Precise highlighting of the pancreas by semantic segmentation during robot-assisted gastrectomy: visual assistance with artificial intelligence for surgeons.

BACKGROUND: A postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a critical complication of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, mainly because surgeons occasionally misrecognize the pancreas and fat during lymphadenectomy. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of identifying and highlighting the pancreas during robot-assisted gastrectomy. METHODS: A pancreas recognition algorithm was developed using HRNet, with 926 training images and 232 validation images extracted from 62 scenes of robot-assisted gastrectomy videos. During quantitative evaluation, the precision, recall, intersection over union (IoU), and Dice coefficients were calculated based on the surgeons' ground truth and the AI-inferred image from 80 test images. During the qualitative evaluation, 10 surgeons answered two questions related to sensitivity and similarity for assessing clinical usefulness. RESULTS: The precision, recall, IoU, and Dice coefficients were 0.70, 0.59, 0.46, and 0.61, respectively. Regarding sensitivity, the average score for pancreas recognition by AI was 4.18 out of 5 points (1 = lowest recognition [less than 50%]; 5 = highest recognition [more than 90%]). Regarding similarity, only 54% of the AI-inferred images were correctly differentiated from the ground truth. CONCLUSIONS: Our surgical AI system precisely highlighted the pancreas during robot-assisted gastrectomy at a level that was convincing to surgeons. This technology may prevent misrecognition of the pancreas by surgeons, thus leading to fewer POPFs.

Proposal for T3 classification of esophagogastric junction carcinoma based on the interconnection of extramural anatomical structures.

Classification of extramural invasion of esophagogastric junction carcinoma (EGJC) is not yet established. The anatomy surrounding the EGJ alters between the mediastinum and the abdominal cavity. This review proposed a T3 classification of EGJC based on anatomical continuity. Analysis of endoscopic ultrasound images, review of intraoperative images, and detailed observation of surgical specimens were followed by a review of the literature. In the EGJ, the muscularis propria of the esophagus is enclosed in mediastinal adipose tissue called the adventitia, which is surrounded by the diaphragmatic crus and contains the paraesophageal lymph nodes (LNs). After passing through the esophageal hiatus along with the vagus nerves and blood vessels, the adventitia joins the adipose tissue containing the paracardial LNs, which is covered by the peritoneum, and then further divides into the lesser and greater omentum. The connective tissue outside the muscularis propria of the stomach, including the adipose tissue of the omentum, is called the subserosa. According to the TNM classification, T3 esophageal and gastric cancer is defined as invasion of the adventitia and subserosa, respectively. Given that the adventitia is anatomically continuous with the subserosa, T3 tumors of the EGJ can be described as those that extend through the muscularis propria but do not invade the peritoneum or diaphragmatic crus. We propose classifying T3 EGJC as "tumor extends through muscularis propria" rather than using the separate terms "adventitia" and "submucosa". T4 could be "tumor perforates serosa or invades adjacent structures", as per the current gastric cancer classification.

Marked improvement of severe reflux esophagitis following proximal gastrectomy with esophagogastrostomy by the right gastroepiploic vessels-preserving antrectomy and Roux-en-Y biliary diversion.

Duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER) following esophagectomy or gastrectomy can cause severe esophagitis, which impairs patients' quality of life and increases the risk of esophageal carcinogenesis. It is sometimes resistant to medical treatment, and surgical treatment is considered effective in such cases. However, an optimal operative procedure for medical treatment-resistant reflux esophagitis (RE) after proximal gastrectomy (PG) with esophagogastrostomy (EG) has not yet been established. We performed the right gastroepiploic vessels-preserving antrectomy and Roux-en-Y biliary diversion in a 70-year-old man with medical treatment-resistant severe esophagitis caused by DGER following PG with EG for esophagogastric junction cancer. The postoperative course was uneventful, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed on the 19th postoperative day showed marked improvement in the esophageal erosions. The patient reported symptomatic relief. The right gastroepiploic vessels-preserving antrectomy and Roux-en-Y biliary diversion were considered safe and feasible for medical treatment-resistant RE following PG with EG.

History of the lymph node numbering system in the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma since 1962.

The Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma was established by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer in 1962. The latest 15th edition was published in 2017. One of its main features is that lymph nodes are numbered as stations. The number of groups has increased from 16 to 36 in 55 years. Seven groups (nos. 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 15) were retained from the original classification. Nine groups (nos. 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16) were sub-divided into two or more groups. Furthermore, seven groups (nos. 17, 18, 19, 20, 110, 111, and 112) were added in the 6th, 11th, and 12th editions. This numbering system helps surgeons recognize the exact lymph nodes that need to be dissected. However, the numbering system has become extremely complicated. It is necessary to organize the historical background of each lymph node station and share the definitions clearly. This review focuses on nine anatomical zones around the stomach and summarizes the history of lymph node stations in the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. Lymph node stations will continue to be modified in the future, and the historical background may be useful in future revisions.

Gastric equivalent of the 'Holy Plane' to standardize the surgical concept of stomach cancer to mesogastric excision: updating Jamieson and Dobson's historic schema.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for curable gastric cancer has historically involved dissection of lymph nodes, depending on the risk of metastasis. By establishing the concept of mesogastric excision (MGE), we aim to make this approach compatible with that for colorectal cancer, where the standard is excision of the mesentery. METHODS: Current advances in molecular embryology, visceral anatomy, and surgical techniques were integrated to update Jamieson and Dobson's schema, a historical reference for the mesogastrium. RESULTS: The mesogastrium develops with a three-dimensional movement, involving multiple fusions with surrounding structures (retroperitoneum or other mesenteries) and imbedding parenchymal organs (pancreas, liver, and spleen) that grow within the mesentery. Meanwhile, the fusion fascia and the investing fascia interface with adjacent structures of different embryological origin, which we consider to be equivalent to the 'Holy Plane' in rectal surgery emphasized by Heald in the concept of total mesorectal excision. Dissecting these fasciae allows for oncologic MGE, consisting of removing lymph node-containing mesenteric adipose tissue with an intact fascial package. MGE is theoretically compatible with its colorectal counterpart, although complete removal of the mesogastrium is not possible due to the need to spare imbedded vital organs. The celiac axis is treated as the central artery of the mesogastrium, but is peripherally ligated by tributaries flowing into the stomach to feed the spared organs. CONCLUSION: The obscure contour of the mesogastrium can be clarified by thinking of it as the gastric equivalent of the 'Holy Plane'. MGE could be a standard concept for surgical treatment of stomach cancer.

Disconnected Motor Intention and Spatial Attention in a Case of Probable Marchiafava-Bignami Disease.

Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare complication of chronic alcoholism that typically causes demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum. Here, we report a man with probable MBD with callosal and right medial paracentral lesions who presented with abnormal reaching behavior and ideomotor apraxia of the left hand. He exhibited difficulty in reaching with the left hand when a target object was placed on his right-hand side, and he exhibited rightward bias when using his right hand in a line bisection task. These disturbances in reaching suggest disruption of the top-down control of motor intention and spatial attention at the corpus callosum.

Anastomosis behind the sternoclavicular joint is associated with increased incidence of anastomotic stenosis in retrosternal reconstruction with a gastric conduit after esophagectomy.

Anastomotic stenosis after esophagectomy is a major cause of long-term morbidity because it leads to poor dietary intake and malnutrition that markedly reduces the quality of life. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that anastomosis behind the sternoclavicular (SC) joint in retrosternal reconstruction is associated with an increased risk of anastomotic stenosis compared with anastomosis deviated from the joint. Among 226 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between April 2010 and March 2019, we selected 114 patients who underwent retrosternal reconstruction using a gastric conduit for this study. They were classified into two groups according to the location of the anastomosis as determined by axial sections on postoperative computed tomography scans: anastomosis located behind the SC joint (Group B; n = 71) and anastomosis deviated from the joint (Group D; n = 43). The primary endpoint was the difference in the incidence of anastomotic stenosis between the two groups. Whether the occurrence of anastomotic leak affected the likelihood of anastomotic stenosis was also investigated. The incidence of anastomotic stenosis was significantly higher in Group B than in Group D (71.8% [n = 51] vs. 18.6% [n = 8]; P < 0.0001). The incidence of stenosis in patients who developed an anastomotic leak was significantly higher in Group B than in Group D (88.0% vs. 41.7%; P = 0.0057), although the findings were similar in patients who did not develop anastomotic leak (63.0% and 9.7%, respectively; P < 0.0001). We conclude that anastomosis located behind the SC joint in retrosternal reconstruction with a gastric conduit after esophagectomy is associated with an increased risk of anastomotic stenosis regardless of the development of anastomotic leak.

