Intragastric free cancer cells may be attached to automatic staplers during anastomosis in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Automatic staplers are often used to reconstruct the digestive tract during surgeries for gastric cancer. Intragastric free cancer cells adhering to automatic staplers may come in contact with the laparoscopic port area and progress to port site recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the presence/absence of cancer cells adhering to automatic staplers during gastric cancer surgery using cytological examinations. We further determined the positive predictive clinicopathological factors and clinical implications of free cancer cells attached to automatic staplers. METHODS: This study included 101 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Automatic staplers used for anastomosis in gastric cancer surgeries were shaken in 150 ml of saline solution to collect the attached cells. Papanicolaou stains were performed. We tested the correlation between cancer-cell positivity and clinicopathological factors to identify risk factors arising from the presence of attached cancer cells to the staplers. RESULTS: Based on the cytology, cancer cells were detected in 7 of 101 (6.9%) stapler washing fluid samples. Univariate analysis revealed that circular staplers, type 1 tumors, and positive lymph nodes were significantly associated with higher detection of free cancer cells adhering to staplers. No significant differences in other factors were detected. Of the seven cases with positive cytology, one developed anastomotic recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Exfoliated cancer cells adhered to the automatic staplers used for anastomoses in 6.9% of the staplers used for distal gastrectomies in patients with gastric cancer. Staplers used for gastric cancer surgeries should be handled carefully.

Endoscopic full-thickness resection for gastric submucosal tumors: Japanese multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Early gastric cancer endoscopic resection (ER) is prominent in Japan. However, evidence regarding ER of gastric submucosal tumors (SMT) is limited. This prospective multicenter phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) for gastric SMT. METHODS: Endoscopic full-thickness resection indication for gastric SMT was 11-30 mm, histologically proven or clinically suspicious (irregular margin, increasing size, or internal heterogeneity) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), with no ulceration and intraluminal growth type. The primary end-point was the complete ER (ER0) rate, with a sample size of 42. RESULTS: We enrolled 46 patients with 46 lesions between September 2020 and May 2023 at seven Japanese institutions. The mean ± SD (range) endoscopic tumor size was 18.8 ± 4.5 (11-28) mm. The tumor resection and defect closure times were 54 ± 26 (22-125) min and 33 ± 28 (12-186) min, respectively. A 100% ER0 was achieved in all 46 patients. The EFTR procedure was accomplished in all patients without surgical intervention. One patient had delayed perforation and was managed endoscopically. GIST accounted for 76% (n = 35) of the cases. R0, R1, and RX rates were 33 (77%), 3 (6.5%), and 7 (15%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic full-thickness resection for gastric SMT of 11-30 mm is efficacious. It warrants further validation in a large-scale cohort study to determine the long-term outcome of this treatment for patients with gastric GIST.

Endoscopic resection for gastric submucosal tumors: Japanese multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available on the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection (ER) of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) in Japanese endoscopic practice where ER for gastric tumors is extremely popular. METHODS: We conducted this study to elucidate the current scenario of ER for gastric SMTs in Japanese endoscopic practice. Patients (from 12 institutions) with gastric SMTs who underwent ER were enrolled from the first case until August 2020. RESULTS: We enrolled 117 patients with 118 lesions. The number of patients who underwent ER increased over the years. The mean endoscopic tumor size was 20 ± 7.2 (8-40) mm. The growth type was primarily intraluminal (90%). The mean resection and wound closure times were 58 ± 38 (range, 12-254) min and 31 ± 41 (range, 3-330) min, respectively. Complete ER was achieved for 117 (99%) lesions. Full-thickness resection rate was 44%; however, only 12 (10%) patients required abdominal paracentesis for decompression. Endoscopic treatments were completed in 115 (97%) lesions, while three lesions required conversions to laparoscopic surgery due to luminal collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, and difficulty in defect closure. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors were the most common pathology (74%). No recurrence was observed during the mean follow-up period of 4.3 ± 2.9 years. The 5-year overall survival rate was 98.9% (95% confidence interval 97.8-100%). CONCLUSION: Performance of ER for gastric SMTs is increasing in Japan. The technique seems feasible in Japanese endoscopic practice, warranting further validation in a prospective study.

