OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of previous abdominal operations on the outcome of laparoscopy-assisted radical total gastrectomy (LATG).

METHODSClinical data of 328 patients with gastric cancer who underwent LATG from January 2008 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the patients, 57 cases had previous abdominal surgeries (PAS group) and 271 cases had no previous abdominal surgeries (NPAS group). The intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared, and risk factors associated with postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean number of lymph nodes harvested (30.2±10.5 vs. 31.1±9.4, P>0.05). The operative time [(247.0±60.5) min vs. (214.7±57.0) min, P<0.01] and the postoperative complication rate [21.1%(12/57) vs. 11.1%(30/271), P<0.05] were significantly different between the two groups. However, there were no differences in intraoperative blood loss, transfused patients, conversion, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative flatus passage time, resumption of liquid diet, removal of gastric tube, and postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous abdominal surgeries was not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication morbidity (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLATG is feasible for gastric cancer patients who has previous abdominal surgeries. Previous abdominal surgery may prolong operative time but is not an independent risk factor associated with postoperative complication.