The Safety and Efficacy of Total Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy With Delta-Shaped Anastomosis Compared With Laparoscopic-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the safety and short-time benefits of enhanced recovery after surgery on hospital stay, recovery of gastrointestinal function and complications after total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with delta-shaped anastomosis, comparing with laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 134 patients with gastric cancer who were treated at Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Area Command from November 2013 to August 2015. A total of 70 patients underwent TLDG, and 64 patients underwent LADG. All patients were performed elective standard D2 total gastrectomy by 1 group of experienced surgeons. The short-term therapeutic benefits, including duration of flatus and defecation, postoperative pain, duration of postoperative stay, and complications between the 2 groups were analyzed. Results: Compared with LADG, TLDG had shorter time to the first flatus (74.09 ± 11.08 h versus 84.11 ± 12.18 h, P < 0.001), earlier postoperative liquid diet intake (98.83 ± 10.63 h versus 108.58 ± 13.08 h, P < 0.001), less dosage of pain killers (2.01 ± 0.85 versus 2.41 ± 0.85, P = 0.009), faster recovery with a shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.14 ± 0.3.43 d versus 9.97 ± 4.53 d, P = 0.009), There were no significant difference in operation time, blood loss, the number of lymph nodes retrieved, or the incidence of postoperative complications (anastomotic bleeding or leakage, wound infection, digestive tract dysfunction, thrombosis, or death; P > 0.05). Conclusions: TLDG with delta-shaped anastomosis is a safe and effective fast-tract surgical approach for earlier gastric cancer, which would probably achieve the short-term curative effect. Further studies based on larger volumes and long-term effects are required to confirm these findings.