Endoscopic Surgery in the Field of Gastroenterology: Stomach and duodenum

摘要

In Japan, laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer has been performed more frequently in recent years.However, laparoscopic gastrectomy is not a standard procedure because of its technical complexity, which cancause large variations in surgical outcomes among different facilities. Many facilities are likely to begin withlaparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG), and aim at stepping up to laparoscopic total gastrectomy orgroup-2 lymph node dissection. However, most important is the standardization of techniques, particularly amongoperator assistants. Therefore, it is important to proceed to the next step only after competence in performingLADG has been achieved, avoiding overly hasty progression. This paper provides an outline of the current status,indications, and limitations of indications of laparoscopic gastrectomy, and discusses the future prospects ofthe procedure based on these issues.