Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gastric cancer was started from the early 1990s as laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). Currently, laparoscopic gastrectomy is the most popular surgical option in early gastric cancer (EGC) treatment. However, its application in advanced gastric cancer is still controversial and several clinical trials are ongoing. Another surgical tool for gastric cancer surgery is the robot. Robotic surgery is currently performed in a limited number of patients, primarily due to its high cost in Korea. Its safety is estimated to be equivalent to that of laparoscopic surgery, but its cost effectiveness is still controversial. To improve post-operative gastrointestinal function, modified gastrectomy procedures like pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) and proximal gastrectomy with double tract anastomosis have been tried but are still controversial. For minimizing gastric resection, wedge resection in EGC is proposed, applying the sentinel node (SN) concept, and this technique is now in clinical trials. Various approaches of MIS are now being trialed in gastric cancer patients in an attempt to identify strategies for improving surgical outcomes and patients' quality of life.