Clinical Characteristics of Acute Appendicitis in Pregnancy: 10-Year Experience at a Single Institution in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of non-obstetric surgical disease in pregnant women. The diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis during pregnancy are very important because it can cause life-threatening morbidity to the fetus and mother. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of acute appendicitis in pregnant women. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a medical database that included patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis at our hospital from January 2013 through December 2022. We compared non-pregnant women of reproductive age with pregnant women. We classified the pregnant women according to gestational age. RESULT: A total of 828 patients were reproductive-aged women between 15 and 44 years old. There were 759 non-pregnant patients and 69 pregnant patients. ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status classes were significantly higher and hospital stays were significantly longer in the pregnant group. There was no significant intergroup difference in terms of the proportions of complicated appendicitis, extended surgery, or complications. When the enrolled pregnant women were divided into three subgroups according to gestational age, the mean operation time was longest in the third-trimester subgroup. There were no differences among the subgroups in terms of the proportions of complicated appendicitis, extended surgery, or complications, nor were there differences among the subgroups in terms of laboratory findings. Preterm labor and stillbirth occurred in two pregnant women with complicated appendicitis in the second trimester. CONCLUSION: Immediate surgical treatment should be strongly considered in pregnant women with appendicitis. Efforts for more accurate diagnosis are needed for pregnant women with appendicitis.

Initial Experience of Robot-Assisted Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Inguinal Hernia Repair by a Single Surgeon in South Korea.

Background and Objectives: Inguinal hernia is a common surgical disease. Traditional open herniorrhaphy has been replaced by laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. Nowadays, many attempts at robotic herniorrhaphy have been reported in western countries, but there have been no reports in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to report our initial experience with robotic inguinal hernia surgery, compared to laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the clinical data from 100 patients who received inguinal hernia surgery in our hospital from November 2020 to June 2022. Fifty patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, and 50 patients underwent robotic surgery using the da Vinci Xi system. All hernia surgeries were performed by a single surgeon using the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) method. Results: The mean operation time and hospital stay were not statistically different. On the first postoperative day, the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was significantly lower in the robotic surgery group (2.9 ± 0.5 versus 2.5 ± 0.7, p = 0.015). Cumulative sum analysis revealed an approximately 12-case learning curve for robotic-assisted TAPP hernia surgery. Conclusions: Robotic-assisted TAPP inguinal hernia surgery is technically acceptable to surgeons who have performed laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery, and the learning curve is relatively short. It is thought to be a good step toward learning other robot-assisted operations.

Clinical Characteristics of Symptomatic Cholecystitis in Post-Gastrectomy Patients: 11 Years of Experience in a Single Center.

Background and Objectives: Gallbladder (GB) stones, a major cause of symptomatic cholecystitis, are more likely to develop in post gastrectomy people. Our purpose is to evaluate characteristics of symptomatic cholecystitis after gastrectomy. Materials and Method: In January 2011−December 2021, total 1587 patients underwent operations for symptomatic cholecystitis at our hospital. We reviewed the patients' general characteristics, operation results, pathologic results, and postoperative complications. We classified the patients into non-gastrectomy and gastrectomy groups, further divided into subtotal gastrectomy and total gastrectomy groups. Result: The patients' ages, male proportion, and the open surgery rate were significantly higher (127/1543 (8.2%) vs. 17/44 (38.6%); p < 0.001), and the operation time was longer (102.51 ± 52.43 vs. 167.39 ± 82.95; p < 0.001) in the gastrectomy group. Extended surgery rates were significantly higher in the gastrectomy group (56/1543 (3.6%) vs. 12/44 (27.3%); p < 0.001). The period from gastrectomy to symptomatic cholecystitis was significantly shorter in the total gastrectomy group (12.72 ± 10.50 vs. 7.25 ± 4.80; p = 0.040). Conclusion: GB stones were more likely to develop in post-gastrectomy patients and extended surgery rates were higher. The period to cholecystitis was shorter in total gastrectomy. Efforts to prevent GB stones are considered in post-gastrectomy patients.

