The aim of this study is comparing the short-term quality of life between laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 20-80 years;
2. Patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1;
3. Patients had histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma (tumor size<5cm) at clinical stage I-III with T1-4aN0-2M0 excluding T4b or N3 tumors, according to the of the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification system, eighth edition;
4. Patients were expected to undergo laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients had bulky regional lymph nodes (larger than 3 cm at the long diameter) or possible distant metastasis in preoperative evaluation
2. Patients had history of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or target therapy;
3. Patients had any concurrent or previous malignant tumor;
4. Patients had unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, or liver disease and poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes, mental disorders; history of upper abdominal surgery (except laparoscopic cholecystectomy).
5. Patients were histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma (by preoperative gastrofiberscopy).