Objective：To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Methods：The follow-up data of 61 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical surgery for gastric cancer from August 2006 to December 2009 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.
Results： The follow-up rate was 85.2% (52/61). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 42 months (median 22 months). Eight patients died and two patients were still alive with tumor recurrence during the follow-up perid The recurrences and deaths were all found in patients with advanced gastric cancer, and the incidence of recurrence was 0 (0/19) in stage I, 20%(2/10) in stage II, 25.0% (5/20) in stage III, and 100%(3/3) in stage IV. The 1-, 2-, 3-year overall survival rate was 97.4%, 85.6% and 71.0% respectively, and the disease-free survival rate was 92.7%, 81.2% and 67.8% respectively.
Conclusions：Laparoscopic gastrectomy for early gastric cancer has a good prognosis and can be recommended for general use. For advanced gastric cancer, the outcome of laparoscopy is not worse than that of open operation, but further study will be needed.