Efficacy of laparoscopic resection in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly patients were compared with those of open surgery in elderly patients and those of laparoscopic surgery in nonelderly patients to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: The data of the patients who underwent surgical resection for colorectal cancer between January 2007 and September 2012 were retrospectively collected. The clinical backgrounds and outcomes of elderly patients (≥ 70 years of age) who underwent laparoscopic surgery (EL group) were compared with those of elderly patients who underwent open surgery (EO group) and those of nonelderly patients (< 70 years of age) who underwent laparoscopic surgery (NL group). RESULTS: Compared with the EO group, the EL group showed significantly less blood loss (15 versus 100 ml), fewer postoperative complications (10.7 versus 36.7 %), earlier resumption of an oral diet (4 versus 5 days) and shorter postoperative hospital stays (16 versus 28 days). A case-matched analysis showed similar results. All perioperative outcomes were equivalent between the EL and NL groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly patients with cancer was not only superior to open surgery in elderly patients, but also equivalent to laparoscopic surgery in nonelderly patients in terms of the postoperative outcomes.

[Bacteria isolated from surgical infections and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents--special reference to bacteria isolated between April 2007 and March 2008].

Bacteria isolated from infections in abdominal surgery during the period from April 2007 to March 2008 were investigated in a multicenter study in Japan, and the following results were obtained. In this series, 707 strains including 24 strains of Candida spp. were isolated from 181 (79.0%) of 229 patients with surgical infections. Three hundred and ninety-five strains were isolated from primary infections, and 288 strains were isolated from postoperative infections. From primary infections, anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria were predominant, followed by aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, while from postoperative infections aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant, followed by anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria. Among aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Enterococcus spp. was highest, followed by Streptococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp. in this order, from primary infections, while Enterococcus spp. was highest, followed by Staphylococcus spp. from postoperative infections. Among aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was the most predominantly isolated from primary infections, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae, in this order, and from postoperative infections, P. aeruginosa was most predominantly isolated, followed by E. cloacae, E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Among anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Parvimonas micra was the highest from primary infections, followed by Streptococcus constellatus and Gemella morbillorum, and from postoperative infections, Anaerococcus prevotii was most predominantly isolated. Among anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, the isolation rate of both Bacteroides fragilis and Bilophila wadsworthia were the highest from primary infections, followed by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Campylobacter gracilis, and from postoperative infections, B. thetaiotaomicron was most predominately isolated, followed by B. fragilis, Bacteroides caccae and B. wadsworthia in this order. In this series, we noticed no vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive cocci, nor multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa. There were nine strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococci which show higher MIC against teicoplanin more than 4 gg/mL, but all of them had good susceptibilities against various anti-MRSA antibiotics. We should carefully follow up B. wadsworthia which was resistant to various antibiotics, and also Bacteroides spp. which was resistant to many beta-lactam antibiotics.

Diagnosis of small pancreatic cancer by endoscopic balloon-catheter spot pancreatography: an analysis of 29 patients.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of small pancreatic cancer remains difficult. The present study describes the diagnostic value of endoscopic balloon-catheter spot pancreatography for small pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Since April 1984, balloon spot pancreatography has been used to detect small-sized pancreatic cancer in patients having possible symptoms or findings of obstructive pancreatitis. RESULTS: A resection was performed on 175 of 416 patients with conditions diagnosed as pancreatic cancer. Of the 175 patients, 23 (13%) had invasive carcinoma 2 cm or smaller based on histological measurements, 3 intraductal papillotubular adenocarcinoma, and 3 carcinoma in situ (CIS). Regarding invasive carcinoma, balloon pancreatography displayed duct abnormalities diagnosed as carcinoma in 20 of 22 patients, whereas carcinoma was suggested in 2. A definite diagnosis was obtained based on the findings of main duct stenosis or obstruction with marked stricture of the branch ducts (n = 18) and a filling defect in the main duct (n = 2). Moreover, this pancreatogram demonstrated an intraductal filling defect in 2 of 3 with intraductal carcinoma and dead twiglike findings in the branch ducts in 1 of 3 with CIS. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon spot pancreatography is an essential tool for the diagnosis of small ductal pancreatic cancer, and it also makes it possible to locate CIS lesions of the branch ducts.

[Bacteria isolated from surgical infections and its susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents--special references to bacteria isolated between April 2006 and March 2007].

