Laparoscopic Gastrectomy Using Instruments with a Minimal Diameter for Early Gastric Cancer: A Feasible Alternative to Conventional Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Experienced Surgeons.

Background: The application of laparoscopic surgery using instruments that are 3 mm or less in diameter for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) has not yet been established. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic gastrectomy using instruments with minimal diameter. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 patients who underwent laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy with D1-positive lymph node dissection for EGC. Among them, 17 patients underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy using instruments with a minimal diameter (experimental group), while 24 patients underwent conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (control group). In the experimental group, we used two 3-mm trocars, one 5-mm trocar, and the GelPOINT® Advanced Access Platform. We compared operative outcomes between the two groups and assessed the learning curve of laparoscopic gastrectomy using instruments with minimal diameter. Results: The operative outcomes were similar between the two groups. The preoperative-to-postoperative day 2 ratio of neutrophil count in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (2.07 versus 2.65; P = .038). Morbidity was not observed in the experimental group and 3 patients experienced complications in the control group, although it was not significantly different (P = .252). The operation time according to the accumulation of cases was stable without any significant change in the experimental group. Conclusions: Laparoscopic gastrectomy using instruments with minimal diameter is technically feasible and safe for EGC and could also be a good alternative to conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy to minimize the impact of surgical invasiveness when performed by experienced surgeons.