Laparoscopic Suprapancreatic Lymph Node Dissection Using a Systematic Mesogastric Excision Concept for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal cancer surgery requires en bloc removal of the primary tumor and organ-specific mesentery1,2. However, this surgical concept for gastric cancer has not yet been applied because of the morphological complexity of the mesenteries of the stomach. Lymph node dissection in gastric cancer surgery can be roughly performed into three regions: lesser curvature, grater curvature, and suprapancreatic region. In this video, we introduced laparoscopic lymphadenectomy in the suprapancreatic region using a systematic mesogastric excision (SME), which has been reported as a concept to perform en bloc resection3. METHODS: This procedure was divided into three steps. First, mesenterization of the mesogastrium was performed by dissecting the embryological planes, and the mesogastrium was dissected from the retroperitoneal surface (Fig. 1a). Second, soft tissue, including the lymph node, was separated from the pancreas and the splenic artery by tracing the inner dissectable layer (Fig. 1b). Finally, the tumor-specific mesentery was transected according to the extent of the lymphadenectomy (Fig. 1c).Fig. 1Intraoperative findings during the stepwise procedure in dissecting the lymph node in the suprapancreatic region. The red broken line indicates the surgical outline. a The mesogastrium is dissected from the retroperitoneal tissue. b The mesogastrium is separated from the pancreas and splenic artery. c The mesogastric transection line is determined on the basis of the extent of the lymphadenectomy. Inf. phrenic a. inferior phrenic artery; PGA posterior gastric artery; Post. epiploic a. posterior epiploic artery; RV renal vein; SA splenic artery; SV splenic vein RESULTS: Between January 2017 and December 2017, six patients underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy using SME. The median time required to complete the suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy was 48 min. No patient underwent conversion to open surgery or experienced intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this laparoscopic suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy using SME takes advantage of the surgical anatomy and achieves en bloc removal of the primary tumor and gastric mesentery. This series is a proof of concept that this procedure can be performed in a timely manner and is feasible.

True esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: background of its definition and current surgical trends.

The definition of true esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma and its surgical treatment are debatable. We review the basis for the current definition and the Japanese surgical strategy in managing true EGJ adenocarcinoma. The Siewert classification is a well-known anatomical classification system for EGJ adenocarcinomas: type II tumors in the region 1 cm above and 2 cm below the EGJ are described as "true carcinoma of the cardia". Coincidentally, this range matches gastric cardiac gland distribution. Conversely, Nishi's classification is generally used to describe EGJ carcinomas, defined as tumors with the center located within 2 cm above and 2 cm below the EGJ, regardless of their histological subtype. This range coincides with the extent of the lower esophageal sphincter combined with gastric cardiac gland distribution. The current Japanese surgical strategy focuses on the tumor range from the EGJ to the esophagus and stomach. According to previous studies, the strategy can be roughly classified into three types. The optimal surgical procedure for true EGJ adenocarcinoma is controversial. However, an ongoing Japanese nationwide prospective trial will help confirm the appropriate standard surgery, including the optimal extent of lymph node dissection.

