BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve-sparing laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (Vs-LADG) for early gastric cancer has been introduced to reduce postgastrectomy syndrome, but its clinical and functional outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: Of the 105 patients reviewed in this study, 75 underwent Vs-LADG and 30 underwent laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer between January 1999 and May 2006. The clinical and functional outcomes of these two groups were compared. RESULTS: The clinical and pathologic background between the two groups did not differ. The incidence of gallstone was significantly lower in the Vs-LADG group than in the LADG group (p < 0.05), but no differences existed in duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, number of retrieved lymph nodes, time to first flatus after surgery, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As shown by the findings, Vs-LADG is a safe and minimally invasive surgery that may decrease the incidence of gallstone formation after gastrectomy.
BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve-sparing laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (Vs-LADG) for early gastric cancer has been introduced to reduce postgastrectomy syndrome, but its clinical and functional outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: Of the 105 patients reviewed in this study, 75 underwent Vs-LADG and 30 underwent laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer between January 1999 and May 2006. The clinical and functional outcomes of these two groups were compared. RESULTS: The clinical and pathologic background between the two groups did not differ. The incidence of gallstone was significantly lower in the Vs-LADG group than in the LADG group (p < 0.05), but no differences existed in duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, number of retrieved lymph nodes, time to first flatus after surgery, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As shown by the findings, Vs-LADG is a safe and minimally invasive surgery that may decrease the incidence of gallstone formation after gastrectomy.