Various retraction techniques for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

The laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), introduced by Gagner and Pomp in 1994, is typically done in high-volume centers due to its technical demands. Our methods aim to provide effective traction, enabling efficient surgery despite limited staffing. A retrospective analysis of 29 patients undergoing LPD by a single surgeon between September 2021 and December 2022 showed promising outcomes: median intraoperative bleeding of 425 mL, operation time of 505 minutes, and postoperative hospital stay of 10 days. With only one case requiring open conversion, our external retraction techniques demonstrate efficacy in overcoming challenges associated with manpower constraints, highlighting potential utility for surgeons in similar settings. We share LPD external retraction techniques and outcomes.

Successful robotic kidney transplantation for surgeons with no experience in minimally invasive surgery: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Robotic kidney transplantation (RKT) is a novel and welcomed innovation yielding good surgical outcomes. However, data on the feasibility and safety of performing RKT by surgeons with a lack of prior minimally invasive surgery (MIS) experience are limited. The authors aimed to evaluate the surgical and functional results of RKT and present the learning curves (LC) of RKT by a single surgeon with no prior experience in MIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all RKT performed between November 2019 and April 2023 at Severance Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. The authors analyzed surgical and functional outcomes, as well as complication rates of RKT in comparison to open kidney transplantation (OKT). The authors evaluated LCs using the cumulative summation method to describe the number of cases associated with the competency of a single surgeon. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients who underwent RKT and 104 patients who underwent OKT were included in this study. In RKT group, the median surgical console time was 193 min (interquartile range, 172-222) and the median vascular anastomoses time was 38 min (35-44). Total operation time was 323 min (290-371) and rewarming time was 62.5 min (56.0-70.0) in RKT group compared to 210 min (190-239) and 25 min (21-30), respectively, in OKT group. Despite extended surgical durations with a robotic technique, both groups had comparable intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, as well as renal function. Estimated blood loss and post-transplant hospital stays were significantly lower in RKT group than in OKT group. LC analysis of RKT by the single surgeon revealed that surgical competence was achieved after 15 cases. CONCLUSION: Even if surgeons do not have prior experience with MIS, they can rapidly overcome the LC and safely perform RKT with adequate preparation and acquisition of basic robotic surgical techniques.

Robotic ureter reconstruction using the native ureter to treat long-segment ureteral stricture of the transplant kidney utilizing Indocyanine green: The first Korean experience.

PURPOSE: Ureteral strictures are a common complication after kidney transplantation. Open reconstruction is preferred for long-segment ureteral strictures that cannot be resolved endoscopically; however, it is known to have the potential to fail. We report 2 successful cases of robotic reconstruction surgery of a transplant ureter using the native ureter with the aid of intraoperative Indocyanine green (ICG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were placed in semi-lateral position. Using Da Vinci Xi, the transplant ureter was dissected, and the stricture site was identified. End-to-side anastomosis of the native ureter to the transplant ureter was performed. ICG was utilized to identify the course of the transplant ureter and confirm the vascularity of the native ureter. RESULTS: Case 1: A 55-year-old female underwent renal transplantation at another hospital. She had recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) and a ureteral stricture requiring percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). The PCN and ureteral stent were removed successfully after surgery. The patient had only 1 febrile UTI episode after surgery. Case 2: A 56-year-old female underwent renal transplantation at another hospital. She had acute pyelonephritis 1-month post-transplantation, and a long-segment ureteral stricture was identified. She developed a UTI with anastomosis site leakage in the early postoperative period, which resolved with conservative treatment. The PCN and ureteral stent were removed 6 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery for managing long-segment ureteral stricture after kidney transplantation is safe and feasible. The use of ICG during surgery to identify the ureter course and its viability can improve the success.

The first robotic kidney transplantation in Korea: a case report.

Minimally invasive surgery reduces perioperative pain and morbidity, facilitating rapid recovery. However, the field of kidney transplantation has lagged in this regard, its customary open surgical techniques going nearly unchanged until recently. Robotic kidney transplantation (RKT) is a novel and welcomed innovation yielding good surgical outcomes. In Korea, the first RKT performed (November 2019) involved a 30-year-old man (body mass index, 22 kg/m2) with end-stage hypertensive nephrosclerosis. A left donor kidney from his 28-year-old sister was successfully transplanted using the daVinci Robotic Surgical System. Transperitoneal regional hypothermia (Vattikuti Urology Institute-Medanta technique) was also implemented across the main periumbilical incision (up to 6 cm). Total operative time was 260 minutes (cold ischemia, 34 minutes; rewarming, 54 minutes), with 50 mL of blood loss. There was immediate graft function, unencumbered by surgical complications (e.g., postoperative bleeding, leakage, or lymphocele). The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8, with serum creatinine at 1.27 mg/dL. RKT with regional hypothermia may be a viable, minimally invasive intervention that is safe and effective in select patients, showing good surgical results.