DNMT3A overexpression is associated with aggressive behavior and enteroblastic differentiation of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) with enteroblastic differentiation is a subset of gastric cancer with poor prognosis. RNA-Seq data of The Cancer Genome Atlas of GA (TCGA-STAD) revealed a positive correlation between SALL4, a representative enteroblastic marker, and DNMT3A expression. Here, we conducted immunohistochemical analysis of GA to clarify the clinicopathological significance of DNMT3A expression and its correlation with enteroblastic differentiation. Of the 346 cases of solitary GA analyzed, 120 (34.7%) showed unequivocal DNMT3A nuclear expression. DNMT3A expression was associated with Lauren's intestinal type, papillary and tubular architectures, high frequency of lymphatic and vascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis (each, P < 0.01). Log-rank test revealed that DNMT3A-positive cases recurred more frequently with a predilection for liver metastasis (P < 0.01) and showed poorer overall and recurrence-free survival (each, P < 0.05). With respect to surrogate markers of molecular subtypes, DNMT3A-positive cases more frequently showed p53 overexpression (P < 0.001). Consistent with the results of TCGA data analysis, DNMT3A-positive cases exhibited enteroblastic morphology (18.3% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.001) and expressed enteroblastic markers, SALL4 (32.5% vs. 3.1%, P < 0.001) and glypican-3 (22.5% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001) more frequently than did DNMT3A-negative cases. Additionally, GAs showing enteroblastic differentiation, morphologically or immunohistochemically, expressed DNMT3A with significantly higher frequency and intensity than did conventional GAs (P < 0.001). Our findings suggest DNMT3A as a potential therapeutic target for this conventional therapy-refractory cancer subtype.

Gastric washing by distilled water can reduce free gastric cancer cells exfoliated into the stomach lumen.

PURPOSE: Intragastric free cancer cells in patients with gastric cancer have rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the detection rate of intragastric free cancer cells in gastric washes using two types of solutions during endoscopic examination. We further clarified risk factors affecting the presence of exfoliated free cancer cells. METHODS: A total of 175 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled. Lactated Ringer's solution (N = 89) or distilled water (DW; N = 86) via endoscopic working channel was sprayed onto the tumor surface, and the resultant fluid was collected for cytological examination. We compared the cancer-cell positivity rate between the two (Ringer and DW) groups. We also tested the correlation between cancer-cell positivity and clinicopathological factors in the Ringer group to identify risk factors for the presence of exfoliated cancer cells. RESULTS: The cancer-cell positivity rate was significantly higher in the Ringer group than that in the DW group (58 vs 6%). Cytomorphology in the Ringer group was well maintained, but not in the DW group. The larger tumor size (≥ 20 mm) and positive lymphatic involvement were significant risk factors of exfoliated free cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer cells can be highly exfoliated from the tumor surface into the gastric lumen by endoscopic irrigation in large gastric cancer with lymphatic involvement. Gastric washing by DW can lead to cytoclasis of free cancer cells; therefore, it may minimize the possibility of cancer-cell seeding in procedures carrying potential risks of tumor-cell seeding upon transluminal communication, such as endoscopic full-thickness resection and laparoscopy-endoscopy cooperative surgery.

Establishment of pathological quantitative method for determining undifferentiated component ratio in patients with differentiated/undifferentiated mixed-type early gastric cancer and clinical significance of this ratio.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to establish a pathological quantitative method for determining the undifferentiated components ratio (UCR) in patients with differentiated/undifferentiated mixed-type (Mixed-type) early gastric cancer (EGC) and to examine the clinical significance. METHODS: The subjects were 410 patients who underwent surgical resection for EGC with the invasion limited to m or sm1. Analysis 1: In 12 randomly selected patients with Mixed-type cancer, we calculated the area ratio and the ratio of the length ratio using ImageJ and analyzed the correlation between them. Analysis 2: We generated ROC curves, and determined the cutoff UCR on the basis of the predictive risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM). Analysis 3: We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathological factors including UCR/length of undifferentiated component (LUC = maximum dimensions of tumor × UCR) and LNM. RESULTS: Analysis 1: The length ratio can be used as a substitute parameter for the UCR (r = 0.996). Analysis 2: The cutoff UCR as a risk factor for LNM was 58% (sensitivity = 1, 1 - specificity = 0.404). Analysis 3: Lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.0001), UCR ≥58% (p = 0.023), and LUC ≥25 mm (p = 0.005) were identified as significant risk factors for LNM. No LNM was observed in patients with invasion limited to m or sm1 and negativity for lymphovascular invasion and UCR <58% (0/215). CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with Mixed-type EGC, the length ratio of undifferentiated components can be a substitute parameter for the UCR. LNM rarely occurs in patients without lymphovascular invasion and with an UCR <58%. The analysis of the UCR has great significance in determining whether additional surgical resection is required after endoscopic resection.

