Gastrectomy and Esophagogastrectomy for Proximal and Distal Gastric Lesions: A Comparison of Open and Laparoscopic Procedures

• Published in: Surgical innovation 2009-06, Vol.16 (2), p.134-139
• Main Authors: Francescutti, Valerie, Choy, Ian, Biertho, Laurent, Goldsmith, Charles H., Anvari, Mehran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Esophagectomy - adverse effects; Esophagectomy - methods; Esophagogastric Junction - pathology; Esophagogastric Junction - surgery; Female; Gastrectomy - adverse effects; Gastrectomy - methods; Humans; Laparoscopy; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Retrospective Studies; Stomach Diseases - mortality; Stomach Diseases - pathology; Stomach Diseases - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1553-3506; 1553-3514
• DOI: 10.1177/1553350609336738

Laparoscopic gastrectomy is safe for benign lesions; however, such surgery for cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes in open versus laparoscopic gastrectomy. Data on patients undergoing open (n = 15) or laparoscopic (n = 52) gastrectomy revealed a mean age of 61.7 and 70.5 years, respectively (P = .06). Mean operative time was 32.3 minutes longer in the laparoscopic group (P = .24). The difference in median length of hospital stay was 3 days (open 12 days, laparoscopic 9 days). Postoperative morbidity (< 30 days) was not different; however, there were more early respiratory complications in the open group (P = .009). There were 4/6 (66.7%) open and 2/29 (6.9%) cancer recurrences. Laparoscopic approach for treatment of gastric lesions is safe and does not have a deleterious effect on cancer-related outcome.