The benefit of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy compared with conventional open distal gastrectomy: a case-matched control study.

Background/aims: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy is a surgical procedure which is safe, useful, and technically feasible for patients with early gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to determine whether laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy is also superior to conventional open distal gastrectomy.

Methodology: The study comprised 27 consecutive patients with early gastric cancer who were admitted to our hospital from 1997 to 2000 and underwent distal gastrectomy.