Objective        To compare the short-term surgical outcomes of robotic gastrectomy with laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer in order to evaluate the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery system.       Methods        Clinical data of 48 patients undergoing robotic gastrectomy in our department from March 2010 to March 2012 were collected

and 48 patients receiving laparoscopic gastrectomy during the same period served as control. There was no significant difference in the age

sex

BMI and cancer stage between the 2

groups. All surgery was performed successfully by qualified surgeons with same years of experience. The operative indexes and short-term outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.       Results        Compared with the laparoscopic groups

the robotic group had less intraoperative blood loss (107.8±55.9 

vs 

132.7±61.5 mL

P=0.041)

larger number of lymph node dissection (34.7±5.2 

vs 

32.5±4.7

P=0.026) and longer operation time (238.0±29.6 

vs 

221.5±33.1 min

P

=0.011).       Conclusion        Compared with conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy

robotic  surgery system has less harm to the patients

with better resection of primary tumor

and more thorough dissection of lymph nodes. Thus

it is feasible and safe for gastric cancer.