Meta-analysis of laparoscopic and open surgery for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Aim: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate and compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and conventional open surgery for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Materials And Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register for relevant articles published between 2000 and July 2013 by using the search terms "laparoscopic", "laparoscopy-assisted", "surgery", "gastrointestinal tumor", "GIST" and "gastric".

Results: We identified 12 articles reporting results that compared laparoscopic surgery with open surgery for gastric GISTs. Our meta-analysis included 644 patients with GISTs; 312 had undergone laparoscopic surgery, and 332 had undergone open surgery. In the short-term period, 14 outcome variables were examined. In the long-term period, six oncological variables were analyzed. Laparoscopic surgery for gastric GIST was associated with a reduction in intraoperative blood loss, shorter period to flatus, earlier resumption of oral intake, and shorter duration of hospital stay over the short-term, and with a significantly lower rate of overall recurrence, metastatic recurrence and local recurrence in the long-term compared to open surgery.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery may be an acceptable surgical treatment option compared to open surgery for gastric GIST.