Impact of Frailty on Postoperative Outcomes for Laparoscopic Gastrectomy in Patients Older than 80 Years.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between frailty and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for old-old patients with resectable gastric cancer. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed 96 consecutive patients (age ≥ 80 years) who had undergone R0 resection by laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2006 and 2012. The patients were retrospectively scored using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) and categorized based on their scores (1-2, 3-4, and 5-7). Postoperative complications, 5-year survival rate, risk factors for morbidity, and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The morbidity rate for Clavien-Dindo grades 2 or higher and 3a or higher were respectively 27.1% and 12.5%. Operative complications, especially systemic complications, were positively associated with an increase in CFS scores (p = 0.026). The overall 5-year survival rate was 59.8%, and the 5-year survival rates for those with a CFS score of 1-2, 3-4, and 5-7 were respectively 70.9%, 59.8%, and 35.1%. Specifically, the prognosis for the patients with a CFS score of 5-7 with stage 2 or 3 disease was significantly worse than for those with a lower CFS score (p = 0.009). The multivariate analysis showed that a total gastrectomy or blood loss of 200 g or more was a significant risk factor for morbidity (both p = 0.004), and that the independent risk factors for overall survival were a CFS score of 5-7 (p = 0.006), a body mass index lower than 18.5 kg/m2 (p = 0.039), and morbidity (grade ≥ 3a; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty has a great impact on operative morbidity and prognosis in the elderly, and the CFS score could be a promising prognostic predictor, especially for frail patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic modified lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer surgery using systematic mesogastric excision: a novel technique based on a concept.

PURPOSE: Radical surgery for gastrointestinal cancer involves en bloc removal of the primary tumor and organ-specific mesenteries. However, the surgical concept and technique for lymphadenectomy during gastric cancer surgery remain unclear. We examined a novel technique for laparoscopic modified lymphadenectomy during gastric cancer surgery involving systematic mesogastric excision (SME) and focused on the topographic anatomy, surgical technique, and specimens. METHODS: Our surgical technique involved the following: mesenterization by dissociating embryological planes, separating fat tissue containing lymph nodes from the pancreas and its associated vessels by tracing the intramesenteric dissectable layers, and dissecting the lymph node that is dependent on the D1+ criteria. RESULTS: Between October 2011 and September 2016, 227 patients underwent laparoscopic D1+ gastrectomy using SME. Of these, total gastrectomy was performed in 47 cases and distal gastrectomy was performed in 180 cases. The median operative time was 303 min (range, 201-722 min), and estimated blood loss was 50 mL (range, 0-550 mL). The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 54 (range, 18-163). There was no conversion to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SME was adapted for modified gastrectomy and is considered safe. Modified lymphadenectomy during gastrectomy is determined by the resection margin of the mesogastrium.

Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: the first clinical series.

BACKGROUND: Radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity, especially with pulmonary complications. Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy via a small left neck incision combined with the esophageal hiatus, without using transthoracic approach, has been reported to reduce pulmonary complication; however, from technical point of view, this approach using non-articulating, straight, long forceps is extremely challenging, especially in the middle mediastinal area. Its technical difficulties may be attenuated using da Vinci Surgical System. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy. METHODS: Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was performed in six patients between October 2016 and May 2017. Robotic esophageal mobilization with upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed via the three da Vinci Xi (Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA) trocars placed on the 5-cm left cervical incision. Thereafter, the remaining part of radical esophagectomy was completed via a transhiatal approach. RESULTS: Upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was robotically completed via the transcervical approach in all cases without conversion to transthoracic approach. No postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ III) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was technically feasible and safe. Use of da Vinci Surgical System may help attenuate technical difficulties in transcervical middle mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Effectiveness of laparoscopic stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy for patients with gastric outlet obstruction caused by advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Distal advanced gastric cancer (AGC) occasionally causes gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). We developed a laparoscopic stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy (LSPGJ) to restore the ability of food intake. METHODS: This was a retrospective study performed at a single institution. Of consecutive 78 patients with GOO caused by AGC between 2006 and 2012, 43 patients who underwent LSPGJ were enrolled. The procedure was performed in an antiperistaltic Billroth II fashion, and the afferent loop was elevated and fixed along the staple line of the proximal partitioned stomach. Then, patients for whom R0 resection was planned received chemotherapy prior to laparoscopic gastrectomy. The primary end point was food intake at the time of discharge, which was evaluated using the GOO scoring system (GOOSS). Short- and long-term outcomes were assessed as secondary end points. Overall survival was estimated and compared between the groups who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NAC group), definitive chemotherapy followed by curative resection (Conversion group), and best supportive care (BSC group). RESULTS: The median operative time was 92 min, blood loss did not exceed 30 g in any patient, and postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2) were only seen in four patients (9.3 %). The median time to food intake was 3 days, and GOOSS scores were significantly improved in 41 patients (95.3 %). Chemotherapy was administered to 38 patients (88.4 %), of whom 11 later underwent radical resection, and 4 of 11 patients underwent conversion surgery following definitive chemotherapy. Median survival times were significantly superior in the NAC (n = 7; 46.8 months) and Conversion (n = 4; 35.9 months) groups than in the BSC group (n = 26; 12.2 months); however, the difference was not significant between the Conversion and NAC groups. CONCLUSIONS: LSPGJ is a feasible and safe minimally invasive induction surgery for patients with GOO from surgical and oncological perspectives.

