Short- and long-term outcomes of LigaSure versus conventional surgery for curative gastric cancer resection: a matched pair analysis

The LigaSure vessel sealing system allows dissection and hemostasis in a safe and quick way, and it has been reported to be an effective tool to shorten operative time and reduce intraoperative blood loss for various surgeries. However, short- and long-term outcomes in comparison with conventional surgery for gastric cancer resection are limited. Between January 2005 and December 2009, 121 patients underwent curative resection for gastric cancer with LigaSure. Perioperative and long-term results were compared with those of 242 matched patients who received curative resection for gastric cancer with the conventional technique. Immediate operation outcomes, operation morbidity, recurrence and survival were compared between groups. In the LigaSure group compared with the conventional group, operation time was 156 versus 183 min (P < 0.0001), intraoperative blood loss was 181 versus 236 ml (P = 0.042), intraoperative blood transfusion was 68 versus 161 ml (P = 0.014), and hospital stay was 11.9 versus 13.6 days (P = 0.001). There were no differences in operation morbidity, recurrence rates, overall and disease-free survival between the LigaSure and conventional groups. LigaSure is associated with shorter operation time and hospital stay, less blood loss and transfusion, and comparable operation morbidity and long-term outcomes in comparison with conventional surgery for curative gastric cancer resection.