ObjectiveTo evaluate the significance of the accessory left hepatic artery during the procedure of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. MethodsClinical data and imaging data of 120 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy between January 2014 and June 2015 were retrospectively collected, to summarize the significance of accessory left hepatic artery in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and to summarize the main points during the operation. ResultsNine patients (7.5%) had the accessory left hepatic artery in the whole group of 120 patients. Ligation was performed at the beginning of the distal left gastric artery or each branch near the stomach. All patients recovered well postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the total bilirubin, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase on 3 days before surgery, 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery (P > 0.05). In addition, there was no occurrence of liver abscesses and intrahepatic biloma. ConclusionsThe incidence of accessory left hepatic artery variation is at a high incidence rate in clinical patients. It needs to be paid attention to protect the accessory left hepatic artery during the laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, in order to avoid the occurrence of liver abscess and intrahepatic biloma.