Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopically Assisted Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.
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.


PATIENTS AND 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.


CONCLUSION
The outcomes of TLTG are not inferior to those of LATG. TLTG for gastric cancer is technically feasible and safe.
['Kim|Eun Young|EY|', 'Choi|Ho Joong|HJ|', 'Cho|Jin Beom|JB|', 'Lee|Junhyun|J|']
D000368:Aged D005260:Female D005743:Gastrectomy D006801:Humans D010535:Laparoscopy D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009017:Morbidity D011183:Postoperative Complications D013274:Stomach Neoplasms
Total gastrectomy gastric cancer linear stapler circular stapler esophagojejunostomy