Abstract:Objective To compare the effects of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) on patients with gastric cancer.Methods From January 2020 to March 2024, a total of 100 gastric cancer patients admitted to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Shangluo Central Hospital were selected. They were divided into the LADG group (n = 48) and the TLDG group (n = 52) based on the surgical method. The LADG group received LADG treatment, while the TLDG group received TLDG treatment. The perioperative indicators, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, immune function, quality of life, and complications were compared between the two groups.Results In the TLDG group, the time to postoperative ambulation, time to first flatus, and time to oral intake were all significantly shorter than those in the LADG group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in terms of the operative duration or intraoperative bleeding between the TLDG group and the LADG group (P > 0.05). VAS scores at 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively in the two groups were compared using repeated measures ANOVA, which demonstrated that they were different among the time points (P < 0.05) and between the groups (P < 0.05). The VAS scores in the TLDG group were lower, indicating better analgesic effects. There was no difference in the change trends of VAS scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). The differences in CD3+, CD4+, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count before and after treatment in the TLDG group were higher than those in the LADG group (P < 0.05). The differences in SF-36 scores for physical functioning, physical role functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social role functioning, emotional role functioning, and mental health before and after treatment in the TLDG group were also higher than those in the LADG group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of complications did not differ significantly between the TLDG and the LADG groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions TLDG treatment has a greater impact on short-term therapeutic efficacy and immune function in patients with gastric cancer compared to LADG.