Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the shortterm oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic and open distal subtotal gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer.

Material and Method: Twentytwo patients who diagnosed as locally advanced gastric cancer were treated with distal subtotal gastrectomy from September 2014 to September 2015 were included the study. All patients underwent computed tomography scan for distant metastasis, and the diagnosis of gastric cancer was confirmed by pathologic evaluation. Patients that were treated open distal subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and laparoscopic distal subtotal gastrectomy (LDSG) with D2 lymphadenectomy were compared in terms of age, gender, size of tumor, number of removed lymph nodes, and early results of surgery.

Results: The mean age of patients was 53.8 ± 10.2 years and body mass index was 26.1 ± 3.9 kg/m2. There was no difference in terms of patient characteristics in both groups. Operative time was significantly long in LDSG group but the level of blood loss was less. There was no difference in the number of dissected lymph notes and the size of the removed tumor. Early postoperative complication rate was also similar in both groups.

Conclusion: LDSG is a safe method that provides an equal number of lymph node dissection with similar complication rates. LDSG can also provide improvements in oncologic results with less blood loss.