Conversion to open surgery in obese patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy: results from a multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) is considered a standard approach it still presents a non-negligible rate of conversion to open that is mainly related to some difficulty factors, as obesity. The aim of this study is to analyze the preoperative factors associated with conversion in obese patients with MIDP. METHODS: In this multicenter study, all obese patients who underwent MIDP at 18 international expert centers were included. The preoperative factors associated with conversion to open surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 436 patients, 91 (20.9%) underwent conversion to open, presenting higher blood loss, longer operative time and similar rate of major complications. Twenty (22%) patients received emergent conversion. At univariate analysis, the type of approach, radiological invasion of adjacent organs, preoperative enlarged lymphnodes and ASA ≥ III were significantly associated with conversion to open. At multivariate analysis, robotic approach showed a significantly lower conversion rate (14.6 % vs 27.3%, OR = 2.380, p = 0.001). ASA ≥ III (OR = 2.391, p = 0.002) and preoperative enlarged lymphnodes (OR = 3.836, p = 0.003) were also independently associated with conversion. CONCLUSION: Conversion rate is significantly lower in patients undergoing robotic approach. Radiological enlarged lymphnodes and ASA ≥ III are also associated with conversion to open. Conversion is associated with poorer perioperative outcomes, especially in case of intraoperative hemorrhage.

Clinical practice guidelines for telesurgery 2022 : Committee for the promotion of remote surgery implementation, Japan Surgical Society.

Telesurgery is expected to improve medical access in areas with limited resources, facilitate the rapid dissemination of new surgical procedures, and advance surgical education. While previously hindered by communication delays and costs, recent advancements in information technology and the emergence of new surgical robots have created an environment conducive to societal implementation. In Japan, the legal framework established in 2019 allows for remote surgical support under the supervision of an actual surgeon. The Japan Surgical Society led a collaborative effort, involving various stakeholders, to conduct social verification experiments using telesurgery, resulting in the development of a Japanese version of the "Telesurgery Guidelines" in June 2022. These guidelines outline requirements for medical teams, communication environments, robotic systems, and security measures for communication lines, as well as responsibility allocation, cost burden, and the handling of adverse events during telesurgery. In addition, they address telementoring and full telesurgery. The guidelines are expected to be revised as needed, based on the utilization of telesurgery, advancements in surgical robots, and improvements in information technology.

Standardized procedure for preventing late intestinal complications following minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is commonly performed, reports regarding late complications are limited. We have made several improvements each time we experienced severe late complications since 2009. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of these improved procedures in preventing late complications. METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2019, 302 patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: Period-I (2009-2013, before established standardization of procedure, 166 patients) and Period-II (2014-2019, after established standardization of procedure, 136 patients). The standardized procedure comprised four major steps, including closure of the mesentery defects and diaphragm crus, circumferential fixation of the anastomotic site into the diaphragm, and linearization around the anastomotic site of esophagojejunostomy. The incidence of late complications was retrospectively compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Late overall complications that occurred over 30 days after surgery were observed in 19 (6.3%) patients. In all, 14 of 24 (58.3%) patients admitted due to late intestinal complications eventually required reoperation for treatment. The most frequent complication was nonstenotic outlet obstruction of the distal jejunal limb. The incidence of late overall complications was significantly lower in Period-II than in Period-I (2.9 vs 9.0%, p = 0.030). Intestinal complications were reduced considerably in Period-II. The 3-year cumulative incidence rate of late overall complications was significantly lower in Period-II than in Period-I (0.03 vs 0.10, p = 0.035). Period-I as the only independent risk factor for the development of late intestinal complications. CONCLUSION: Late complications after laparoscopic total gastrectomy sometimes occurred, and more than half of the patients with intestinal complications required reoperation. Our standardized procedure was associated with a lower risk of late intestinal complications after minimally invasive total gastrectomy followed by intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using linear staplers in a cohort of patients with gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic repair of concurrent direct and indirect inguinal, femoral, and obturator hernias on the same side: A case report.

Concurrent direct and indirect inguinal, femoral, and obturator hernias are rare. This case report describes a rare case treated using the laparoscopic approach. A 68-year-old female patient presented with a moving left inguinal lump and pain. Physical examination and abdominal computed tomography scan revealed the coexistence of a left inguinal hernia or Nuck canal hydrocele and a left femoral hernia. The patient underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair, and all four orifices were covered with one mesh. The patient was discharged on the second postoperative day without any complications. The concurrent presence of four hernias on the same side is rare and has not been previously reported. The laparoscopic approach is useful in such cases because it allows visualization of multiple hernia orifices from the intra-abdominal cavity.

