Outcomes of laparoscopic versus open total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The effectiveness of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (LTGD2) remains controversial. This meta-analysis compares surgical and survival outcomes of LTGD2 and open total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (OTGD2) for gastric cancer. Methods Controlled studies comparing LTGD2 and OTGD2 published before November 2021 were retrieved via database searches. We compared intraoperative outcomes, pathological data, postoperative outcomes, 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Results 17 studies were included, containing 4742 patients. Compared with OTGD2, the LTGD2 group had less blood loss (mean difference [MD] = - 122.48; 95% CI: - 187.60, - 57.37; P = 0.0002), fewer analgesic medication (MD = -2.48; 95% CI: - 2.69, - 2.27; P < 0.00001), earlier first flatus (MD = - 1.03; 95% CI: - 1.80, - 0.26; P = 0.009), earlier initial food intake (MD = - 0.89; 95% CI: - 1.09, - 0.68; P < 0.00001) and shorter hospital stay (MD = - 3.24; 95% CI: - 3.75, - 2.73; P < 0.00001). The LTGD2 group had lower postoperative total complication ratio (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.92; P = 0.006), incision (OR = 0.50; 95% CI:0.31, 0.79; P = 0.003) and pulmonary (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.96; P = 0.03) complication rates, but similar rates of other complications and mortality. Total number of dissected lymph nodes were similar, but the number of No. 10 dissected nodes was less with LTGD2 (MD = - 0.31; 95% CI: - 0.46, - 0.16; P < 0.0001). There was no difference in 5-year OS (P = 0.19) and DFS (P = 0.34) between LTGD2 and OTGD2 groups. Conclusions LTGD2 produces small trauma, fast postoperative recovery and small length of hospital stays than OTGD2, and had similar long-term clinical efficacy as OTGD2. However, these results still need further high-quality prospective randomized controlled trials confirmation.

Automated summary

This meta-analysis compares the surgical and survival outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (LTGD2) and open total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (OTGD2) for gastric cancer. The results show that LTGD2 has advantages in terms of less blood loss, lower postoperative complication rates, faster postoperative recovery, and shorter hospital stays compared to OTGD2, but there is no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes dissected and 5-year survival rates.