Department of Surgery, Keimyung University School of Medicine
Corresponding Author:
Soo Sang Sohn ,Tel: +82-53-250-7313, Fax: +82-53-250-7322, Email: sohnss@dsmc.or.kr
Received: May 23, 2011; Accepted: June 20, 2011.
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ABSTRACT
Purpose : The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and prognosis after laparoscopy assisted
distal gastrectomy (LADG) and open distal subtotal gastrectomy (ODG) by a surgeon who started his role as an
operator for LADG and ODG contemporaneously.
Materials and Methods : A surgeon started his role as an operator for LADG and ODG in late 2004 around the same
time. Between September 2004 and August 2009, 236 patients with early gastric cancer underwent LADG (n = 160)
or ODG (n = 76). The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes and survival were analyzed from the
review of medical records.
Result : The operation time was significantly longer in LADG group (p<0.001), and the amount of surgical bleeding
was significantly smaller in LADG group (p<0.001). The numbers of retrieved lymph nodes were 49.0 °æ 17.3 in
LADG group and 60.2 °æ 24.2 in ODG group (p<0.001). The rates of complications were not significantly different
between two groups. Five-year overall survival of LADG group and ODG group were 93.3% and 93.7% respectively
(p=0.665).
Conclusion : For a surgeon who started the role as an operator for LADG and ODG contemporaneously,
performing LADG was feasible and safe. The high level of expertise in ODG as an operator may not be an essential
requirement for surgeons to start LADG.