Systematic review and meta-analysis of laparoscopy-assisted and open total gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Table 3 Subgroup analysis for learning curve using a cut-point of 40 laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy cases

Outcome	No. of study	Sample size		Heterogeneity (P, I2)	Overall effect size	95%CI of overall effect	P value
		LATG	OTG
Operating time (min)
< 40 LATG cases	4	104	125	< 0.001, 95%	WMD = 81.99	1.47-162.5	0.05
> 40 LATG cases	5	332	660	< 0.001, 93%	WMD = 42.53	16.23-68.82	0.002
Blood loss
< 40 LATG cases	3	77	92	0.40, 0%	SMD = -1.22	-1.55 - -0.88	< 0.001
> 40 LATG cases	4	232	312	< 0.001, 97%	SMD = -2.07	-3.35 - -0.79	0.002
Retrieved lymph nodes
< 40 LATG cases	4	104	125	0.20, 36%	WMD = -6.12	-10.42 - -1.81	0.005
> 40 LATG cases	5	332	660	0.47, 0%	WMD = -0.50	-2.4 - 1.39	0.60

LATG: Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy; OTG: Open total gastrectomy; WMD: Weighted mean difference; SMD: Standard mean difference.