Role of 3DCT in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleen-preserving splenic lymph node dissection

AIM:To investigate whether computed tomography with 3D imaging(3DCT)can reduce the risks associated with laparoscopic surgery.METHODS:We performed a retrospective case-control study evaluating the efficacy of preoperative 3DCT of the splenic vascular anatomy on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node(LN)dissection for upper-or middle-third gastric cancer.The clinical records of 312patients with upper-or middle-third gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleenpreserving splenic lymph node dissection in our hospital from January 2010 to June 2013 were collected,and the patients were divided into two groups(group 3DCT vs group NO-3DCT)depending on whether they underwent 3DCT or not.Clinicopathologic characteristics,operative and postoperative measures,the number of retrieved LNs,and complications were compared between these two groups.Patients were further compared regarding operative and postoperative measures,the number of retrieved LNs,and complications when subdivided by body mass index(≥23 and 40).RESULTS:The mean numbers of retrieved splenic hilar LNs were similar in patients in group 3DCT and group NO-3DCT(2.85±2.33 vs 2.48±2.18,P>0.05).The operation time and blood loss at the splenic hilum were lower in the patients in group 3DCT(P 0.05 each).Subgroup analysis showed that the operation time at the splenic hilum in patients with a BMI≥23 kg/m2was significantly shorter in patients in group 3DCT than in group NO-3DCT(20.27±5.84 min vs 26.17±11.01 min,P=0.003).In patients with a BMI<23kg/m2,the overall operation time(171.8±26.32 min vs 188.09±52.63 min,P=0.028),operation time at the splenic hilum(19.39±5.46 min vs 23.74±9.56min,P=0.001),and blood loss at the splenic hilum(13.27±4.96 mL vs 17.98±8.12 mL,P=0.000)were signifi