Objective: To investigate whether laparoscopically assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) contributes to long-term quality of life as compared to open gastrectomy in patients with early-stage gastric
cancer.
Materials and Methods: Quality of life was self-reported using a 15-item questionnaire with five options for each question. The responses obtained from 47 LADG patients and 33 conventional open
gastrectomy patients were compared. All patients underwent Billroth I gastrectomy for early gastric
cancer between September 1999 and October 2002.
Results: Patients who underwent LADG showed better results than those who underwent the open procedure with regard to satisfaction with the operation (87.2% vs. 57.6%; P < 0.01). However, the rate of late complications such as delayed gastric emptying was higher in the LADG group than in
the open group (40.4% vs. 18.2%; P < 0.05). No differences were observed between the LADG and open groups with regard to appetite loss, heartburn, diarrhea, or difficulty in swallowing.
Conclusion: LADG has an equivocal effect on long-term quality of life. Satisfaction with the surgical procedure was greater in patients who underwent the LADG method; however, complications
that impaired the quality of life were also seen. The usefulness of LADG should be assessed in view
of the immediate and relatively short-term outcomes and their effect on long-term quality of life.