Technical details of robotic pancreatojejunostomy using a modified Blumgart anastomosis: Thread manipulation using gauze and an assisted port.

BACKGROUNDS: Pancreatojejunostomy is a technically demanding procedure during robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). Modified Blumgart anastomosis (mBA) is a common method for the pancreatojejunostomy; however, the technical details for robotic mBA are not well established. During RPD, we performed a mBA for the pancreatojejunostomy using thread manipulation with gauze and an additional assist port. METHODS: Patients who underwent robotic pancreatoduodenectomy at Fujita Health University from November 2009 to May 2023 were retrospectively investigated, and technical details for the robotic-modified Blumgart anastomosis were demonstrated. RESULTS: Among 78 patients who underwent RPD during the study period, 33 underwent robotic mBA. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) occurred in six patients (18%). None of the patients suffered POPF Grade C according to the international study group of pancreatic surgery definition. The anastomotic time for mBA was 80 min (54-125 min). CONCLUSION: Robotic mBA resulted in reasonable outcomes. We propose that mBA could be used as one of the standard methods for robotic pancreatojejunosotomy.

Transoral Robotic-Assisted Neurosurgery for Skull Base and Upper Spine Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The application of the da Vinci Surgical System in neurosurgery is limited due to technical difficulties requiring precise maneuvers and small instruments. This study details the advantages and disadvantages of robotics in neurosurgery and the reachable range of the transoral approach to lesions of the skull base and upper cervical spine. METHODS: In a cadaver study, the da Vinci Xi robot, lacking haptic feedback, was utilized for sagittal and coronal approaches on 5 heads, facilitating dura suturing in 3, with a 30°-angled drill for bone removal. RESULTS: Perfect exposure of all the nasopharyngeal sites, clivus, sellar, and choana, including the bilateral eustachian tubes, was achieved without any external incisions using this palatal split approach of transoral robotic surgery. The time required to perform a single stitch, knot, and complete single suture in robotic suturing of deep-seated were significantly less compared to manual suturing via the endonasal approach. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to show the feasibility of suturing the dural defect in deep-seated lesions transorally and revealed that the limit of reach in the coronal plane via a transoral approach with incision of the soft palate is the foramen ovale. This preclinical investigation also showed that the transoral robotic approach is feasible for lesions extending from the sellar to the C2 in the sagittal plane. Refinement of robotic instruments for specific anatomic sites and future neurosurgical studies are needed to further demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this system in treating benign and malignant skull base lesions.

Robot-assisted low anterior resection in a patient with rectal cancer who had a urinary reservoir: A case report.

Undergoing another surgery after a previous abdominal procedure can sometimes result in significant abdominal adhesions. We present a case of robot-assisted low anterior resection in a patient with rectal cancer who had a urinary reservoir. A 65-year-old male patient underwent robot-assisted total bladder resection and creation of a urinary reservoir for bladder cancer in 2013. He presented with melena. Thus, the findings revealed advanced low rectal cancer. The robot-assisted low anterior resection was performed in 2022. Extensive adhesions were observed in the pelvic space. The indocyanine green function was appropriately used, and the robotic surgery was completed without injury to the urinary reservoir or major complications. The surgical time was 510 min, and the blood loss volume was 15 mL. The patient had been recurrence free for 12 months following the surgery. Robot-assisted surgery can be beneficial for patients with rectal cancer with significant pelvic adhesions.

