Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in patients with previous endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND Some patients undergoing endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer need further surgical treatment to achieve cure. However, the influence of endoscopic resection on subsequent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) remains unclear. METHODS A total of 711 patients who underwent LAG were analysed retrospectively; 111 patients had undergone endoscopic resection previously and the remaining 600 had no history of endoscopic resection. Patient characteristics, operative and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Risk factors associated with postoperative complications were analysed. RESULTS Duration of operation and blood loss were comparable between the two groups. Patients who had undergone endoscopic resection had fewer dissected lymph nodes and a lower rate of preservation of the coeliac branch of the vagus nerve, especially those who had LAG within 2 months after endoscopic resection. Early postoperative outcomes, including complications, gastrointestinal recovery and length of postoperative hospital stay, were not significantly different between the two groups. Previous endoscopic resection was not a risk factor for postoperative complications. CONCLUSION LAG can be performed safely even after endoscopic resection. Endoscopic resection might increase the difficulty of subsequent LAG, including lymph node dissection and preservation of the coeliac branch of the vagus nerve; however, it has little influence on early postoperative outcome.