Current literature suggests that minimally invasive distal gastrectomy (MIDG) may enhance post-operative recovery and decrease morbidity compared to open surgery (ODG) in patients with gastric cancer. A meta-analysis of six Prospective Randomized Trials comparing MIDG (343 patients) and ODG (323 patients) for gastric cancer was conducted. MIDG was associated with increased operative time, reduced blood loss and overall morbidity. There was not sufficient data to draw solid conclusions about the oncologic quality of MIDG.
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