Safety and feasibility of minimally invasive gastrectomy following preoperative chemotherapy for highly advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive gastrectomy in patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy for highly advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Preoperative chemotherapy was indicated for patients with advanced large tumors (≥ cT3 and ≥ 5 cm) and/or bulky node metastasis (≥ 3 cm × 1 or ≥ 1.5 cm × 2). Between January 2009 and March 2022, 150 patients underwent preoperative chemotherapy followed by gastrectomy with R0 resection, including conversion surgery (robotic, 62; laparoscopic, 88). The outcomes of these patients were retrospectively examined. RESULTS: Among them, 41 and 47 patients had stage IV disease and underwent splenectomy, respectively. Regarding operative outcomes, operative time was 475 min, blood loss was 72 g, morbidity (grade ≥ 3a) rate was 12%, local complication rate was 10.7%, and postoperative hospital stay was 14 days (Interquartile range: 11-18 days). Fifty patients (33.3%) achieved grade ≥ 2 histological responses. Regarding resection types, total/proximal gastrectomy plus splenectomy (29.8%) was associated with significantly higher morbidity than other types (distal gastrectomy, 3.2%; total/proximal gastrectomy, 4.9%; P < 0.001). Specifically, among splenectomy cases, the rate of postoperative complications associated with the laparoscopic approach was significantly higher than that associated with the robotic approach (40.0% vs. 0%, P = 0.009). In the multivariate analysis, splenectomy was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications [odds ratio, 8.574; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.584-28.443; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive gastrectomy following preoperative chemotherapy was feasible and safe for patients with highly advanced gastric cancer. Robotic gastrectomy may improve surgical safety, particularly in the case of total/proximal gastrectomy combined with splenectomy.

Totally laparoscopic surgery for a hydrocele of the canal of Nuck extending from the abdominal cavity to the subcutaneous space: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck (HCN) is a rare disease, and its indications for laparoscopic surgery are not well-established. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to an uncomfortable thumb-sized inguinal mass. Preoperative computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a hydrocele extending from the abdominal cavity around the left deep inguinal ring via the inguinal canal to the subcutaneous space. The patient was diagnosed with HCN protruding into the abdominal cavity and extending to the subcutaneous space. Laparoscopy can easily access the hydrocele protruding into the abdominal cavity. Furthermore, laparoscopic hernioplasty can be superior to the anterior approach for females. Hence, laparoscopic surgery was performed. After transecting the round ligament of the uterus, a tense 3-cm hydrocele was dissected with it. In order to approach the hydrocele distal to the deep inguinal ring, the transversalis fascia was incised medially to the inferior epigastric vessels. The subcutaneously connected hydrocele was excised from the incision. Then, the enlarged deep inguinal ring was reinforced using a mesh with the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal approach. The patient was discharged 2 days postoperatively. Laparoscopic resection can be more effective for a hydrocele protruding into the abdominal cavity as it facilitates an easy access to the hydrocele. Moreover, laparoscopic resection of a hydrocele extending from the inguinal canal to the subcutaneous space via a transversalis fascia incision can be safer, with low risk of injury to the inferior epigastric vessels. The incised transversalis fascia and the enlarged deep inguinal ring due to the HCN were simultaneously repaired with the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair. There are two reports on laparoscopic resection via a transversalis fascia incision for HCNs located between the inguinal canal and the subcutaneous space, which does not require intraperitoneal hydrocelectomy. However, this is the first report on laparoscopic resection of large HCNs protruding into the abdominal cavity and extending beyond the inguinal canal into the subcutaneous space via intraperitoneal hydrocelectomy and a transversalis fascia incision. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery with transversalis fascia incision can be useful for HCNs extending from the abdominal cavity to the subcutaneous space.

First clinical experiences of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using the hinotori™ surgical robot system.

BACKGROUND: Although the da Vinci™ Surgical System is the most predominantly used surgical robot worldwide, other surgical robots are being developed. The Japanese surgical robot hinotori™ Surgical Robot System was launched and approved for clinical use in Japan in November 2022. We performed the first robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using hinotori in the world. Here, we report our initial experience and evaluation of the feasibility and safety of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using hinotori. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective study was conducted. Between November 2022 and October 2023, 24 patients with gastric cancer underwent robotic gastrectomy with hinotori. Five ports, including one for an assistant, were placed in the upper abdomen, and gastric resection with standard lymphadenectomy and intracorporeal reconstruction were performed. The primary endpoint was the postoperative complication rate within 30 days after surgery. The secondary outcomes were surgical outcomes, including intraoperative adverse events, operative time, blood loss, and the number of dissected nodes. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 16 (66.7%) were male. The median age and body mass index were 73.5 years and 22.9 kg/m2, respectively. Twenty-three patients (95.8%) had tumors in the middle to lower stomach. Sixteen (66.7%) and seven (29.2%) patients had clinical stage I and II diseases, respectively. Twenty-three (95.8%) patients underwent distal gastrectomy. No patient had postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo classification IIIa or higher, whereas two (8.3%) had the grade II complications (enteritis and pneumonia). No intraoperative adverse events, including conversion to other approaches, were observed. All patients received R0 resection. The median operative and console times were 400 and 305 min, respectively. The median blood loss was 14.5 mL, and the number of lymph nodes dissected was 51.5. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that robotic gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer using hinotori can be safely performed.