Renal safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and entecavir with hepatitis B immunoglobulin in liver transplant patients.

Potent nucleos(t)ide analogues and hepatitis B immunoglobulin combinations are recommended after liver transplantation to prevent the recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite its proven efficacy, the renal safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has not been well established in liver transplant recipients. We aimed to assess the impacts of TDF and entecavir (ETV) on tubular and glomerular functions. We analysed 206 liver transplant patients treated with TDF (n = 102) or ETV (n = 104) plus hepatitis B immunoglobulin. Serum creatinine, phosphate and uric acid levels were measured. Proximal tubular dysfunction was defined as the presence of hypophosphatemia (<2 mg/dL) and hypouricemia (<2 mg/dL). Glomerular dysfunction was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 accompanied by a ≥25% eGFR decline from baseline. During a median follow-up of 42.5 months, 48 patients developed proximal tubular dysfunction (30.4% and 16.3% in the TDF and ETV groups; P = .017). Serum levels of phosphate and uric acid were significantly lower in the TDF group post-LT. TDF (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.16-4.69; P = .017) and low body mass index (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.06-4.21; P = .034) were independent risk factors for proximal tubular dysfunction. The prevalence of glomerular dysfunction was not significantly different between the two groups (TDF 51.0% and ETV 54.8%; P = .582). TDF significantly increased the risk of proximal tubular dysfunction. Although the effect of TDF on glomerular function was comparable to that of ETV, glomerular dysfunction was common after liver transplant.

Revisiting the potential advantage of robotic surgical system in spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy over conventional laparoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare success rate of spleen preservation between robotic and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: Between November 2007 and March 2018, forty-one patients underwent the conventional laparoscopic DP (Lap group) and the other 37 patients underwent robotic DP (Robot group). The perioperative clinicopathologic variables were compared. RESULTS: The robotic procedure was chosen by younger patients compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery (42.9±14.0 vs. 51.3±14.6 years, P=0.016). The mean operation time was longer (313 vs. 246 min, P=0.000), but the mean tumor size was smaller in Robot group (2.7±1.2 vs. 4.2±3.3 cm, P=0.018). The overall spleen-preserving rate was higher in the Robot group (91.9% vs. 68.3%, P=0.012). However, with accumulating laparoscopic experiences (after 16th case), the statistical differences in spleen preservation rate between the Robot and Lap groups had diminished (P=0.428). CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest a robot can be helpful to save the spleen during DP for benign and borderline malignancy. However, a surgeon highly experienced in the laparoscopic approach can also produce a high success rate of spleen preservation, similar to that shown with the robotic approach.

What are the most important predictive factors for clinically relevant posthepatectomy liver failure after right hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma?

PURPOSE: The risk of posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) after right hepatectomy remains substantial. Additional parameters such as computed tomography volumetry, liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes, and platelet count used to properly assess future liver remnant volume quality and quantity are of the utmost importance. Thus, we compared the usefulness of these modalities for predicting PHLF among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after right hepatectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent right hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma between 2007 and 2013. PHLF was determined according to International Study Group of Liver Surgery consensus definition and severity grading. Grades B and C were defined as clinically relevant posthepatectomy liver failure (CRPHLF). The results were internally validated using a cohort of 97 patients. RESULTS: Among the 90 included patients, 15 (16.7%) had CRPHLF. Multivariate analysis confirmed that platelet count < 140 (109/L) (hazard ratio [HR], 24.231; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.623-161.693; P = 0.001) and remnant liver volume-to-body weight (RVL/BW) ratio < 0.55 (HR, 25.600; 95% CI, 4.185-156.590; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of CRPHLF. Among the 12 patients with a platelet count < 140 (109/L) and RLV/BW ratio < 0.55, 9 (75%) had CRPHLF. Likewise, 5 of 38 (13.2%) with only one risk factor developed CRPHL versus 1 of 40 (2.5%) with no risk factors. These findings were confirmed by the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: RLV/BW ratio and platelet count are more important than the conventional RLV/TFLV, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes, and liver stiffness measurement in the preoperative risk assessment for CRPHLF.

