[Distal subtotal gastrectomy and gastreectomy in surgical treatment of patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis].

Objective: To analyze the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) devoted to distal subtotal gastrectomy and gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in patients with distal gastric cancer.
Material and Methods: RCTs were searched in the electronic library, the Cochrane Community database, and PubMed database. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Cochrane Community experts (Higgins et al. 2019). Mathematical calculations of a meta-analysis were made using RevMan 5.3 software package. Statistical criteria were calculated for relative risk (RR), hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and significance level ( p ).
Results: Seven primary RCTs were selected. A total number of 1463 surgical interventions with D2 lymphadenectomy were observed (805 patients underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy, 658 - gastrectomy). Postoperative mortality is significantly higher (6.5% and 2.6%) after gastrectomy compared to subtotal distal gastrectomy (RR 2.2, 95% CI 1.34-3.64, I ² 0%, fixed effect model). Postoperative complications are also significantly more common (28% and 14%) after gastrectomy (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.16-2.55, I ² heterogeneity 49%, random effect model). Differences in overall five-year survival after gastrectomy and subtotal distal resection (51.6% and 60.8%) are insignificant (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.45-1.22, I ² 90%, random effect model, general reverse inversion).
Conclusion: The choice of distal subtotal gastrectomy and gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in patients with distal gastric cancer is not regulated by evidence-based medicine. The boundaries of minimal surgical clearance from the tumor edge vary from 2.5 cm to 6 cm. An updated meta-analysis shows that postoperative mortality and morbidity are significantly higher after gastrectomy compared to distal subtotal gastrectomy while overall 5-year survival is similar.