Comparison of 3D laparoscopic gastrectomy with a 2D procedure for gastric cancer: A phase 3 randomized controlled trial

Objective. To determine the relative safety and efficacy of 3D laparoscopic gastrectomy and 2D laparoscopic surgery in patients with gastric cancer. Background. There is still a lack of randomized controlled trials regarding the safety and efficacy of 3D versus 2D laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer. Methods. A large-scale, phase 3, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02327481). Results. A total of 438 patients were randomized (3D group: 219 cases; 2D group: 219 cases) between January 1, 2015, and April 1, 2016; 19 patients were excluded. Finally, data from 419 patients were analyzed (3D group: 211 cases; 2D group: 208 cases). There were no differences between the 2 groups regarding the operation time (3D versus 2D, 176 +/- 35 min vs. 174 +/- 33 min, P=.562). The intraoperative blood loss in the 3D group was somewhat less than in the 2D group (61 +/- 83 mL vs. 82 +/- 119 mL, P=.045). Further analysis suggested that the use of 3D laparoscopic surgery was a protective factor against excessive blood loss WOO mL). Conclusion. 3D laparoscopic gastrectomy did not shorten the operation time compared with 2D laparoscopic gastrectomy, but provided the benefit of less intraoperative blood loss and a lesser occurrence of excessive bleeding than the conventional 2D laparoscopic gastrectomy; the clinical value of the difference is limited. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.