ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 210 cases of laparoscopic gastrectomy and 180 cases of open gastrectomy for radical (D2) gastrectomy from May 2007 to Dec 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 206 cases underwent laparoscopic-assisted surgery with 4 conversions. Compared to the open group, the laparoscopic group was associated with less bleeding [(208±38) ml vs. (300±52) ml, P<0.05], quicker postoperative recovery of bowel function [(2.9±0.7) d vs. (3.9±1.8) d, P<0.05], shorter postoperative length of hospital stay[(12.8±6.2) d vs. (15.6±6.8) d, P<0.05], longer operative time [(258±42) min vs. (193±30) min, P<0.05]. The number of lymph node harvested was 20.5±1.9 in the laparoscopic group and 25.8±1.5 in the open group, and the postoperative complication rate was 8.1% (17/201) vs. 8.5% (15/180), and differences were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The recurrence rate was 2.9% (6/210) and 2.8% (5/180), and the 3-year overall survival rate was 35.6% and 37.8%, the differences were not statistically significant (both P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer is safe and effective, which can reach the same range of lymph node dissection as open gastric cancer surgery and similar survival rate.</p>