Prediction of antidiabetic effect after gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction in patients with gastric cancer and type 2 diabetes.

This study investigated the antidiabetic outcomes after gastrectomy with long-limb RY reconstruction (LRYR) and the prognostic factors for remission after 1 year in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and gastric cancer. In 25 Koreans with T2DM and gastric cancer, plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, before and 1 week after gastrectomy with LRYR. Patients were examined after 1 year and we defined glycemic control as "remission" when the HbA1c level after 1 year was <6.0% without medication. One year after surgery, 12 patients achieved HbA1c < 6.0% without medication. Among the preoperative indices, the duration of diabetes was shorter in the remission group than that in the non-remission group (median 2.0 [0-6.5] years vs 7.0 [4.5-10.0] years, P = .023). At 1 week after surgery, significant improvements in fasting, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes stimulated glucose levels and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR and Matsuda index) were found only in the remission group. The multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that higher 30 minutes stimulated glucose level and HOMA-IR index at 1 week after surgery were independent factors for lower odds of 1-year diabetes remission. Shorter duration of diabetes and early postoperative improvements in 30 minutes stimulated glucose level and HOMA-IR were important determinants of long-term antidiabetic outcomes after gastrectomy with LRYR in patients with T2DM and gastric cancer.

Clinical Experience of Emergency Appendectomy under the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Single Institution in South Korea.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought serious changes in healthcare systems worldwide, some of which have affected patients who need emergency surgery. Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical disease requiring emergency surgery. This study was performed to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the treatment of patients with acute appendicitis in South Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a medical database that included patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in our hospital from January 2019 to May 2021. We classified the patients into two groups according to whether they were treated before or after the COVID pandemic and 10 March 2020 was used as the cutoff date, which is when the World Health Organization declared the COVID pandemic. Results: A total of 444 patients were included in the "Pre-COVID-19" group and 393 patients were included in the "COVID-19" group. In the "COVID-19" group, the proportion of patients with severe morbidity was significantly lower. The time that the patients spent in the emergency room before surgery was significantly longer in the "COVID-19" group (519.11 ± 486.57 min vs. 705.27 ± 512.59 min; p-value < 0.001). There was no difference observed in the severity of appendicitis or in the extent of surgery between the two groups. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a statistically significant time delay (186.16 min) was needed to confirm COVID-19 infection status. However, there was no clinical difference in the severity of appendicitis or in the extent of surgery. To ensure the safety of patients and medical staff, a COVID-19 PCR test should be performed.

Clinical Characteristics of Primary Repair for Perforated Peptic Ulcer: 10-Year Experience in a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a disease whose incidence is decreasing. However, PPU still requires emergency surgery. The aim of this study was to review the clinical characteristics of patients who received primary repair for PPU and identify the predisposing factors associated with severe complications. METHOD: From January 2011 to December 2020, a total of 75 patients underwent primary repair for PPU in our hospital. We reviewed the patients' data, including general characteristics and perioperative complications. Surgical complications were evaluated using the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) system, with which we classified patients into the mild complication (CDC 0-III, n = 61) and severe complication (CDC IV-V, n = 14) groups. RESULT: Fifty patients had gastric perforation, and twenty-five patients had duodenal perforation. Among surgical complications, leakage or fistula were the most common (5/75, 6.7%), followed by wound problems (4/75, 5.3%). Of the medical complications, infection (9/75, 12%) and pulmonary disorder (7/75, 9.3%) were common. Eight patients died within thirty days after surgery (8/75, 10.7%). Liver cirrhosis was the most significant predisposing factor for severe complications (HR = 44.392, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: PPU is still a surgically important disease that has significant mortality, above 10%. Liver cirrhosis is the most important underlying disease associated with severe complications.

