Influence of endoscopic resection on additional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a propensity score-matching analysis

Purpose There is no definite evidence of the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for patients who have undergone incomplete endoscopic resection (ER). We investigated the influence of ER prior to LDG by a propensity score matching analysis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of gastric cancer patients who underwent LDG with or without prior ER from 2000 to 2014. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the two groups of patients. Results After matching, 47 patients in the ER group and 94 patients in the non-ER group were selected from a total of 365 patients. A residual tumor was observed in 10 of 47 patients (21.3%). The mean number of dissected lymph nodes in the non-ER group (39.4 +/- 14.5) was higher than that in the ER group (31.7 +/- 13.5) (P = 0.003). However, other perioperative data, such as the operation time and blood loss volume were similar. The complication rate of the ER group (17.0%) and the non-ER group (9.6%) did not differ to a statistically significant extent (P = 0.2). Among these patients, 6 died during the 5-year follow-up period, but no patients showed signs of recurrence. Conclusion ER prior to surgical resection showed no significant influence on postoperative complications or mortality. LDG can be safely performed to achieve radical resection after incomplete ER.