Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of small-incision laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods A total of 80 patients with advanced gastric cancer scheduled for radical gastrectomy were enrolled and randomly divided into control group and observation group using a random number table method, with 40 patients in each group. The control group underwent open surgery, while the observation group underwent small-incision laparoscopic surgery. Clinical indicators related to the surgery were recorded in both groups. Inflammatory markers were measured and compared between the two groups before surgery and 72 hours after surgery. Postoperative recovery and the incidence of complications during hospitalization were observed and compared between the two groups.

Results There were no statistically significant differences in operative time, the number of dissected lymph nodes, distance from the proximal margin to the tumor, and distance from the distal margin to the tumor between the two groups (P>0.05). The incision length in the observation group was shorter, intraoperative blood loss was less, hospital stay was shorter, and treatment cost was higher than those in the control group (7.15±1.22) cm versus (14.65±2.64) cm, (177.16±28.46) mL versus (244.16±42.16) mL, (8.11±1.46) d versus (14.15±3.65) d, (5.54±0.31)×10, 000 yuan versus (4.38±0.61)×10, 000 yuan, P < 0.05. There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α between the two groups (P>0.05). At 72 hours after surgery, the observation group had lower levels of C-reactive protein (12.38±4.31) mg/L versus(24.87±4.68) mg/L, tumor necrosis factor-α (9.64±1.55) μg/L versus (15.65±1.98) μg/L, and interleukin-6 (14.33±3.21) ng/mL versus(30.16±2.98) ng/mL compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group had shorter time to anal exhaust (2.61±0.87) d versus(3.98±1.45) d, getting out of bed (2.91±0.98) d versus(4.78±1.46) d, intake a liquid diet (3.44±1.45) d versus (4.87±1.64) d, and first defecation (1.66±0.18) d versus(2.93±0.78) d compared with the control group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of anastomotic leakage, incision infection, intra-abdominal hemorrhage, anastomotic bleeding, and reflux gastritis between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Small-incision laparoscopic radical gastrectomy can effectively reduce postoperative stress and inflammatory responses, promote postoperative recovery, and has good short-term efficacy and safety.