[Anatomy of the perigastric vessels in laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer].

The laparoscopic approach is rapidly becoming the preferred method of treatment for patients with early gastric cancer due to advantages of minimally invasive surgery. As laparoscopic experience has accumulated, laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymphadenectomy has become a valuable alternative for the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, laparoscopic gastric surgery is demanding from a technical point of view, especially when a D2 lymphadenectomy is performed. Surgeons seeking to undertake LADG are concerned about unpredictable intraoperative bleeding that may occur during LADG. Comprehensive knowledge of the perigastric vascular anatomy is essential for LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy. Key words: Laparoscopy; Stomach neoplasms; Vessels; Anatomy