Laparoscopic Gastrectomy with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol: Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Gastric cancer surgery traditionally carries a high risk of perioperative complications.
• Laparoscopy and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to reduce surgical trauma and improve patient recovery.
• Optimizing surgical approaches is crucial for managing gastric cancer patients effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy integrated with the ERAS protocol.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of this combined approach on patient recovery and complications.
• To present data on operative parameters, hospital stay, and readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• Prospective analysis of 53 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
• Assessment of demographic and surgical parameters, ERAS protocol compliance, length of hospital stay, and complication rates.
• Data collection included operative time, blood loss, conversion rates, early oral diet tolerance, and postoperative mobilization.

Main Results:

• Mean operative time was 296.4 minutes with a mean blood loss of 293.3 mL; 5.7% required conversion to open surgery.
• Median hospital stay was 5 days, with 79.6% compliance with ERAS protocol elements.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 32.1% of patients (13.2% serious), and the 30-day readmission rate was 9.4%.

Conclusions:

• Combining laparoscopy with the ERAS protocol is a feasible strategy for gastric cancer surgery.
• This approach demonstrates favorable clinical outcomes, including efficient recovery and acceptable complication profiles.
• The findings support the integration of minimally invasive techniques and enhanced recovery pathways in gastric cancer management.