Tendency of isolated bacteria from infections in abdominal surgery during the period from April 2006 to March 2007 were investigated in a multicenter study in Japan, and the following results were obtained. In this series, 474 strains including 23 strains of Candida spp. were isolated from 170 (75.2%) of 226 patients with surgical infections. Two hundred and twenty-six strains were isolated from primary infections, and 224 strains were isolated from postoperative infections. From primary infections, anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria were predominant, followed by aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, while from postoperative infections aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant, followed by anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria. Among aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Staphylococcus spp. was higher from postoperative infections, while Enterococcus spp. was higher from primary infections. Among aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was the most predominantly isolated from primary infections, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in this order, and from postoperative infections, P. aeruginosa was the most predominantly isolated, followed by E. coli and E. cloacae. Among anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, the isolation rate of Bilophila wadsworthia was the highest from primary infections, followed by Bacteroides fragilis and from postoperative infections, B. fragilis was most predominately isolated, followed by Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and B. wadsworthia in this order. In this series, we noticed no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, nor multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. There were three strains of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus, but all of them had good susceptibilities against various anti-MRSA antibiotics. We should carefully follow up B. wadsworthia.

[Bacteria isolated from surgical infections and its susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents--special references to bacteria isolated between april 2003 and march 2004].

Tendency of isolated bacteria from infections in abdominal surgery during the period from April 2005 to March 2006 were investigated in a multicenter study in Japan, and the following results were obtained. In this series, 384 strains including 18 strains of Candida spp. were isolated from 161 (70.3%) of 229 patients with surgical infections. One hundred and ninty-five strains were isolated from primary infections, and 171 strains were isolated from postoperative infections. From primary infections, aerobic Gram-negative bacteria and aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant, while aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant from postoperative infections. The isolation rate of aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were higher from both types of infections. Among anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Peptostreptococcus spp. was the highest from both types of infections. Among aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was the most predominantly isolated from primary infections, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp. in this order, and from postoperative infections, E. coli was the most predominantly isolated, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. Among anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, the isolation rate of Bacteroides fragilis group was the highest from both primary and postoperative infections. In this series, we noticed no vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive cocci, nor multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. But cefazolin-resistant E. coli producing extended spectrum fl-lactamase was seen in 5.0 per cents. We should be carefully followed up the facts that the increasing isolation rates of B. fragilis group and Bilophila wadsworthia which were resistant to both penicillins and cephems.

An endoscopic sphincterotomy of the minor papilla in the management of symptomatic pancreas divisum.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of endoscopic treatment in pancreas divisum remains controversial. This study evaluated the results of an endoscopic sphincterotomy of the minor papilla and temporary transpapillary pancreatic stenting in patients with pancreas divisum. METHODOLOGY: Pancreas divisum was diagnosed in four patients between 1994 and 2004. All patients demonstrated episodes of recurrent upper abdominal and back pain were with a median follow-up period of 14.5 months. One patient was treated by a sphincterotomy of the minor papilla alone, while three others also underwent transpapillary pancreatic stent insertion for seven days. RESULTS: A Sphincterotomy of the minor papilla could be successfully achieved in all patients. There was no instance of bleeding, perforation or sepsis after the procedure. The postoperative serum amylase level in the patients without stent insertion (1352 IU/L) was higher than that the patients with stents (mean level 515 IU/L, range 358 to 680). The dilatated dorsal pancreatic ducts were found to improve after a sphincterotomy in all patients. None of the patients had any further episodes of pancreatitis. In addition, all patients demonstrated a considerable improvement in their upper abdominal or back pain symptoms, which did not require either analgesic medication or hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: An endoscopic sphincterotomy and temporary transpapillary pancreatic stenting were therefore suggested to be a beneficial treatment modality for patients with pancreas divisum.

Laparoscopic treatment of a gastric duplication cyst: report of a case.

Gastric duplications are rare benign tumors that are mainly discovered in relatively young patients. Although laparoscopic surgery, a less invasive surgical procedure, should be used for this condition, its application in the treatment of this disease has not yet been reported. A 14-year-old girl visited our hospital with the chief complaint of repeated episodes of upper abdominal pain. Because diagnostic imaging revealed a cystic tumor in the dorsal stomach, laparoscopic surgery was performed. The cystoma was intraoperatively found to contiguous with the posterior wall of the gastric cardia and was thus diagnosed to be a gastric duplication. With the intraoperative aid of gastroscopy, we were able to remove the cystoma from the continuous gastric wall safely without causing either a perforation or any other injury to the stomach. Gastric duplication is a congenital disease, and thus the majority of such cases are diagnosed in childhood. A laparoscopic resection of a duplicated stomach is less invasive and esthetically superior to other methods, and therefore it is considered to be a useful therapeutic modality.