Fluorescent Imaging Analysis for Distribution of Fluorescent Dye Labeled- or Encapsulated-Liposome in Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension Model Rat.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening lung disease. Despite the availability of several approved drugs, the development of a new treatment method is needed because of poor prognosis. Tissue selective drug delivery systems can avoid the adverse effects of current therapy and enhance efficacy. We evaluated the possibility of delivering drugs to the lungs of a PH rat model using fluorescence dye-labeled nanosized liposomes. To evaluate the tissue distribution following systemic exposure, fluorescent dye-labeled, 40-180 nm liposomes with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) were intravenously administered to a monocrotaline-induced PH (MCT) rat model and tissue fluorescence was measured. Fluorescent dye-containing liposomes were intratracheally administered to the MCT model to evaluate the distribution of the liposome-encapsulated compound following local administration to reduce systemic exposure. The lung vascular permeability, plasma concentration of surfactant protein (SP)-D, lung reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and macrophage marker gene cluster of differentiation (CD68) expression were measured. PEG and 80-nm liposome accumulation in the lung was elevated in the MCT model compared to that in normal rats. The intratracheally administered liposomes were delivered selectively to the lungs of the MCT model. The lung vascular permeability, plasma SP-D concentration, and CD68 expression were significantly elevated in the lungs of the MCT model, and were all significantly and positively correlated to liposome lung accumulation. Liposomes can accumulate in the lungs of an MCT model by enhancing vascular permeability by the inflammatory response. Therefore, drug encapsulation in liposomes could be an effective method of drug delivery in patients with PH.

Comparison between endoscopic and laparoscopic removal of gastric submucosal tumor.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A retrospective study was conducted to compare two resection methods, namely, endoscopic resection (ER) procedures (endoscopic submucosal dissection [ESD], endoscopic muscularis dissection [EMD], and endoscopic full-thickness resection [EFTR]) and laparoscopic resections (LR) (laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery [LECS] and laparoscopic wedge resection). METHODS: Seventy-three patients who underwent ER (N = 33: ESD, N = 4; EMD, N = 15; EFTR, N = 14) or LR (N = 39: LECS, N = 16; wedge resection, N = 23) for gastric submucosal tumor (G-SMT) smaller than 50 mm were included in this study. Patient/tumor characteristics and intra/postoperative factors were compared between the ER and LR groups. RESULTS: The ER group had a significantly higher percentage of intraluminal growing type of tumor (100% vs 41%) and smaller tumor size (23 vs 33 mm) than the LR group. The ER group had a significantly shorter operative time (93 vs 145 min) and less blood loss (13 vs 30 mL) than the LR group. In the ER group, three patients who had tumors located on the anterior wall of the stomach required laparoscopic closure after EFTR because of difficulty in endoscopic closure of the gastric-wall defect. Postoperative complication rates and duration of postoperative hospital stays did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ER may be technically feasible, safe, less invasive, and oncologically appropriate options for selected patients with the intraluminal growing type of G-SMT smaller than 30 mm. EFTR may be more reasonable alternatives to LR in selected patients with a small G-SMT located on the lesser curvature side.

