Preliminary experience of fast-track surgery combined with laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fast-track surgery combined with laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Eighty-eight eligible patients were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) fast-track surgery (FTS) + laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy (LADG), treated with LADG and FTS treatment; (2) LADG, treated with LADG and traditional treatment; (3) FTS + open distal grastectomy (ODG), treated with ODG and FTS treatment; and (4) ODG, treated with ODG and traditional treatment. The clinical parameters and serum indicators were compared. Compared with the ODG group, the other three groups had earlier first flatus and shorter postoperative hospital stay (all P <0.01; all P <0.05), especially in the FTS + LADG group. The level of ALB was higher in the FTS + LADG group than in the LADG group at 4 and 7 days after surgery (P <0.05, P <0.01). The level of CRP in the FTS + LADG group was lower than in the FTS+ODG group at 4 and 7 days after surgery (P <0.05, P <0.05). The FTS + ODG group had lowest medical costs. Combination of FTS and LADG in gastric cancer is safe, feasible, and efficient and can improve nutritional status, lessen postoperative stress, and accelerate postoperative rehabilitation. Compared with FTS + ODG and LADG, its advantages were limited in short-term follow-up.