Thoracic esophageal injury due to a neck stab wound: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic esophageal injury leads to severe complications such as mediastinitis, pyothorax, and tracheoesophageal fistula. Although prompt diagnosis and treatment are required, there are no established protocols to guide diagnosis or treatment. In particular, thoracic esophageal injury tends to be diagnosed later than cervical esophageal injury because it has few specific symptoms. We report a case of thoracic esophageal injury caused by a cervical stab wound; the patient was stabbed with a sharp blade. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old woman was attacked with a knife while sleeping at home. The patient was taken to the emergency room with an injury localized to the left section of her neck. She was suspected of a left jugular vein and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury from cervical hematoma and hoarseness. On the day following the injury, computed tomography revealed a thoracic esophageal injury. Emergency surgery was performed for an esophageal perforation and mediastinal abscesses. Although delayed diagnosis resulted in suture failure, the patient was able to resume oral intake of food a month later following enteral feeding with a gastrostomy. Esophageal injuries due to sharp trauma are rare, and most are cervical esophageal injuries. There are very few reports on thoracic esophageal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of thoracic esophageal injury should always be considered when dealing with neck stab wounds, particularly those caused by an attack.

Laparoscopic appendectomy during the second trimester of a twin pregnancy.

Acute appendicitis during pregnancy may lead to increased maternal and fetal risks. Laparoscopic appendectomy is commonly performed during pregnancy. Compared with open appendectomy in pregnant women, laparoscopic appendectomy has shown non-inferior safety for pregnancy outcomes and superior safety for surgical outcomes. Over the last few decades, the occurrence of twin pregnancy has been increasing. Performing an operation on a patient with a twin pregnancy is more difficult than with a singleton pregnancy. Only a few operations of this kind have been reported. Here, we present a case of a 20-week twin pregnant woman who presented with acute appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, and no maternal complications occurred. This report contributes to discussions on the safety of the laparoscopic approach for appendicitis during twin pregnancies.

[A Case of Advanced Esophagogastric Junction Cancer Responding to Combined Modality Therapy].

The patient was a 75-year-old man with advanced esophagogastric junction cancer.He received 2 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with DCS followed by lower esophagectomy and total gastrectomy via the left thoracoabdominal approach. Pathological examination revealed EGJ adenocarcinoma(pT3N4M0, pStage Ⅳa).He was followed up after the surgery and was diagnosed with pulmonary portal lymph node and No.1 07 node recurrences 4 years and 8 months after the surgery, respectively.He received 2 courses of TS-1 monotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, resulting in a complete response(CR).He has remained in CR until June 2019.

A technique of laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection based on vesicohypogastric fascia and ureterohypogastric nerve fascia for advanced low rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Conventional open lateral lymph node (LLN) dissection performed along the internal iliac vessels frequently results in increased bleeding and postoperative complications [1, 2]. However, laparoscopic LLN dissection is a feasible, oncologically acceptable alternative [3-6]. We have developed a laparoscopic autonomic nerve-preserving technique for LLN dissection based on the vesicohypogastric fascia (VF) and ureterohypogastric nerve fascia (UNF) [7]. METHODS: Surgical and oncological outcomes were compared between 12 patients undergoing laparoscopic hemi-LLN dissection and 13 patients undergoing conventional open hemi-LLN dissection. Our standardized procedure for LLN dissection is shown in the video. RESULTS: The number of harvested LLNs and the postoperative hospital stay was similar in both groups. In the open dissection (OD) and laparoscopic dissection (LD) groups, the median operation times were 373.3 and 443.1 min, respectively. However, the median (range) blood loss was 38.8 (20-75) ml in the LD group versus 836.9 (365-2060) ml in the OD group. One LD patient had anastomotic leakage and one had hydronephrosis. One OD patient had anastomotic leakage, four had small bowel obstruction, three had wound infection and one had lymphatic leakage. Postoperative recovery was faster in the LD group: The median time to resumption of oral intake was 3.3 (2-6) days, versus 8.7 (3-34) days in the OD group. There was one case of grade 2 urinary retention in the LD group, but there were five cases of grade 2 or 3 urinary retention in the OD group. Surgical curability was R0 in all LD patients, whereas 7 of 13 patients were R0 in the OD group. After a mean follow-up of 24.4 (16.2-45.3) months, all LD patients were alive without recurrence. After 31.5 (6-63) months, three OD patients had local recurrence and two had distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic LLN dissection based on VF and UNF is feasible, with acceptable surgical and oncological outcomes.

[Long-Term Survivor of a Barrett's Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Who Underwent Three Times Surgical Resection and MultidisciplinaryTherapyfor Lymph Node Recurrences - Report of a Case].