Preoperative defining system for pancreatic head cancer considering surgical resection.

AIM: To provide appropriate treatment, it is crucial to share the clinical status of pancreas head cancer among multidisciplinary treatment members. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 113 patients who underwent surgery for pancreas head cancer from January 2008 to December 2012 was performed. We developed preoperative defining system of pancreatic head cancer by describing "resectability - tumor location - vascular relationship - adjacent organ involvement - preoperative CA19-9 (initial bilirubin level) - vascular anomaly". The oncologic correlations with this reporting system were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 113 patients, there were 75 patients (66.4%) with resectable, 34 patients (30.1%) with borderline resectable, and 4 patients (3.5%) with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Mean disease-free survival was 24.8 mo (95%CI: 19.6-30.1) with a 5-year disease-free survival rate of 13.5%. Pretreatment tumor size ≥ 2.4 cm [Exp(B) = 3.608, 95%CI: 1.512-8.609, P = 0.044] and radiologic vascular invasion [Exp(B) = 5.553, 95%CI: 2.269-14.589, P = 0.002] were independent predictive factors for neoadjuvant treatment. Borderline resectability [Exp(B) = 0.222, P = 0.008], pancreatic head cancer involving the pancreatic neck [Exp(B) = 9.461, P = 0.001] and arterial invasion [Exp(B) = 6.208, P = 0.010], and adjusted CA19-9 ≥ 50 [Exp(B) = 1.972 P = 0.019] were identified as prognostic clinical factors to predict tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: The suggested preoperative defining system can help with designing treatment plans and also predict oncologic outcomes.

The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Combined with Foam Dressing on Ulcer Healing in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) combined with foam dressing on wound healing in rats with spinal cord injury. METHODS: Complete spinal cord injury was induced in 49 male Sprague-Dawley rats at the T11-L1 level, after which a pressure ulcer was induced on the left thigh. The newly invented surface electrode, which was fitted with foam inside, was applied to the ulcers. Rats were divided into 2 groups as follows: the ES group, which received foam dressings and ES (2 Hz and 200-microsecond duration, 15 mA) for 4 times a day, 30 minutes each, for 3 weeks; and the control group, which received the foam dressings without ES. The ulcer area was measured by taking a photograph daily from day 0 to day 21. Histopathologic and immune-histochemical evaluations were performed on day 1 and days 7, 14, and 21. RESULTS: The area of the ulcers of the ES group was smaller than that of the control group after day 14 (P < .05). In the ES group, the vascularity was significantly greater on day 14 and more decreased on day 21 compared with day 7 than that in the control group (P < .05). In the ES group, the area of positive reaction to anti-α-SMA antibody was increased compared with the control group on days 7 and 14 and decreased on day 21 (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation combined with foam dressing by means of newly invented surface electrodes facilitates and accelerates the wound-healing process.

Overestimated Oncologic Significance of Lymph Node Metastasis in G1 Nonfunctioning Neuroendocrine Tumor in the Left Side of the Pancreas.

Recent studies have expounded on the oncologic significance of lymph node metastasis in nonfunctioning (NF) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the pancreas and suggest regional lymph node dissection for treating pancreatic NET. We tested this recommendation in NF pancreatic NET-G1, as these tumors are generally small and suitable for function-preserving minimally invasive pancreatectomy.From January 2005 to December 2014, medical records of patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pathologically confirmed NF NET-G1 of the left side of the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Oncologic outcomes were compared between limited pancreatectomy and distal pancreatosplenectomy.Thirty-five patients (14 males and 21 females) with a mean age of 55.9 ±â€Š11.4 years were enrolled in this study. Six patients (17.1%) underwent distal pancreatosplenectomy. Limited pancreatectomies comprised 15 spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomies (42.8%), 10 enucleations (28.6%), and 4 central pancreatectomies (11.4%). Lymph node metastasis was not found in 6 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy with a splenectomy; meanwhile, the others were regarded as pNx since no lymph node retrieval was attempted during the limited pancreatectomy. Overall disease-free survival was 36.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.9-47.1) and no tumor-related mortality was noted. Minimally invasive pancreatectomy (P = 0.557) and limited pancreatectomy (P = 0.758) showed no adverse impact in treating NF NET-G1 of the left side of the pancreas.The oncologic significance of lymph node metastasis is overestimated in NF NET-G1 of the left side of the pancreas. Routine conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy to retrieve regional lymph nodes may be too excessive in treating NF NET-G1 of the distal pancreas.