Role of robot-assisted distal gastrectomy compared to laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy in suprapancreatic nodal dissection for gastric cancer

Despite theoretical advantages, no clear benefit was proven for initial application of robotic surgery for gastric cancer so far. The aim of this analysis was to examine the role of robotic surgery regarding nodal dissection technically demanding areas compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This analysis included 87 patients who underwent robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) and 288 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) at the National Cancer Center, Korea, between February 2009 and September 2011. Clinicopathologic data, surgery-related data, postoperative morbidity, and pathologic data for each nodal station were analyzed. Time to flatulence was 3.5 +/- A 0.8 days for RADG and 3.8 +/- A 0.8 days for LADG (P = 0.01). Postoperative hospital stay was 6.7 +/- A 1.0 days in RADG and 7.4 +/- A 2.4 days in LADG (P < 0.001).The number of dissected lymph nodes was 37.1 +/- A 12.9 in the RADG group and 34.1 +/- A 12.1 in the LADG group (P = 0.044). In patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy, the number of dissected lymph nodes in the N2 area was 16.3 +/- A 7.7 for RADG and 13.2 +/- A 5.3 for LADG (P = 0.001). The number of dissected lymph nodes around the splenic artery area was 2.9 +/- A 2.9 in RADG and 2.2 +/- A 2.0 in LADG (P = 0.04). Regarding postoperative complications, there was no statistically significant difference [five patients (5.7 %) in RADG and 26 patients (9 %) in LADG) (P = 0.330)]. RADG could provide an advantage over LADG in the dissection of the N2 area lymph nodes, especially around the splenic artery area.