Challenge in optimizing robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy including nerve plexus hanging maneuver: a Japanese single center experience of 76 cases.

BACKGROUND: Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is technically demanding, and 20-50 cases are required to surpass the learning curve. This study aimed to show our experience of 76 cases from the introduction of RPD and report the changes in surgical results owing to the accumulation of cases and optimization of surgical techniques. METHODS: A total of 76 patients who underwent RPD between November 2009 and May 2023 at the Fujita Health University Hospital were divided into three groups: competency (n = 23, Nov 2009-Mar 2020), proficiency (n = 31, Apr 2020-Jun 2022), and mastery (n = 22, Jul 2022-May 2023) phases. In the mastery phase, for the education of new surgeons and maintenance of surgical quality, optimization of the procedure, including hanging maneuver with or without stapling transection of the retropancreatic tissue was implemented. The surgical outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean operation time decreased over time despite of the participation of newly started operators in mastery phase [competency: 921.5 min (IQR 775-996 min) vs. proficiency: 802.8 min (IQR 715-887 min) vs. mastery: 609.2 min (IQR 514-699 min), p < 0.001]. Additionally, Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade IIIa complications decreased from 52.2% in competency phase to 35.5% and 9.1% in proficiency and mastery phases, respectively (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Operation time and major complications decreased along the learning curve from the introduction of RPD. In addition, optimization of the procedure, including hanging maneuver of the retropancreatic tissue seemed to be effective in reducing operation time and educating new RPD surgeons.

Impact of Minimally Invasive Surgery on Anatomic Liver Segmentectomy Using the Extrahepatic Glissonean Approach.

Accurate minimally invasive anatomic liver (sub)segmentectomy (MIAS) is technically demanding and not yet standardized, and its surgical outcomes are undefined. To study the impact of the minimally invasive approach on perioperative outcomes of anatomic liver (sub)segmentectomy (AS), we retrospectively studied and compared perioperative outcomes of 99 open AS (OAS) and 112 MIAS (laparoscopic 77, robotic 35) cases using the extrahepatic Glissonean approach, based on the 1:1 propensity score matched analyses. After matching (71:71), MIAS was superior to OAS in terms of blood loss (p < 0.0001), maximum postoperative serum total bilirubin (p < 0.0001), C-reactive protein (p = 0.034) levels, R0 resection rate (p = 0.021), bile leak (p = 0.049), and length of hospital stay (p < 0.0001). The matched robotic and laparoscopic AS groups (30:30) had comparable outcomes in terms of operative time, blood loss, transfusion, open conversion, postoperative morbidity and mortality, R0 resection, and hospital stay, although the rate of Pringle maneuver application (p = 0.0002) and the postoperative aspartate aminotransferase level (p = 0.002) were higher in the robotic group. Comparing the matched posterosuperior (sub)segmentectomy cases or unmatched repeat hepatectomy cases between MIAS and OAS, we observed significantly less blood loss and shorter hospital stays in MIAS. Robotic AS yielded comparable outcomes with laparoscopic AS in the posterosuperior (sub)segmentectomy and repeat hepatectomy settings, despite the worse tumor and procedural backgrounds in robotic AS. In conclusion, various types of MIAS standardized by the extrahepatic Glissonean approach were feasible and safe with more favorable perioperative outcomes than those of OAS. Although robotic AS had almost comparable outcomes with laparoscopic AS, robotics may serve to decrease the surgical difficulty of MIAS in selected patients undergoing posterosuperior (sub)segmentectomy and repeat hepatectomy.

Robotic pancreatic tumor enucleation by the double bipolar technique using the da Vinci SP system: An initial case report with a technical detail.

Pancreatic tumor enucleation is a procedure that can preserve pancreatic function and is sometimes performed using a minimally invasive approach. Recently, a single-port robotic platform called da Vinci SP has been developed. However, the technical details of pancreatic tumor enucleation using da Vinci SP have not been reported to date. We report a male patient in his 70s who underwent robotic SP pancreatic tumor enucleation for a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. The dissection between the tumor and pancreatic parenchyma was performed using the double bipolar technique. The operative time was 139 min, and the estimated blood loss was 4 mL. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the sixth day after the surgery. Robotic SP pancreatic tumor enucleation appears to be a feasible procedure with lower invasiveness and better cosmesis.

