Development of novel rectal/uterine clamping device.

We developed a novel clamping device for laparoscopic surgery, free from conventional pinch structure, capable of uniformly occluding any ductal organ. This study aimed to evaluate performance of the new clamper compared to the pinch-type clamper. The new clamper consists of two metal bars with ties at each end, which enables parallel clamping. A resected porcine stomach was used, with an infusion tube at the anal end to increase intra-luminal pressure. The oral side of the stomach was clamped with either the new clamper or the pinch-type clamper, and their performances were evaluated in qualitative and semi-quantitative manner. Qualitative evaluation involved imaging the clamping site at intra-gastric pressures from 0 to 15 mmHg using microfocus computed tomography. The new clamper showed no gap even under increased intra-luminal pressure, while the pinch-type clamper showed a gap on the distal side. Quantitative evaluation measured bursting pressure under continuous air insufflation. Air leakages were observed in the new clamper at higher intra-luminal pressures than in the pinch-type clamper (46.1 mmHg vs. 13.6 mmHg, P < 0.01). Our new clamping device showed superior performance in preclinical setting compared to the conventional pinch-type clamper. We are currently working on its design freezing and aiming for early commercialization.

[A Case Report of Subcutaneous Nodular Fat Necrosis Caused by Obstructive Pancreatitis Due to IPMN].

A 72-year-old man underwent hemodialysis because of end-stage renal failure. The patient often suffered acute pancreatitis and was diagnosed with main duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN). Moreover, skin erythema with pain occurred and was treated as cellulitis using antibiotics; however, the skin lesions did not improve. Skin pathological findings indicated subcutaneous nodular fat necrosis due to pancreatitis. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed, and the skin erythema with pain symptoms were relieved. The final diagnoses were ampullary carcinoma and intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma(IPMA). We experienced a rare case of subcutaneous nodular fat necrosis due to IPMN.

Optimal treatment and complications of patients with the perforated upper gastrointestinal tract.

PURPOSE: The perforation of the upper gastrointestinal tract is still associated with a high risk of complications and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the optimal treatment and post-treatment complications for this condition. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study conducted between 2010 and 2019. We analyzed 50 patients with intraperitoneal free air caused by peptic ulcer (44 cases) or cancer (six cases). RESULTS: All patients initially received either conservative therapy (n = 7) or surgery (n = 43). The nonsurgically cured patients were significantly younger and had mild peritonitis and also had a shorter hospital stay. Two patients were converted to surgery due to worsening symptoms, and one of them was elderly and had a long perforation-to-treatment time. Regarding postoperative complications, patients with Grade II-V (n = 21) were significantly older and had a poorer physical status, longer perforation-to-surgery time, and higher preoperative CRP and lactate than those with Grade 0-I (n = 24). Multivariable analyses identified elevated preoperative lactate as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The patients with noncurative surgery for perforated advanced gastric cancer all died within 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration should be given to the nonsurgical indications in elderly and delayed treatment patients and the postoperative outcomes of patients with preoperatively elevated lactate levels.

Reduced-port laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in pregnancy.

Current guidelines indicate that laparoscopic appendectomies are safe for pregnant patients with acute appendicitis. Recently, single- and reduced-port laparoscopic surgeries have gained popularity for nonpregnant patients, because they minimize abdominal wall trauma. Here, we describe a reduced-port laparoscopic appendectomy (RPLA) in a 31-year-old pregnant female performed at 27 weeks gestational age. Preoperative abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography imaging showed an inflamed, swollen appendix and blood test results showed elevations in the white blood cell count and the C-reactive protein level. Accordingly, acute appendicitis was diagnosed. A surgical incision was performed at the umbilicus with an EZ-access device; an additional 5-mm trocar was placed at the right lower quadrant. Recovery was uneventful. The patient was discharged 8 days postoperatively. A vaginal delivery was achieved at term. The RPLA was a good surgical option for minimizing surgical invasiveness, without increasing the technical difficulty, in conditions where the uterus and fetus are growing.

[A Case of Successful Treatment of Simultaneous Multiple Liver Metastasis from Gastric Cancer with Multidisciplinary Therapy].

The patient was a 63-year-old male. The upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy for anemia found a type 2 tumor at the greater curvature of the gastric angular region, which was revealed as a low-differentiated adenocarcinoma by biopsy. The abdominal CT showed a total of 10 metastases of 11-27 mm in size at the bilateral hepatic lobes. T3(SS)N0M1H1P0 and cStage Ⅳ of gastric cancer was diagnosed. SP therapy was performed for 1 year: the size of gastric primary focus reduced, and a metastatic lesion of 7 mm in size was found only at S1. We performed a gastrectomy of the pylorus side and hepatic S1 radiofrequency ablation. Postoperatively, S-1 single therapy has continued, and the patient has survived to date for 2 years without any recurrence. Although the prognosis of a simultaneous multiple liver metastasis from gastric cancer tends to be poor, our multidisciplinary approach resulted in a favorable prognosis.

[Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection Following Intensive Chemotherapy for Stage â £ Rectal Cancer with Unresectable Metastases].

The need to remove palliative primary tumors in the incurable Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer patients remains debatable. Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old man diagnosed with rectal cancer(cT3N2bM1b, cStage Ⅳb)with both primary tumor and metastatic lesions that were unresectable. Systemic chemotherapy was administered with 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX)or FOLFOX with bevacizumab(BEV). After 12 months of treatment, CT scan revealed that both the primary tumor and metastases had shrunk significantly, leading to the conclusion that the primary tumor was resectable. Subsequently, laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was performed. The patient was discharged 21 days postoperatively, and chemotherapy(FOLFOX plus BEV)was reintroduced 24 days after discharge. The patient was alive 25 months after the first consultation. Palliative primary tumor resection involves risks of operative complications and tumor progression owing to the absence of chemotherapy; however, some recent evidence has shown that primary tumor resection was associated with better prognosis and could be a good option on an individual patient basis. Further studies are required to establish the optimal strategy for patients with Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer.

Clinical outcomes of single-site laparoscopic interval appendectomy for severe complicated appendicitis: Comparison to conventional emergency appendectomy.

AIM: Single-site laparoscopic interval appendectomy (SLIA) for severe complicated appendicitis after conservative treatment (CT) to ameliorate inflammation and eradicate the abscess should be safer and less invasive than emergency appendectomy (EA). However, only a few reports have been published regarding SLIA. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on 264 consecutive patients admitted to Kinan Hospital for treatment of appendicitis between 2012 and 2018. The safety and feasibility of SLIA and its perioperative outcomes for severe complicated appendicitis were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were included in this study, 25 of whom underwent CT and 36 EA. Among the 25 patients who underwent CT, 23 (92.0%) succeeded; a total of 16 patients (69.5%) underwent SLIA. Compared to the EA group, the SLIA group had less bleeding (median volume 8.5 vs 50 mL, P = .005) and lower rate of expansion surgery (0% vs 27.8%, P = .022). Although the postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the SLIA group than in the EA group (9 vs 12 days, P = .008), the total hospital stay, including the CT period, was longer in the SLIA group than in the EA group (24 vs 12 days, P < .001). CONCLUSION: SLIA is safe, feasible, and less invasive than EA and may provide the advantages of minimally invasive surgery even if appendicitis is severe. SLIA may be a promising option for complicated appendicitis in select cases despite its disadvantage of prolonging the hospital stay.