OBJECTIVE

To analyze the primary results of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with distal gastric cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 21 laparoscopic distal gastrectomies in patients with distal gastric cancer. Mean age of patients was 63.7±6.3 years. According to TNM staging system, cancer stage 1 was detected in 90% of patients (n=19), stage 2a — in 10% (n=2) of patients.

RESULTS

Time of distal gastrectomy was 190.4±51.6 min, blood loss — 90.3±51.2 ml. The number of excised lymph nodes was 21.2±5.1. We were able to achieve R0 resection edge in all patients. Length of hospital-stay was 7.6±2.3 days, incidence of postoperative complications — 23.8%. Complications Clavien—Dindo grade IIIb—V were observed in 9.5% of patients (n=2). Overall postoperative mortality was 4.7% (n=1). No progression of the underlying disease has been revealed in any patient throughout the follow-up period (since May 2018). To date, the maximum median follow-up is 25 months of overall and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic subtotal distal resection is an appropriate intervention ensuring R0 resection edge in most cases.