Fast track surgery in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer        ZHAO Kun, WANG Gang, JIANG Zhi-wei, et al. Research Institute of General Surgery，Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command PLA，Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002，China
Corresponding author ：JIANG Zhi-wei, E-mail：surgery34@163.com
Abstract    Objective    To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fast track surgery in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods    The clinical data of 120 patients with gastric cancer performed gastrectomy between 2008 and 2011 in Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command PLA were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received elective gastric cancer resection, and were divided into three groups： group A (open gastrectomy, n=40) , group B (open gastrectomy with fast track surgery, n=40) and group C ( laparoscopic gastrectomy with fast track surgery, n=40). The clinical data and gut function were assessed in three groups. Results    There were no significant differences in postoperative complication and the number of lymph node harvest between 3 groups. Blood loss was less in group C than group A and group B (P<0.01) , but its operative time was longer and its cost was more than other two open surgery groups (P<0.01). Recovery of bowel function in group C was faster, and postoperative hospital stay was shorter than group A (P<0.01). However, recovery of bowel function and postoperative hospital stay in group C were not different from group B (P>0.05). Conclusion    Postoperative hospital stay can be shorter and recovery of bowel function can be faster in laparoscopic gastrectomy with fast track surgery plan compared with traditional care group. But when using fast track surgery plan, laparoscopic gastrectomy is not superior to open surgery.