The safe implementation of peripherally inserted central catheters by nurse practitioners for patients with gastroenterological diseases in Japan: a single-center retrospective study.

PURPOSE: As a safe and reliable alternative to central venous catheters (CVCs), peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in clinical practice. However, the insertion of PICCs by nurse practitioners (NPs), especially in Japan, has not been reported extensively. Thus, we investigated the safety and efficiency of PICC insertions by NPs. METHODS: The participants were 1322 patients who underwent PICC insertion by NPs at Fujita Health University Hospital (FNPs). The basilic vein in the brachium was the preferred vein for insertion; the brachial vein was the alternative. Patients were monitored from the time of PICC insertion until its removal. Ultrasonography-guided puncture was used for all catheter insertions, and the catheter tip was replaced into the superior vena cava under fluoroscopic imaging with maximal sterile barrier precautions. The outcomes of the PICC insertions by the FNPs were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Overall, 23 FNPs inserted a collective total of 1322 PICCs, which remained in place for a collective total of 23,619 catheter days. The rate of successful PICC insertion was 99% (1310 patients). The median time taken for PICC insertion was 12 min (interquartile range, 10-15 min). Intraoperative complications occurred in two patients (0.2%). The confirmed incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection was 3.4% (45 patients), and these infections occurred on 1.9 per 1000 catheter days. The median duration of PICC placement was 15 days (range, 10-23 days). CONCLUSION: PICC insertion by NPs is safe and a potential alternative to CVC insertion by surgeons.

Robotic versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Although robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) has a lower conversion rate to open surgery and causes less blood loss than laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP), clear evidence on the impact of the surgical approach on morbidity is lacking. Prior studies have shown a higher rate of complications among obese patients undergoing pancreatectomy. The primary aim of this study is to compare short-term outcomes of RDP vs. LDP in patients with a BMI ≥ 30. METHODS: In this multicenter study, all obese patients who underwent RDP or LDP for any indication between 2012 and 2022 at 18 international expert centers were included. The baseline characteristics underwent inverse probability treatment weighting to minimize allocation bias. RESULTS: Of 446 patients, 219 (50.2%) patients underwent RDP. The median age was 60 years, the median BMI was 33 (31-36), and the preoperative diagnosis was ductal adenocarcinoma in 21% of cases. The conversion rate was 19.9%, the overall complication rate was 57.8%, and the 90-day mortality rate was 0.7% (3 patients). RDP was associated with a lower complication rate (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.89; p = 0.005), less blood loss (150 vs. 200 ml; p < 0.001), fewer blood transfusion requirements (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.15-0.50; p < 0.001) and a lower Comprehensive Complications Index (8.7 vs. 8.9, p < 0.001) than LPD. RPD had a lower conversion rate (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.19-0.39; p < 0.001) and achieved better spleen preservation rate (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.13-3.39; p = 0.016) than LPD. CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients, RDP is associated with a lower conversion rate, fewer complications and better short-term outcomes than LPD.

Incidence and clinical relevance of postoperative diarrhea after minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a single institution retrospective study of 1476 patients.