Multicenter results of long-limb bypass reconstruction after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer and type II diabetes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The number of gastric cancer and type II diabetes mellitus is increasing in Korea. Metabolic surgery could be extended to gastric cancer patients with type II diabetes, especially those who are expected to achieve long-term survival. This study aimed to investigate change of diabetic status in patients undergoing long-limb Roux-en-Y bypass reconstruction compared with conventional Billroth II after curative gastrectomy. In total, 130 patients from five university hospital centers underwent long-limb Roux-en Y reconstruction after radical distal gastrectomy. METHODS: In the long-limb group, the length of biliopancreatic limbs was more than 80 cm, and the length of the Roux limb was more than 80 cm. The control group comprised 96 patients who underwent conventional Billroth II reconstruction after distal gastrectomy. Follow-up data at three, six, nine, and 12 months were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Fasting blood sugar (FBS) and hemoglobin (Hb) A1c levels decreased more significantly in the long-limb Roux-en-Y group (FBS: 28.8 mg/dL; HbA1c: 0.72%). However, decreases in body mass index, albumin, and hemoglobin did not differ significantly between the two groups. Diabetes control significantly improved in the long-limb group. In multivariate analysis, long-limb bypass reconstruction was the significant factor for glycemic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Roux-en-Y bypass with increased length of limbs after gastrectomy shows a favorable glycemic control for gastric cancer patients with type II diabetes without nutritional deficit and anemia. To obtain future perspectives, large-scale prospective studies with long-term outcomes are needed.

Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery in the Asia-Pacific Region: APMBSS 2018 Survey.

INTRODUCTION: The Asia-Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS) held its congress in Tokyo at the end of March, 2018, and representatives from Asia-Pacific countries presented the current status of bariatric/metabolic surgery in the "National Reports" session. The data are summarized here to show the current status and problems in the Asia-Pacific region in 2017. METHODS: A questionnaire including data of 2016 and 2017 and consisting of eight general questions was prepared and sent to representatives in 18 Asia-Pacific countries by e-mail before the congress. After the congress, the data were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: Seventeen of 18 countries responded to the survey. The frequency of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in the 4 Gulf countries was > 30%, much higher than that in the other countries. In total, 1640 surgeons and 869 institutions were engaging in bariatric/metabolic surgery. In many East and Southeast Asian countries, the indication for bariatric surgery was BMI ≥ 35 or ≥ 37, whereas in many Gulf countries and Australia, it was BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with obesity-related disease. Ten of the 17 countries (58.8%) but only one of the 5 Southeast Asian countries (20.0%) had public health insurance coverage for bariatric surgery. In 2017, 95,125 patients underwent bariatric/metabolic surgery, with sleeve gastrectomy accounting for 68.0%, bypass surgery for 19.5%, and others for 12.5%. Current problems included public insurance coverage, training system, national registry, and lack of awareness and comprehension. CONCLUSION: This summary showed that bariatric/metabolic surgery is rapidly developing along with various problems in Asia-Pacific countries.

Beneficial Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Cardiac Structure and Function in Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is being considered as a therapeutic option for morbidly obese patients. Data are accumulating showing that this surgical intervention may improve in major cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the effects of bariatric surgery on left ventricular (LV) structure and function including LV mechanics in obese patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (age = 36 ± 10 years; male:female = 11:26) undergoing bariatric surgery were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed before and after at least 1 year of bariatric surgery. Conventional echocardiographic parameters, including tissue Doppler measurements, were measured. LV global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial deformations were assessed utilizing 2D speckle tracking software. RESULTS: Patients decreased body mass index by 11.8 ± 4.7 over 15.6 ± 5.5 months. Bariatric surgery led to significant decreases in left ventricular (LV) size and mass (51.0 ± 3.3 to 49.1 ± 3.4 mm, p < 0.001 for LV end-diastolic dimension; 192.6 ± 33.5 to 146.2 ± 29.1 g, p < 0.001 for LV mass), and increases were noted in the ratio of early-to-late diastolic mitral inflow (E/A), early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity (Em), and LV longitudinal strain (1.42 ± 0.52 to 1.59 ± 0.56, p = 0.04 for E/A ratio; 9.7 ± 2.0 to 11.0 ± 2.4 cm/s, p < 0.001 for Em; 14.1 ± 1.9 to 16.2 ± 1.4 %, p < 0.001 for longitudinal strain). Changes of LV longitudinal strain were related to LV mass reduction (p = 0.04). However, LV ejection fraction, LV circumferential, and radial strains were all comparable at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Significant weight loss by bariatric surgery was associated with improved LV structure and function in obese patients, suggesting potential favorable effects of bariatric surgery to prevent future cardiovascular events.