We report a case of a 42-year-old man who underwent 3 times surgical resection for lymph nodes recurrence and multidisciplinary therapy for Stage IV b Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma, and was well 6 years and 3 months after the first resection. The prognosis of the recurrence cases after radical recection of the esophageal cancer is extremely poor. Long-term prognosis may be obtained in few patients, but the cases are squamous cell carcinoma in most of the reported cases. The number of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma patients is increasing, but it is not many. There is little reports, and there is no fixed treatment policy.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Rectal Surgery for Rectal Cancer Using the Simple Rectum Catcher Device with an Intraoperative Colonoscopy: Results of Our Hospital Study in 203 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard of rectal surgery is TME and DST anastomosis.1 - 6 The division of mesorectum in tumor-specific mesorectal and total mesorectal excisions is one of the most difficult procedures of anterior dissection. We have developed a laparoscopic-assisted anterior dissection technique using the simple Rectum Catcher device (RC) with an intraoperative colonoscopy (CF).7 , 8 METHODS: Surgical and oncological outcomes were compared between 99 patients undergoing a laparoscopic approach with the RC and a CF (RCF) and 104 patients undergoing the laparoscopic approach without the RC and without a CF (NRCF). Our standardized procedure for RCF is shown in the video. RESULTS: BMI (p = .025) and tumor diameter (p = .002) were significantly higher in the RCF group. However, operation times (p = .005) and time to tolerate diet (p = .009) were significantly shorter. Estimated blood loss was significantly decreased (p = .005) and quality of TME or TSME was significantly better (p = .017) in the RCF group. When we further analyzed surgical and oncological outcomes by dividing 3 parts of the rectum, patients with rectosigmoid (Rs) cancer and patients with cancer in the rectum below the peritoneal reflection (Rb) had comparable results. Particularly, statistically significant differences in length of operation time (p = .018), estimated blood loss (p = .050), quality of TME or TSME (p = .017), time to tolerate diet (p = .010), and R0 resections (p = .050) were observed in the patients with cancer below the peritoneal reflection. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic lower rectal surgery using the RC with a CF is feasible and provides acceptable surgical and oncological outcomes.

[A Patient with Stage IV Gastric Cancer Who Survived More Than Five Years after Gastrectomy].

The prognosis of patients with Stage IV gastric cancer is generally poor. The 5-year overall survival rate is less than 10%. The patient was a 73-year-old man with Stage IV gastric cancer. Before chemotherapy, peritoneal dissemination was observed using staging laparoscopy. The patient received first-line chemotherapy with TS-1 plus CDDP. Renal function worsened and consequently the therapy was stopped. He received 3 courses of chemotherapy with weekly PTX. The peritoneal dissemination had disappeared by the second staging laparoscopy and he underwent distal gastrectomy. The final diagnosis was pT4a, ly2, v1, pN2(4/16),M0, fStage III B. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy of TS-1 for 4 years and 8months after gastrectomy. More than 5 year after gastrectomy, the patient is alive without recurrence.

Spleen preservation versus splenectomy in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer: A comparison of short-term outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Splenic hilar lymph node dissection via a splenectomy for advanced proximal gastric cancer remains controversial. Recently, a laparoscopic spleen-preserving hilar lymph node dissection procedure was described in several publications. To assess the feasibility and safety of spleen-preserving laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (LTG-D2), the present retrospective study compared the short-term surgical outcomes between spleen preservation and splenectomy during laparoscopic D2 total gastrectomy (LTG-D2S). METHOD: This study included 59 patients who underwent LTG-D2 and 19 patients who underwent LTG-D2S. RESULTS: The mean operation time did not significantly differ between the LTG-D2 and LTG-D2S groups (339.4 ± 56.8 vs 356.8 ± 46.0 min). The mean blood loss tended to be smaller in the LTG-D2 group than in the LTG-D2S group (105.9 ± 89.7 vs 210.0 ± 149.5 mL). The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes did not significantly differ between the LTG-D2 and LTG-D2S groups (39.9 ± 17.0 vs 40.6 ± 14.9), and the mean number of retrieved lymph nodes at the splenic hilum also did not significantly differ between the LTG-D2 and LTG-D2S groups (1.3 ± 1.7 vs 2.4 ± 2.6). Mild pancreatic fistula occurred in three cases (5%) in the LTG-D2 group and in three cases (15.8%) in the LTG-D2S group. CONCLUSION: A LTG-D2 is feasible in terms of the short-term outcomes. However, the indications for this complicated procedure should be considered carefully.

[A case of advanced esophagogastric junction cancer responding to pre-operative combination chemotherapy of docetaxel, cisplatin, S-1, and trastuzumab].

We have no consensus on surgical treatment and chemotherapy for esophagogastric junction cancer in Japan. A 51-yearold man reporting dysphagia was examined, and through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was found to have a tumor at the esophagogastric junction. Histologically, biopsy specimens indicated adenocarcinoma with genetic amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2(HER2). Positron emission tomography showed swelling of several abdominal lymph nodes with accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose. He was treated with esophagogastorectomy with left thoracotomy after combination chemotherapy of docetaxel, cisplatin, S-1, and trastuzumab. He had no complication from the operation and had no adverse effect from the combination chemotherapy. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed a minute residual cancer nest at the muscularis propria of the esophagus, but no lymph node metastasis. This regimen could be useful for advanced junctional cancer with HER2 amplification as preoperative chemotherapy.

[A case of multiple distant lymph node metastases from advanced gastric cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after total gastrectomy].

