage and tumor size. Anastomotic time and estimated blood loss did not differ significantly. Differences in the number of retrieved lymph nodes and the proximal cut margin were not found to be significant. Early postoperative complications were observed in five patients in both groups. No mortality occurred in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of TLTG are not inferior to those of LATG. TLTG for gastric cancer is technically feasible and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea surgeryjun@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Junhyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Total gastrectomy; circular stapler; esophagojejunostomy; gastric cancer; linear stapler