Robotic valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy using double flap technique following proximal gastrectomy: technical aspects and short-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy by double flap technique (VEG-DFT) is a promising procedure to prevent reflux after proximal gastrectomy (PG), and is achieved by the burial of the abdominal esophagus into the gastric submucosa; however, laparoscopic VEG-DFT is technically demanding due to complicated suturing and ligation maneuvers. The present study was designed to determine the feasibility and safety of robotic VEG-DFT. METHODS: After robotic PG, seromuscular flaps were extracorporeally created at the anterior wall of the remnant stomach through a small umbilical incision. Then, using a robot, the posterior wall of the esophagus was fixed to the cranial end of the mucosal window, and layer-to-layer sutures were placed between the anterior aspects of esophagus and the remnant stomach. Finally, the anastomosis was covered by seromuscular flaps. Short-term outcomes of 12 consecutive patients who underwent VEG-DFT between January 2014 and December 2015 were assessed. RESULTS: Operations were successfully completed using robotic assistance in all patients. Median operative, surgeon console, and anastomosis times were 406 (324-613 min), 267 (214-483), and 104 (76-186) min, respectively, and median estimated blood loss was 31 (5-130) ml. The first six cases were required to reach a learning plateau. Both mortality and morbidity rates within 30 days after surgery were 0%. Postoperative hospital stay was 10 (9-30) days. No postoperative reflux esophagitis was observed, whereas anastomotic stenosis, which required endoscopic balloon dilation, developed in three patients (25%) in postoperative month 2. There was a significant association between the total number of stitches used for VEG-DFT and anastomotic stenosis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assistance may be useful for VEG-DFT with a short learning curve. Attention is required to prevent postoperative anastomotic stenosis possibly caused by an excessive number of stitches for esophagogastrostomy.

Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: technical aspects and surgical, nutritional and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Higher morbidity in total gastrectomy than in distal gastrectomy has been reported, but laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy (LsTG) has been reported to be safe and feasible in early gastric cancer (GC). We determined the surgical, nutritional and oncological outcomes of LsTG for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS: Of the 816 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2008 and 2012, 253 who underwent curative laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for AGC were enrolled. LsTG was indicated for patients with upper stomach third tumors, who hoped to avoid total gastrectomy, <4 cm to the esophagogastric junction and a 2-cm proximal margin with cut end negative in frozen section, whereas laparoscopic conventional distal gastrectomy (LcDG) and laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) were performed otherwise. Surgical outcomes and postoperative nutritional status were primarily assessed. RESULTS: Of 253 patients, the morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ III) was 17.0% (43 patients). The 3-year overall survival and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were 80.2 and 73.5%, respectively. LcDG, LsTG and LTG were performed in 121, 27 and 105 patients, individually. Morbidity was strongly associated with LTG (P = 0.001). Postoperative loss of body weight was significantly greater after LTG in comparison with LcDG or LsTG (P < 0.001). No difference in morbidity and postoperative loss of body weight were observed between LcDG and LsTG group. CONCLUSIONS: LG for AGC was feasible and safe surgically and oncologically. LsTG for AGC may be safer than LTG from surgical and postoperative nutritional point of view.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer - R0 Resection Was Performed by Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Portal Vein Resection Following Neoadjuvant Therapy].