A 70-year-old woman with advanced gastric cancer (U, type 3, por, pT3, ly3, v2, pN3a [10/92, No. 1, 3], Stage IIIB) underwent total gastrectomy and D2 dissection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1. Eight months later, computed tomography (CT) showed multiple distant lymph node metastases, including metastases in the para-aortic and supraclavicular( Virchow's nodes) lymph nodes. Chemotherapy with cisplatin( CDDP) and irinotecan( CPT-11) was administered with concurrent radiation therapy for the para-aortic nodes. After 2 courses, the para-aortic lymph nodes showed complete response( CR), but Virchow's nodes showed partial response( PR). Dissection of Virchow's nodes was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a chemotherapeutic effect on the dissected node, and therefore, 2 more courses of chemotherapy were administered after the operation. Adverse events such as grade 3 neutropenia and grade 4 hyponatremia were observed. At present, the patient is well without recurrence, and chemotherapy is not being administered. Local therapy for distant metastasis followed by systemic chemotherapy may have been effective in this case.

Laparoscopic-assisted low and ultralow anterior resection for lower rectal cancer using the simple "Rectum Catcher" device and an intra-operative colonoscopy.

PURPOSE: We report the feasible technique in lower rectal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Rectum Catcher (Matsumoto et al. in Surg Endosc 22:1905-1909, 2008) is made of stainless steel, with a circle of diameter 6 mm punched out at a distance of 5 mm from the top and covered with a short-cut T-tube. A vessel tape is inserted into the stainless steel and the short-cut T-tube. The rectum is grasped using the Rectum Catcher at a proximal rectum of the cancer, and the location of the cancer is confirmed using an intra-operative colonoscopy. In the next step, the Rectum Catcher is applied at the distal rectum of the cancer, and which easily occludes the rectum, and we confirm that the cancer is not at the distal rectum from the Rectum Catcher, using an intra-operative colonoscopy. The rectal lumen is irrigated. Then, the linear cutter is positioned just distal rectum to the Rectum Catcher, and the rectum is transected adequately. RESULTS: From January 2009 to the present, this study included 18 patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted low and ultralow anterior resection for lower rectal cancer, using the Rectum Catcher and an intra-operative colonoscopy. Using the Rectum Catcher and an intra-operative colonoscopy, we can easily make a decision of the location of rectal cancer in lower rectum and irrigation of rectal lumen can be easily performed to safely cut the bowel being occluded, in the narrow laparoscopic view of the pelvic cavity. CONCLUSION: The combination between the Rectum Catcher and an intra-operative colonoscopy is useful for performing laparoscopic rectal surgery.

[A case of recurrent breast carcinoma metastasis successfully treated with S-1 and zoledronic acid therapy].

We experienced a case of triple-negative recurrent breast carcinoma achieving a significant improvement by oral S- 1, a fluoropyrimidine-class anticancer drug and zoledronic acid(ZOL), a third generation bisphosphonate(BP). / Against metastases to orbital foramen, chest wall and bone, the oral treatment with S-1 was started at 80 mg/day everyday for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest interval as 1 cycle, and ZOL was injected at 4 mg every 4 weeks. After 2 cycles of treatment, the level of tumor markers and tumor sizes became reduced. Twelve cycles after the initiation of the therapy, recrudescence of the metastatic lesions was not recognized, and no other metastases were recognized in any organ. In the course of the treatment, no adverse drug reactions to S-1 occurred in the patient. For treatment of recurrent breast carcinoma, S-1 is considered to be a useful and tolerable anticancer drug, and combination treatment of S-1 and ZOL is thought to be effective.

The simple "Rectum Catcher" device is a useful tool for laparoscopic-assisted high and lower rectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: This report describes our experience in 13 patients with rectal cancer along with a general overview of the use of the simple "Rectum Catcher" device in high and lower rectal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Rectum Catcher is made of stainless steel (length 40 cm, caliber 7 mm), with a circle of diameter 6 mm punched out at a distance of 5 mm from the top and covered with a short-cut T-tube (length 1 cm, caliber 6 mm) (SILKOLATEX T-tube, 8 mm; Willy Rusch AG, Germany). A vessel tape (width 9 mm, length 120 cm; Kawano Seisakusho, Chiba, Japan) is inserted into the stainless steel and the short-cut T-tube. The Rectum Catcher is inserted into the abdominal cavity through the 12-mm trocar (Ethicon Endo Surgery) and a vessel tape is circled the rectum and pulled to catch it. Thirteen patients with rectal cancer were operated laparoscopically using the Rectum Catcher at our hospital. RESULTS: From January 2007 to the present, this study included 13 patients (5 men and 8 women) undergoing laparoscopic-assisted high anterior resection (Lap-HAR, five patients), low anterior resection (Lap-LAR: six patients), and abdominoperineal resection (Lap-APR: two patients) for rectal cancer, using the Rectum Catcher. Using the Rectum Catcher, easy maneuverability of the rectum and irrigation of rectal lumen can be easily performed to safely cut the bowel being occluded, in the narrow laparoscopic view of the pelvic cavity. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the simple Rectum Catcher device is safe and useful for performing laparoscopic assisted high and lower rectal surgery.