Abstract:Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of fast track surgery (FTS) combined with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods A total of 80 elderly patients with gastric cancer were selected from September 2014 to August 2016, and randomly divided into four groups: [FTS + laparoscopic group (group A,n = 20)], [FTS + laparotomy group (group B, n= 20)], [conventional perioperative care (CPC) + laparotomy group (group C, n= 20)] and [CPC + laparoscopic group(group D, n= 20)]. Indexes including intraoperative index, postoperative recovery index, nutritional status index and systemic stress response index were observed. Results The intraoperative blood loss between the groups was significantly different (F = 63.226,P = 0.000). Laparoscopic surgery patients (group A and C) had significantly less blood loss during surgery than laparotomy patients (group B and D) (P < 0.05). The incision length of each group was significantly different (F = 55.461,P = 0.000). The incision lengths of laparoscopic surgery patients (group A and C) were significantly shorter than those of laparotomy patients (group B and D).Patients in group A had the shortest postoperative first exhaust time and postoperative hospital stay, and the total hospitalization expenses of them were the lowest (P < 0.05). Serum albumin, prealbumin and transferrin were significantly decreased on the first postoperative day (P < 0.05), CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). From 4th to 7th postoperative day, the indexes of all the patients gradually returned to normal. Compared with other groups, the indexes of group A were the fastest to be normal (P < 0.05). Conclusions FTS combined with laparoscopy can improve the early postoperative nutritional status of elderly patients with gastric cancer and reduce postoperative stress more effectively, which can shorten recovery time after surgery.