Technical aspects, short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic D2-lymphadectomy in gastric cancer.

Purpose: Gastric cancer is a common malignancy and its radical excision with an adequate lymph node resection provides an improved oncologic outcome. D2 lymphadenectomy in distal or total gastrectomy is considered a highly desirable technique for curable early or locally advanced gastric cancer. Many studies with high-level of evidence confirm the importance of the application of minimally invasive techniques in improving the short and long term outcomes of patients who undergo gastrectomy.