Objective  To retrospectively analyze the efficiency of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for early gastric cancer treatment.

Methods We retrospectively collected data from patients with early gastric cancer who underwent LECS at the Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute between May, 2013 and April, 2024. Patients underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with laparoscopic lymph node biopsy, classical LECS, and other modified procedures. Additionally, clinical and pathological characteristics, post-operative recovery indicators, complications, and survival outcomes of the patients were analyzed.

Results Nine patients (median age: 64 years), including six male (66.7%) and three female (33.3%) patients, were involved in this study. Biopsy revealed that all patients had well-differentiated gastric cancer. Five patients (55.6%) underwent ESD with laparoscopic lymph node biopsy, and four patients (44.4%) underwent laparoscopically assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Average anesthesia time was (351.2±91.4) min, and average blood loss was (34.4±15.1) mL. After surgery, three patients (33.3%) experienced complications, with one case each of gastric stasis (CD2), intra-abdominal infection (CD2), and gastrointestinal perforation (CD3). The median follow-up time was 52 months, and no cases of disease recurrence or death were observed.

Conclusions Overall, this study highlights the efficiency of LECS for early gastric cancer treatment. Future studies should assess its oncological safety, along with other technical aspects, patient selection criteria, and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy, to facilitate widespread application of LECS.