Nationwide Survey on Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery in Korea: 2003-2013 Results.

A survey to evaluate the current status of bariatric and metabolic operations in Korea was conducted. Data from 5467 cases (32 hospitals) were collected. The annual numbers of bariatric and metabolic operations increased each year, from 139 in 2003 to 1686 in 2013. Adjustable gastric band (AGB, 67.2 %) was the most common operation, followed by sleeve gastrectomy (SG, 14.2 %), and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, 12.7 %). Mean patient age and body mass index (BMI) were 35.4 years and 35.9 kg/m2, respectively. In-hospital morbidity and mortality rates were 6 % (114/2305) and 0.25 % (5/2176), respectively. In Korea, AGB was the most common operation because of the availability and activity of specialized bariatric clinics. These national survey results established a baseline for future data collection.

Serum SPARC and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 concentrations after bariatric surgery in obese adults.

BACKGROUND: Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of adipose tissue is regarded as part of the pathophysiology of obesity. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) was the first ECM protein described in adipose tissue. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) also play a role in ECM remodeling, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be associated with abnormal ECM metabolism. Here, we investigated changes in serum SPARC, MMP-2, and MMP-9 concentrations after bariatric surgery in obese adults. METHODS: We recruited 34 obese patients who were scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery for weight loss. We analyzed changes in serum SPARC, MMP-2, and MMP-9 concentrations before and 9 months after bariatric surgery and any associations between changes in SPARC, MMP-2, and MMP-9 concentrations and obesity-related parameters. RESULTS: Serum leptin levels significantly decreased, and the serum adiponectin level significantly increased after bariatric surgery. The serum SPARC concentration decreased significantly from 165.0 ± 18.2 to 68.7 ± 6.7 ng/mL (p < 0.001), and the MMP-2 concentration also decreased significantly from 262.2 ± 15.2 to 235.9 ± 10.5 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Changes in the serum SPARC concentration were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR changes, and changes in the serum MMP-9 concentration were found to inversely correlate with serum adiponectin changes. CONCLUSION: These findings show that significant decreases in serum SPARC and MMP-2 concentrations occur after bariatric surgery. Our results thus suggest that weight loss via bariatric surgery could alter the ECM environment, and that these changes are related to certain metabolic changes.

Bariatric surgery versus conventional therapy in obese Korea patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: In Korea, the results of bariatric surgery have not been compared with those of nonsurgical treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bariatric surgery vs. conventional nonsurgical treatment in severely obese Koreans. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the medical charts of 261 consecutive subjects who underwent bariatric surgery and 224 subjects who were treated with weight control medication and lifestyle modification therapy between January 2008 and February 2011. Measures of clinical effectiveness, including change in weight (%) and comorbid diseases, and occurrence of complications, were investigated for 18 months after bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) was higher in the surgery group than in the conventionally treated group (mean ± standard deviation, 39.0 ± 6.2 vs. 34.3 ± 3.8). Diabetes was more prevalent in the surgery group than in the conventionally treated group (39.1% vs. 12.9%). The change in weight (%) between baseline and 18 months posttreatment was significantly greater in the surgery group (22.6%) than in the conventional therapy group (6.7%). While 57%, 47%, and 84% of subjects recovered from diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, respectively, in the surgery group, 10%, 20%, and 24% of subjects recovered from these conditions in the conventional group. Fifty-one subjects (19.5%) in the surgery group reported 61 complications (23.4%). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery in Korea was significantly more effective than conventional treatment for weight loss and recovery from comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, with a reasonable complication rate.

