To explore the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic radical resection assisted by a preoperative small incision in the treatment of advanced distal gastric cancer.

The clinical data of 115 patients with advanced distal gastric cancer who underwent surgery from February 2022 to November 2023 were collected retrospectively. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into two groups: Routine Group: 56 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic radical resection; study Group: 59 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection assisted by a preoperative small incision. Data were processed using SPSS 25.0 statistical software. Measurement data conforming to a normal distribution were expressed as (±s) and analyzed by independent samples t test. Postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were tested by general linear repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Recurrence time was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Categorical data were expressed as [cases (%)] and analyzed by the χ² test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The operation time of the Study Group was shorter than that of the Routine Group, and the number of intraoperative lymph node dissections was greater than that of the Routine Group (both P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative time to get out of bed, time to first flatus, or length of hospital stay (all P>0.05). At 6h, 12h, 24h, and 48h postoperatively, the VAS scores of both groups decreased gradually (all P<0.05); however, there were no statistically significant differences in VAS scores between the two groups at each postoperative time point (all P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the total incidence of postoperative complications or the 12-month postoperative recurrence rate (all P>0.05). The recurrence time of patients with recurrence in the Study Group was longer than that in the Routine Group (P<0.05).

Laparoscopic radical resection assisted by a preoperative small incision can shorten the operation time of advanced distal gastric cancer, increase the number of intraoperative lymph node dissections, without increasing postoperative pain and complications, and can ensure good oncological efficacy. It has value for popularization and application.