PURPOSE: Postoperative diarrhea (PD) remains one of the significant complications. Only a few studies focused on PD after minimally invasive surgery. We aimed to investigate PD after minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 1476 consecutive patients with gastric cancer undergoing laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy between 2009 and 2019 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. PD was defined as continuous diarrhea for ≥ 2 days, positive stool culture, or positive clostridial antigen test. The incidence, causes, and related clinical factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1476 patients, the median age was 69 years. Laparoscopic and robotic approaches were performed in 1072 (72.6%) and 404 (27.4%), respectively. Postoperative complications with Clavien-Dindo classification grade of ≥ IIIa occurred in 108 (7.4%) patients. PD occurred in 89 (6.0%) patients. Of the 89 patients with PD, Clostridium difficile, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were detected in 24 (27.0%), 16 (33.3%), and 7 (14.6%) patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 75 years (OR 1.62, 95% CI [1.02-2.60], p = 0.042) and postoperative complications (OR 6.04, 95% CI [3.54-10.32], p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for PD. In patients without complications, TG (OR 1.88) and age of ≥ 75 years(OR 1.71) were determined as independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PD following minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer was 6.0%. Older age and TG were obvious risk factors in such a surgery, with the latter being a significant risk even in the absence of complications.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: A single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for remnant gastric cancer (RGC) remains controversial because of its rarity and heterogeneity of clinical characteristics. Based on our experience, we posited that our established methodology in LG could be applied to the laparoscopic procedure for RGC surgery and introduced LG for RGC at our institution in 2004. METHODS: This study enrolled 46 patients who underwent LG for RGC between January 2004 and December 2017. Data were obtained through a review of our prospectively maintained database. Laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) was the standard surgical procedure for RGC. Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy (LsTG) was performed as an alternative procedure for patients with RGC located near the anastomotic site after primary gastrectomy. The technical and oncological feasibility and safety of LG for RGC were evaluated. RESULTS: LTG for RGC was performed on 36 patients. LsTG for RGC was performed on 10 patients. All patients completed LG procedure and succeeded R0 resection. Complications of Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ IIIa occurred in 4 (8.7%) patients. The retrospective video reviews showed that the time for adhesiotomy around the suprapancreatic area and the lesser curvature of the remnant stomach was significantly shorter in the primary-benign group than in the primary-malignant group. With the median follow-up period of 40 months, the 3-year recurrence-free survival and 3-year overall survival rates were 72.3% and 80.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: LG for RGC represents a safe and feasible surgical option with favorable short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with RGC.

Robotic esophagectomy with outermost layer-oriented dissection for esophageal cancer: technical aspects and a retrospective review of a single-institution database.

BACKGROUND: Systematic lymph node dissection in patients with gastric cancer could be sufficiently and reproducibly achieved along the outermost layer of the autonomic nerves and similar concept has been extensively used for robotic esophagectomy (RE) since 2018. This study aimed to determine the surgical and oncological safety of RE using the outermost layer-oriented approach for esophageal cancer (EC). METHODS: Sixty-six patients who underwent RE with total mediastinal lymphadenectomy for primary EC between April 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. All underwent the outermost layer-oriented approach with intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM). Postoperative complications within 30 days were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the patients, 51 (77.3%) were male. The median age was 64 years, and the body mass index was 21.8 kg/m2. Furthermore, 58 (87.9%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma and eight (12.1%) patients had adenocarcinoma. Clinical stages I, II, and III were seen in 23 (34.8%), 23 (34.8%), and 16 (24.2%) patients, respectively. Thirty-four (51.5%) patients received preoperative treatment. No patient shifted to conventional thoracoscopic or open procedure intraoperatively. The median operative time was 716 min with 119 mL of blood loss. Additionally, 64 (97%) patients underwent R0 resection. The morbidity rates based on Clavien-Dindo grades ≥ II and ≥ IIIa were 30.3% and 10.6%, respectively, within 30 postoperative days. None died within 90 days postoperatively. Three (4.5%) patients exhibited recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy (CD grade ≥ II). The sensitivity and specificity of IONM for RLN palsy were 50% and 98.3% at the right RLN and 33.3% and 98.0% at the left RLN, respectively. CONCLUSION: RE with the outermost layer-oriented approach can provide safe short-term outcomes.

Importance of correcting alar base ptosis during primary cleft lip repair.

Objectives: Until 1999 at our hospital, primary cleft lip repair was performed by the straight-line method and external rhinoplasty was performed by the inverted trapezoidal suture method with bilateral reverse-U incisions for children with cleft lip and palate. Subsequently, repeated surgical corrections of the external nasal morphology became necessary during the growth period, often with unsatisfactory results because repeated external rhinoplasty results in a stronger scar contracture. From 2000 to 2004, we performed external rhinoplasty after patients had stopped growing; however, delaying surgery created a psychological burden for patients. Therefore, since 2005, we have focused on improving alar base ptosis and forming the nostril sill during the primary surgery. This study was performed to subjectively and objectively evaluate whether the current surgical method or the earlier technique produces a better treatment outcome. Methods: We subjectively and objectively evaluated alar base asymmetry after primary cleft lip repair but before bone grafting for alveolar cleft repair. For the objective evaluation, we measured the angle of alar base ptosis in frontal view photographs taken at the age of 6 or 7 years in patients who underwent repair before 1999 (Group A) and after 2005 (Group B). Results: The median angle was 2.75° in Group A and 1.50° in Group B, demonstrating a significant difference (P=0.04). Conclusions: The current surgical method, which reflects our focus on improving alar base ptosis and forming the nostril sill, subjectively and objectively improved the external nasal morphology.