Resumen
Local recurrence is a significant issue for advanced gastric cancer patients. Complete mesogastric excision (CME) has been advocated to enhance lymph node (LN) retrieval and reduce recurrence rates. A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Cochrane recommendations, and meta-analyses of means and binary outcomes were developed. The number of lymph nodes retrieved was the primary endpoint, with other postoperative outcomes as secondary. Thirteen studies were included, showing that the mean number of harvested LNs was significantly higher among patients undergoing CME. CME patients also had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, a shorter length of stay, and a shorter operative time. Radical gastrectomy with CME may provide a safe and more radical lymphadenectomy. Long-term outcomes and the applicability of this technique in the West are still to be proven.