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome after robot-assisted gastrectomy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is a condition manifesting with pain caused by strangulation of the anterior cutaneous branch of the lower intercostal nerves. This case report aims to provide new insight into the selection of peripheral nerve blocks for the ACNES treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 66-year-old woman manifested ACNES after a robot-assisted distal gastrectomy. An ultrasound-guided rectal sheath block was effective for pain triggered by the port scar. However, the sudden severe pain, which radiated laterally from the previous site, remained. A transversus abdominis plane block was performed for the remaining pain and effectively relieved it. CONCLUSION: In this case, the trocar port was inserted between the rectus and transverse abdominis muscles. The intercostal nerves might have been entrapped on both sides of the rectus and transversus abdominis muscles. Hence, rectus sheath and transverse abdominis plane blocks were required to achieve complete pain relief. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on use of a combination of rectus sheath and transverse abdominis plane blocks for pain relief in ACNES.

Recent developments in gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: towards the era of endoscopic resection of layers deeper than the submucosa.

With technical advances in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), several variations of endoscopic procedure derived from ESD and fusion procedures of endoscopy and laparoscopy for upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumor and cancer have recently been developed. The former includes endoscopic muscularis dissection (EMD), submucosal endoscopic tumor resection (SET), endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), and the latter includes laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection (LAEFR), and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy without gastrectomy following ESD. In the present article, recent developments in gastric ESD and advanced procedures derived from ESD are discussed.

Multicenter study of the long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in patients 80 years of age or older.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) in patients of advanced age (≥80 years). METHODS: A multicenter study was conducted at 10 Japanese institutions concerning their results for ESD. Data on 440 patients of advanced age (≥80 years) with EGC (470 lesions) were collected and reviewed. Early and long-term outcomes of ESD were assessed. We compared the overall survival rates between 3 patient groups, those with curative ESD, additional surgery after noncurative ESD, and nonsurgical follow-up after noncurative ESD. RESULTS: Bleeding and perforation rates were 3.2 and 2.8%, respectively. Curative ESD was achieved in 366 of the 470 lesions (77.9%). Of the 104 patients with noncurative ESD, 12 patients (11.5%) underwent additional surgery and 91 patients (87.5%) were followed without surgery. The 5-year survival rate in the patients with nonsurgical follow-up after noncurative ESD (66.7%) was significantly lower than that in the patients with curative ESD (80.3%, p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rates between the patients with curative ESD and those with surgery after noncurative ESD (100%, p = 0.21), nor was there a difference in these rates between the patients with surgery after noncurative ESD and those with nonsurgical follow-up after noncurative ESD (p = 0.061). None of the patients developed cancer recurrence after curative ESD, and none developed cancer recurrence following the additional surgery after noncurative ESD. In the patients with curative ESD and in those with surgery after noncurative ESD, the cumulative observed survival was better than the expected survival for the general population of similar age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is safe for the treatment of EGC in patients 80 years of age or older. Both curative ESD and additional surgery after noncurative ESD may contribute to the extension of life expectancy.

Early-stage gastric cancer with solitary brain metastasis four years after curative surgery: a case report and literature review.

Brain metastasis post-curative gastrectomy for early-stage gastric cancer is extremely rare. We present herein, a case of solitary brain metastasis that developed 4 years post-curative surgery for early-stage gastric cancer. A 60-year-old man had early-stage gastric cancer 4 years prior to presentation and underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. The pathological TNM classification was T1b (submucosal) N0M0. He underwent scheduled examinations and had no recurrence. 4 years postoperatively, he presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and inability to speak clearly. Brain computed tomography revealed a 17-mm nodule in the right cerebral hemisphere and midline shift. The tumor could not be radically resected for anatomical reasons, and incisional biopsy was performed for histological examination. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma from the previous gastric cancer. Gamma knife radiosurgery and chemotherapy were scheduled. 28 months after brain metastasis, multiple liver and lung metastases appeared. The patient died 30 months after developing brain metastasis. Brain metastasis may occur during long-term follow-up even after curative resection of early-stage gastric cancer. In patients with a history of gastric cancer and neurological symptoms, brain metastasis should be considered.