A 76-year-old woman, complained of weight loss, was admitted in our hospital. After investigation, she was diagnosed with clinical Stage III B gastric cancer with invasion into the pancreas and transverse colon. After performing the staging laparoscopy and gastrojejunostomy for pyloric stenosis, she was treated with 2 courses of SOX therapy as neoadjuvant therapy, and subsequently underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and right hemicolectomy combined with portal vein resection due to severe adhesion by the tumor. The pathological diagnosis was pT4b(colon), pN0(0/22), pM0, pStage III B. There were no findings of tumor invasion into the pancreas or the portal vein. She was discharged without any complications. She did not receive the adjuvant chemotherapy, and died of other illness at 10 months after surgery. For the locally advanced gastric cancer such as invasion to the pancreas, the extended resection as an R0 resection could be achieved more safely, by evaluating accurately the incurable factors and planning an effective strategy according to the patient's condition.

Technical aspects and short- and long-term outcomes of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: a single-institution retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: D2 total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy or pancreaticosplenectomy reportedly increases morbidity and mortality. Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains controversial because of its technical difficulties and lack of long-term results. We determined the feasibility and safety of TLTG for AGC. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective study was conducted. Ninety-two consecutive AGC patients who underwent radical TLTG were enrolled. The primary end point was morbidity. The patients were observed for 3 years following TLTG. We assessed short-term surgical and long-term outcomes, including 3-year overall survival rates (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS). RESULTS: Early and late morbidities (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) were 26.1 and 6.5 %, respectively. Operative time, estimated blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes, and postoperative hospital stay were 444 (278-694) min, 100 (0-2267) g, 48 (16-89), and 23 (9-136) days, respectively, and 3yOS and 3yRFS rates were 70.7 and 60.9 %, respectively. Factors associated with postoperative complications and 3yOS were operative time [OR 1.011 (1.006-1.017), p < 0.01] and cancer recurrence within 3 years [HR 312.191 (1.126-86573.245], p = 0.045], respectively. 3yRFS was associated with tumor size (≥50 mm) [HR 10.325 (1.328-80.289), p = 0.026], pathological N factor ≥2 [HR 3.188 (1.196-8.495), p = 0.02], and postoperative pancreatic fistula combined with intra-abdominal abscesses Clavien-Dindo grade ≥2; [HR 3.670 (1.440-9.351), p = 0.006]. CONCLUSIONS: TLTG for AGC is sufficiently feasible and safe from both surgical and oncological point of view.

Comparison of the long-term outcomes of robotic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and conventional laparoscopic approach: a single institutional retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) for gastric cancer (GC) has been increasingly performed over the last decade. The technical feasibility and safety of RG for GC, predominantly early GC, have previously been reported; however, few studies have evaluated the oncological outcomes. This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of RG for GC compared with those of conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). METHODS: Of the 521 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2009 and 2012, 84 consecutive patients who underwent RG and 437 patients who received LG were enrolled in this study. Long-term outcomes including the 3-year overall survival (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS) were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: In the RG group, the 3yOS rates stratified by pathological stage according to the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma (IA, IB, II, and III) were 94.7, 90.9, 89.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. No differences in 3yOS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 88.8 %; p = 0.636) or 3yRFS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 86.3 %; p = 0.905) were observed between the groups. 3yOS was strongly associated with cancer recurrence within 3 years (p < 0.001), while 3yRFS was associated with tumor size ≥ 30 mm (p < 0.001), clinical stage ≥ IB (p < 0.001), estimated blood loss ≥ 50 mL (p = 0.033), and postoperative pancreatic fistula CD grade ≥ III) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: RG for GC was feasible and safe from the oncological point of view in a cohort including a considerable number of patients with advanced GC.

Robotic surgery for upper gastrointestinal cancer: Current status and future perspectives.

Robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System has been increasingly applied in a wide range of surgical specialties, especially in urology and gynecology. However, in the field of upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the da Vinci Surgical System has yet to be standard as a result of a lack of clear benefits in comparison with conventional minimally invasive surgery. We have been carrying out robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy for operable patients with resectable upper GI malignancies since 2009, and have demonstrated the potential advantages of the use of the robot in possibly reducing postoperative local complications including pancreatic fistula following gastrectomy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after esophagectomy, even though there have been a couple of problems to be solved including longer duration of operation and higher cost. The present review provides updates on robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer based on our experience and review of the literature.