Pyrophosphatase overexpression is associated with cell migration, invasion, and poor prognosis in gastric cancer.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate to form orthophosphate. Pyrophosphate can substitute for ATP under certain circumstances. We previously conducted a proteomic analysis to investigate tumor-specific protein expression in gastric cancer, and PPase was identified as a potential gastric tumor-specific marker; it was therefore selected for further study. Clinicopathological analysis, using proteomic analysis and immunohistochemistry, was used to validate PPase as a prognostic marker in gastric cancers. Proteomic analysis showed that PPase was overexpressed in patients with lymph node (LN) metastases and high tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages (p < 0.05). Based on immunohistochemistry, patients whose tumors overexpressed PPase had higher T stages, LN metastasis, a higher TNM stage, a higher cancer recurrence rate, and shorter survival times than patients whose tumors exhibited PPase underexpression (p < 0.05). Gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches were employed to examine the malignant phenotypes of PPase-overexpressing or PPase-depleted cells. A decrease in PPase expression caused a significant decrease in gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro, whereas forced overexpression of PPase enhanced migration but not invasion. Our findings indicate that PPase is involved in gastric tumor progression and that PPase may be a useful marker for poor prognosis of human gastric cancers.

Influence of gastrectomy for stomach cancer on type 2 diabetes mellitus for patients with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m(2).

PURPOSE: The impressive effect of LRYGBP on mildly obese patients (30 kg/m(2) < BMI < 35 kg/m(2)) with T2DM raises the argument for lowering the threshold for surgical intervention to non-obesity (BMI < 30 kg/m(2)). The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of gastrectomy on non-obese patients with T2DM and what preoperative clinical factors are associated with postoperative long term improvement. METHODS: In this retrospective review, we analyzed the change in diabetic status in 75 patients with gastric cancer undergoing three different gastrectomies in a single institution from June 1996 to September 2009. Pre- and postoperative fasting blood glucose, serum hemoglobin A1c and diabetic medication requirements were compared. The demographic data and other biochemical markers were also collected. RESULTS: At an average follow-up of 35.0 ± 25.9 months, we collected the data of 75 patients and evaluated the change of diabetes status. There was no resolution of diabetes in Billroth-I (B-I) group, and 45.2% of patients improved whereas the resolution rate of Billroth-II (B-II) and RY group was 22.2% and 23.5% and 85.2% and 88.2%, respectively. The improvement rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) status was 7.46 times higher in B-II than in B-I patients. The method of reconstruction is the most powerful factor and severity and duration of diabetes showed significant clinical factors for the improvement of the disease after surgery. CONCLUSION: According to these results, foregut-bypass procedure may improve the type 2 DM better than can be explained by the effect of weight loss only. Diabetes remission is significantly higher in those with duration of diabetes less than 5 years.

Efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: For patients with acute cholecystitis, conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery is not uncommon due to possibilities of serious hemorrhage at the liver bed and bile duct injury. Recent studies reported successful laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and feasibility of such an operation based on the experience of surgeons at our facility. METHODS: In this study, we enrolled 144 patients who had received either laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), or open cholecystectomy (OC) for acute cholecystitis from January 2004 to December 2009 at the Department of Surgery of our hospital. Their symptoms, signs, operative findings, pathologic results and postoperative results were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 26 patients in the LSC group 80 in the LC group and 38 in the OC group. There were no differences in mean age, sex, and symptoms of acute cholecystitis. The LSC group showed higher CRP levels (p<0.001) and a higher grade according to the Tokyo criteria (p=0.001). The mean operative time was 115.6 minutes and mean blood loss was 158.9 ml without intra-operative or postoperative transfusion. There weren't any bile duct injuries during the operation. No group suffered bile leakage. Drains were removed 3.3 days after the operation in the LC group, the shortest time compared to the other groups (p<0.001). LC and LSC groups demonstrated shorter postoperative hospital days and time to diet resumption than the OC group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LSC appears to be a safe and effective treatment in cases of severe acute cholecystitis that require consideration of conversion to open surgery.