Long-term outcomes of combination of endoscopic submucosal dissection and laparoscopic lymph node dissection without gastrectomy for early gastric cancer patients who have a potential risk of lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Our recently developed procedure, a combination of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and laparoscopic lymph node dissection (LLND), may lead to the elimination of unnecessary gastrectomy in early gastric cancer (EGC) patients having a potential risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). OBJECTIVE: To examine the long-term outcomes of the combination of ESD and LLND. DESIGN: A retrospective study using consecutive data. SETTING: Single academic center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-one EGC patients having a potential risk of LNM were treated by ESD followed by LLND. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Long-term outcomes of the combination of ESD and LLND. RESULTS: The histopathological examination of the dissected lymph nodes confirmed the absence of LNM in 19 of the 21 patients. Two patients who had LNM were followed without any additional surgery in accordance with the patients' wishes. During the median follow-up of 61 months, all of the patients were alive without any recurrent disease. Two patients (10%) had symptoms such as abdominal distention and belching, which were associated with disturbed gastric emptying between meals. Endoscopic examination 2 years postoperatively revealed food residue problems in 3 patients (15%). However, the preoperative quality of life was restored with no dietary restrictions, and body weight was well maintained in all of the patients. LIMITATIONS: A retrospective study with a small number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ESD and LLND can be an effective, minimally invasive treatment that maintains long-term quality of life for selected EGC patients having a potential risk of LNM.

Bilateral Flank Compression Maneuver for Reducing Pain on Coughing after Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the major advances in analgesic techniques, pain relief in coughing after abdominal surgery remains challenging. Cough-related pain causes postoperative respiratory complications by impairing sputum clearance; nevertheless, an effective technique to abolish it is not yet available. We devised the bilateral flank compression (BFC) maneuver, in which the flanks are compressed medially using both hands. We conducted a prospective, single-center, single arm, nonrandomized, open-label, interventional trial, to investigate whether the BFC maneuver relieves cough-related pain after abdominal surgery and examined the efficacy of this maneuver in relation to patient characteristics and surgical factors. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were patients who underwent gastroenterologic surgery (except for open inguinal hernia repair) at the Department of Surgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine. We evaluated postoperative pain, from postoperative days (PODs) 1 to 7, on coughing, with and without the BFC maneuver, using the Prince Henry pain scale. RESULTS: We finally analyzed 514 patients. On each of the first 7 PODs, the BFC maneuver significantly relieved cough-related pain, especially on POD1; (the mean pain scores [standard deviation] with and without the BFC maneuver were 0.98 [1.030] vs 1.63 [1.112] points, p < 0.0001). On each POD, more patients were free of cough-related pain with than without the BFC maneuver, with the most marked difference on POD7 (52.0% [208/400] vs 16.8% [67/400], p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The BFC maneuver relieves cough-related pain after abdominal surgery and may help prevent of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Surgical indications and procedures for bleeding peptic ulcer.

Recent important insights into the surgical treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer are reviewed in this article. Although the widespread use of endoscopic treatment and interventional radiology has reduced the number of surgical cases, surgery still plays a pivotal role in managing bleeding peptic ulcer. Failure to stop the bleeding by endoscopy and/or interventional radiology is the most important indication for emergency surgery. An early elective/planned surgery after the initial endoscopic control to prevent life-threatening rebleeding seems justified in patients who have risk factors for rebleeding, although its true efficacy still remains controversial. The surgical procedures in emergency situations should be limited to safe hemostasis. The addition of acid-reduction surgery may be unnecessary as a result of the increasing utilization of proton pump inhibitors. Angiographic embolization may be a less invasive alternative to surgery, and may further enhance endoscopic hemostasis.

STK11 p.F354L Germline Mutation in a Case of Multiple Gastrointestinal Tumors.

Serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) is known as a critical tumor-suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in a broad spectrum of human cancers. Among these, the p.F354L mutation of STK11 has been identified in sporadic colon or lung cancer cases. Here, we report the case of a 75-year-old male patient who underwent surgical treatment for multiple tumors of the gastrointestinal system. Genetic mutations were screened in all resected samples, including duodenal high-grade adenoma, gastric high-grade adenoma, rectal adenocarcinoma, and liver metastasis of rectal adenocarcinoma, by next-generation sequencing for mutational hotspots involving 50 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The characteristic hamartomatous polyp of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was not detected in any tumor specimen. However, all samples as well as the normal rectal mucosa harbored the genetic mutation p.F354L in STK11. In addition, somatic mutations coexisted in the tumor samples, including KRAS p.A146T, TP53 p.G238X, and APC p.T1556fs in the duodenal adenoma; TP53 p.G238Y and APC p.T1556fs in the gastric adenoma; and TP53 p.R282W in the rectal adenocarcinoma and metastatic liver cancer. No somatic mutation was detected in the normal rectal mucosa as a control sample. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an STK11 germline mutation in a patient with multiple tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Endoscopic full-thickness resection with laparoscopic assistance as hybrid NOTES for gastric submucosal tumor.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic wedge resection using a linear stapler is widely accepted as a treatment for gastric submucosal tumor (SMT). Although this surgery is simple, it can lead to excessive normal tissue removal. To avoid the latter, we have introduced endoscopic full-thickness resection with laparoscopic assistance, known as laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection (LAEFR). Herein, we present the preliminary results of LAEFR for gastric SMT patients. METHODS: Four patients with gastric SMT underwent LAEFR. LAEFR consists of four major procedures: (1) a circumferential incision as deep as the submucosal layer around the lesion by the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique, (2) endoscopic full-thickness (from the muscle layer to the serosal layer) incision around the three-fourths or two-thirds circumference on the above-mentioned submucosal incision under laparoscopic supervision, (3) completion of the full-thickness incision laparoscopically from inside the peritoneal cavity, and (4) handsewn closure of the gastric-wall defect. RESULTS: LAEFR was successfully carried out without any intraoperative or postoperative adverse events. Mean operating time and estimated blood loss were 201 min and 27 mL, respectively. Contrast roentgenography on postoperative day 3 showed neither gastric deformity nor disturbance of gastric emptying in all the patients. CONCLUSIONS: LAEFR may be considered one of the so-called hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) techniques because a peroral endoscope advances into the peritoneal cavity. LAEFR enabled whole-layer excision as small as possible with an adequate margin. LAEFR is a safe and minimally invasive treatment for patients with gastric SMT, and could be a more reasonable and economical alternative to other laparoscopic procedures.

Cholecystectomy by a combined transgastric and transparietal approach using two flexible endoscopes.

OBJECTIVE: This experimental study was designed to assess the technical feasibility and benefits of our novel approach for transgastric NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery) cholecystectomy. METHODS: Four pigs were subjected to NOTES cholecystectomy by the combined transgastric and transparietal approach using two flexible endoscopes. Under the guidance of a transparietal endoscope inserted through a trocar placed in the right upper abdomen, a gastrotomy was constructed, and a peroral endoscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity through the gastrotomy and moved on retroflexion toward the gallbladder. Gallbladder excision with ligation of the cystic artery and duct using endoclips was performed using the peroral endoscope. After gastrotomy closure with endoclips inside the stomach, intraperitoneal lavage were carried out using the transparietal endoscope. RESULTS: A complete gallbladder excision was carried out without major adverse events in all cases. The gastrotomies were successfully closed using endoclips (n = 3) or by the omentum-plug method (n = 1). CONCLUSION: This approach is technically feasible and makes transgastric NOTES cholecystectomy easier and safer.

Single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy: a bridge between laparoscopic and translumenal endoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The intentional puncture of the normal viscera is likely the most important issue limiting the widespread use of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). We developed a new procedure for cholecystectomy using a flexible endoscope via a single port placed in the abdominal wall without visceral puncture (single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy; SPEC) as a bridge between laparoscopic surgery and NOTES. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of SPEC. METHODS: Five pigs were subjected to SPEC. An endoscope was inserted through a 12-mm port placed in the right upper abdomen. After grasping and retracting the gallbladder using a 2-mm retractor that was directly introduced into the peritoneal cavity, gallbladder excision with ligation of the cystic artery and duct using endoclips was carried out. RESULTS: A complete gallbladder excision was carried out easily and safely in all cases. No major adverse events occurred. The mean operating time was 67 min (range 52-84 min). CONCLUSIONS: SPEC is a technically feasible procedure. It is simpler, easier, and safer than NOTES cholecystectomy. SPEC could be a less invasive alternative to the conventional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.