AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy(LATG)and open total gastrectomy(OTG)for gastric cancer.METHODS:A comprehensive search of PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science and BIOSIS Previews was performed to identify studies that compared LATG and OTG.The following factors were checked:operating time,blood loss,harvested lymph nodes,flatus time,hospital stay,mortality and morbidity.Data synthesis and statistical analysis were carried out using RevMan 5.1 software.RESULTS:Nine studies with 1221 participants were included(436 LATG and 785 OTG).Compared to OTG,LATG involved a longer operating time[weighted mean difference(WMD)=57.68 min,95%CI:30.48-84.88;P<0.001];less blood loss[standard mean difference(SMD)=-1.71;95%CI:-2.48--0.49;P<0.001];earlier time to flatus(WMD=-0.76 d;95%CI:-1.22--0.30;P<0.001);shorter hospital stay(WMD=-2.67d;95%CI:-3.96--1.38,P<0.001);and a decrease in medical complications(RR=0.41,95%CI:0.19-0.90,P=0.03).The number of harvested lymph nodes,mortality,surgical complications,cancer recurrence rate and long-term survival rate of patients undergoing LATG were similar to those in patients undergoing OTG.CONCLUSION:Despite a longer operation,LATG can be performed safely in experienced surgical centers with a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications than open surgery.
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