title: Vascularizing lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer: A single-institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of vascularizing lymph node dissection (VLND) and non-vascularizing lymph node dissection (NVLND) from a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 315 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent standard D2 lymphadenectomy with curative intent was collected between January 1994 and December 2006. One hundred and fifty-two patients received VLND while 163 patients received NVLND. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median followed-up time was 82 mo. The rate of postoperative complications in the VLND group was 13.2%, while that in the NVLND group was 11.7% (P = 0.686). The overall 5-year survival rate was 64% in the VLND group and 59% in the NVLND group (P = 0.047). When subgroup analyses were performed according to Bormann type, type of differentiation and lymph node status, survival benefit was demonstrated in patients with Bormann type III or IV (59% vs 50%, P = 0.032), undifferentiated type (63% vs 49%, P = 0.021) or presence of lymph node metastasis (53% vs 38%, P = 0.010) in the VLND group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  D2 VLND in advanced gastric cancer treatment allows survival benefit with acceptable morbidity and mortality. VLND for patients with potentially curable advanced gastric cancer is feasible and safe when performed by a well-trained surgical team.
authors.affiliation: Fang-Hai Han, Sheng-Ning Zhou, Hong-Ming Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Hai
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Fang-Hai Han, Sheng-Ning Zhou, Hong-Ming Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Ning
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Fang-Hai Han, Sheng-Ning Zhou, Hong-Ming Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Fang-Hai Han, Sheng-Ning Zhou, Hong-Ming Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Fang-Hai Han, Sheng-Ning Zhou, Hong-Ming Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Clinical outcome; Gastric cancer; Non-vascularizing lymph node dissection; Vascularizing lymph node dissection