[Laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node dissection for proximal gastric cancer]

Splenic hilar lymph node (LN) should be removed in a D2 lymph node dissection for the advanced proximal gastric cancer. After improving the surgical technology and renewing treatment concepts, spleen-preserving splenic hilar LN dissection has been accepted by more and more surgeons. Because the anatomy position of spleen is very deep, and the splenic vessel is various, laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar LN dissection may be more difficult. In order to do better in laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar LN dissection, surgeons should choose the suitable patients; take reasonable surgical approach and surgical steps. Moreover, knowing the anatomy variance well of splenic vessel is also very important too.