Association of preoperative inflammation-based prognostic score with survival in patients undergoing salvage esophagectomy.

Salvage esophagectomy (SALV) is potentially beneficial for patients with residual or relapsed esophageal carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT), although preoperatively identifying good candidates for SALV remains difficult. We investigated the prognostic impacts of inflammatory and nutritional status in patients undergoing SALV after dCRT. Forty-seven SALV patients were retrospectively reviewed, of whom 46 (98%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 1 (2%) adenocarcinoma. Possible prognostic factors included patients' demographic data, physical status, blood chemistry profiles, and clinical/pathological tumor features. The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) was derived from preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin values. Thirty (64%), 11 (23%), and 6 (13%) patients were classified into the GPS 0, 1, and 2, respectively, groups. None of the possible prognostic factors showed significant correlations with GPS. Patients with GPS 0 had better outcomes than those with GPS 1 or GPS 2 (Median survivals: 37.8, 15.9, and 5.1 months, respectively, P < 0.001). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, GPS 1 (HR 5.62, 95% CI 1.94-16.4, P = 0.002), GPS 2 (HR 9.10, 95% CI 2.60-31.8, P < 0.001), R1/2 resection (HR 16.3, 95% CI 3.62-86.7, P < 0.001) and incomplete response to dCRT (HR 3.53, 95% CI 1.12-12.5, P = 0.03) were all independent risk factors for a poor outcome. Preoperative GPS is potentially useful for predicting outcomes in esophageal cancer patients undergoing SALV.

Short-term outcomes of robotic radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by a nontransthoracic approach compared with conventional transthoracic surgery.

Transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) is believed to have advantages for mediastinal lymphadenectomy in the treatment of resectable esophageal cancer despite its association with a greater incidence of pulmonary complications and postoperative mortality. Transhiatal esophagectomy is regarded as less invasive, though insufficient in terms of lymph node dissection. With the aim of achieving lymph dissection equivalent to that of TTE, we have developed a nontransthoracic esophagectomy (NTTE) procedure combining a video-assisted cervical approach for the upper mediastinum and a robot-assisted transhiatal approach for the middle and lower mediastinum. We prospectively studied 22 accumulated cases of NTTE and verified feasibility by analyzing perioperative and histopathological outcomes. We compared this group's short-term outcomes with outcomes of 139 equivalent esophageal cancer cases operated on at our institution by conventional TTE (TTE group). In the NTTE group, there were no procedure-related events and no midway conversions to the conventional surgery; the mean operation time was longer (median, 524 vs. 428 minutes); estimated blood loss did not differ significantly between the two groups (median, 385 mL vs. 490 mL); in the NTTE group, the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (median, 18 days vs. 24 days). No postoperative pneumonia occurred in the NTTE group. The frequencies of other major postoperative complications did not differ significantly, nor were there differences in the numbers of harvested mediastinal lymph nodes (median, 30 vs. 29) or in other histopathology findings. NTTE offers a new radical procedure for resection of esophageal cancer combining a cervical video-assisted approach and a transhiatal robotic approach. Although further accumulation of surgical cases is needed to corroborate these results, NTTE promises better prevention of pulmonary complications in the management of esophageal cancer.

Prognostic importance of the inflammation-based Glasgow prognostic score in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The inflammation-based Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) has been shown to be a prognostic factor for a variety of tumours. This study investigates the significance of the modified GPS (mGPS) for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: The mGPS (0=C-reactive protein (CRP) ≤ 10 mg l(-1), 1=CRP>10 mg l(-1) and 2=CRP>10 mg l(-1) and albumin<35 g l(-1)) was calculated on the basis of preoperative data for 1710 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery between January 2000 and December 2007. Patients were given an mGPS of 0, 1 or 2. The prognostic significance was analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Increased mGPS was associated with male patient, old age, low body mass index, increased white cell count and neutrophils, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 and advanced tumour stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed that a higher mGPS predicted a higher risk of postoperative mortality in both relative early-stage (stage I; P<0.001) and advanced-stage cancer (stage II, III and IV; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the mGPS to be a risk factor for postoperative mortality (odds ratio 1.845; 95% confidence interval 1.184-2.875; P=0.007). CONCLUSION: The preoperative mGPS is a simple and useful prognostic factor for postoperative survival in patients with gastric cancer.

Early endoscopic management for early bowel obstruction after gastrectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Early bowel obstruction is not a rare complication of gastrectomy, and it may require re-operation in some cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who underwent a total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for a massive gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Postoperatively, she was making good progress and started consuming meals on postoperative day 3. However, on postoperative day 10, she complained of upper abdominal discomfort and nausea. Blood tests showed a mild inflammatory reaction. An upper gastrointestinal series showed obstruction of the elevated jejunum. An abdominal computed tomography scan suggested upper bowel obstruction. Endoscopic observation and repositioning was selected as an effective approach for treatment considering the patient's clinical condition and background. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed kinking of the elevated jejunum, easy passage through to the anal intestine, and no evidence of mucosal edema, stenosis of the Roux-en-Y anastomosis, bowel ischemia, or necrosis. After endoscopic repositioning, upper gastrointestinal series showed good passage of the jejunum and no evidence of bowel obstruction. At the 6-month follow-up examination, the patient was in good condition and had no complaints. CONCLUSION: We concluded that early endoscopic management should be the effective procedure considered for diagnosis and treatment of early bowel obstruction after gastrectomy in some cases.

Simultaneous resection of gastric carcinoma and splenectomy in a patient with polycythemia vera: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent resection of gastric carcinoma after being treated for polycythemia vera (PV) for 16 months. He was admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding; barium meal roentogenogram and endoscopic examination subsequently revealed a Borrmann type II carcinoma in the cardia of the stomach with extension into the lower esophagus. Thus, a lower esophagogastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and lymph node dissection were performed. Although an insufficiency of the esophagojejunal anastomosis occurred, the patient suffered no hematologic complications in the setting of careful myelosuppressive and antiplatelet coagulation therapy. He is currently doing well 5 years after his operation, with grade 1 performance status and no signs of recurrence or any hematologic complications.