[Laparoscopic-assisted radical distal gastrectomy in treatment of invasive gastric cancer: analysis of 47 cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of laparoscopic-assisted radical distal resection of invasive gastric cancer.
Methods: Forty-seven patients with advanced gastric cancer, 33 males and 14 females, aged 58.2 (36 - 77), underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical resection and then were followed up for 17 months (2 - 33 months).
Results: All the 47 patients survived. The operation time was (294 +/- 75) min (200 - 420 min). The blood loss was (150 +/- 65) ml (50 - 500 ml). The number of dissected lymph nodes was (32.4 +/- 22.3) (15 - 48). The gastrointestinal peristalsis recovery time after operation was (2.7 +/- 1.2) d (2 - 6 d). The hospital stay time was (9.0 +/- 3.5) d (5 - 19 d). Post-operational complications were seen in 3 cases: pulmonary infection in 2 cases and incision infection in 1 case, and all the 3 patients recovered well after proper treatment.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted radical resection of invasive gastric cancer is safe and feasible, with the advantages as minimal invasion, less pain, shorter hospital stay, faster bowel function recovery.