Correlation between Angiotensin Inhibitor Administration and Longer Survival in Patients Who Underwent Curative Resection for Pancreatic Cancer.

PURPOSE: The microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with extensive desmoplastic stroma contributes to aggressive cancer behavior. Angiotensin system inhibitors (ASIs) reduce stromal fibrosis and are a promising therapeutic strategy. The purpose of this study was to examine how ASIs affected the oncological results of patients who had their PDAC removed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective assessment was conducted on the clinicopathological and survival data of patients who received curative resection for PDAC at Severance Hospital between January 2012 and December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 410 participants (228 male and 182 female), with a median follow-up period of 12.8 months, were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups, based on ASI use and history of hypertension: group 1, normotensive and never used ASI (n=210, 51.2%); group 2, ASI non-users with hypertension (n=50, 12.2%); and group 3, ASI users with hypertension (n=150, 36.6%). The three groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, sex, kind of operation, T and N stages, or adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. Moreover, there was no discernible difference in disease-free survival between those who used ASI and those who did not (p=0.636). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 52.6%, 32.3%, and 38.0%, respectively. However, the OS rate of ASI users was remarkably higher than that of non-users (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: In patients with resected PDAC, ASI is linked to longer survival rates. Furthermore, for individuals with hypertension, ASI in conjunction with conventional chemotherapy may be an easy and successful treatment option.

Surgical outcome and risk scoring to predict survival after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Backgrounds/Aims: The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is classified as the advanced stage (BCLC stage C) with extremely poor prognosis, and in current guidelines is recommended for systemic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes and long-term prognosis after hepatic resection (HR) for patients who have HCC combined with PVTT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 332 patients who underwent HR for HCC with PVTT at ten tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea. Results: The median overall and recurrence-free survival after HR were 32.4 and 8.6 months, while the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 75%, 48%, and 39%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, tumor number, tumor size, AFP, PIVKA-II, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade were significant prognostic factors. The risk scoring was developed using these seven factors-tumor, inflammation and hepatic function (TIF), to predict patient prognosis. The prognosis of the patients was well stratified according to the scores (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Conclusions: HR for patients who have HCC combined with PVTT provided favorable survival outcomes. The risk scoring was useful in predicting prognosis, and determining the appropriate treatment strategy for those patients who have HCC with PVTT.

Pancreatoduodenectomy with uncut-Roux-en-Y reconstruction in patients with previous radical gastrectomy.

Gastric cancer is very common. Many patients have undergone radical gastric cancer surgery in Korea. Recently, the number of cases with secondary cancer occurring in other organs such as periampullary cancers is increasing as survival rate of gastric cancer patients increases. There are some clinical issues in managing patients with periampullary cancer who have undergone radical gastrectomy previously. Considering that pancreatoduodectomy (PD) has two phases (i.e., resection and reconstruction), it can be very complicated and controversial to perform safe and effective reconstruction following PD in patients with a previous radical gastrectomy. In this report, we present our experiences of uncut-Roux-en-Y fashioned reconstruction in PD for patients with a previous radical gastrectomy and discuss its technical characteristics and potential advantages.

Serous cystic neoplasm: Do we have to wait till it causes trouble? Season 2.

A 50-year-old male presented gradually growing pancreatic body mass. An abdominal computed tomography showed a 9.9-cm mass, larger than the 8.9-cm mass one year ago. As the patient did not have complaints for any symptomatic problems, the gastroenterologist decided to check it with regular follow-up. However, as the tumor grew faster than expected, the patient was recommended for surgical resection. Laparoscopic pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was done. Since the tumor abutted to the superior mesenteric vein and the portal vein, wedge resection of vessel was inevitable. Pathology was serous cystadenoma. The patient was discharged without postoperative complications. Herein, we report this case with asymptomatic large serous cystic neoplasm treated by laparoscopic approach. The appropriateness of current guidelines for surgery in serous cystic neoplasm is also discussed.

Intraoperative pancreatoscopy in pancreaticoduodenectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: Application to the laparoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND: /Purpose: Owing to the characteristics of IPMNs, which have variable skipped lesions along the main pancreatic duct (MPD), determining the surgical margins is very difficult. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and potential oncologic impact of intraoperative pancreatoscopy (IOP) compared to frozen section biopsy (FSB) in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic head IPMNs. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent PD for IPMNs of the pancreas between October 2007 and May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. IOP was performed in selected patients with IPMNs with inconclusive MPD involvement based on preoperative evaluations. Patients were divided into two groups, IOP group, FSB group. Clinicopathologic features and oncologic outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: 60 patients underwent PD (laparoscopic or robotic, 42; open, 18) for pancreatic head IPMNs. IOP was safely performed in 28 patients, including minimally invasive approach used in 21 patients (35%). IOP group had a significantly larger MPD size (9.15 ± 4.79 mm vs 6.43 ± 4.11 mm, p = 0.021). Based on IOP, the initial surgical plan could be changed in 5 patients (17.8%) for complete resection. Recurrence occurred in 2 patients in FSB group and 3 patients in IOP group during the follow-up period (33.2 months, [range, 3.5-131.4 months]). Overall disease-free survival rate did not significantly differ between two groups (p = 0.529). CONCLUSIONS: IOP can be safely performed in patients with pancreatic head IPMNs with MPD dilatation, even in the laparoscopic approach. Further studies evaluating the long-term oncologic effect of IOP for the management of IPMNs are required.

Robotic major liver resections: Surgical outcomes compared with open major liver resections.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Laparoscopic major liver resections are still considered innovative procedures despite the recent development of laparoscopic liver surgery. Robotic surgery has been introduced as an innovative system for laparoscopic surgery. In this study, we investigated surgical outcomes after major liver resections using robotic systems. METHODS: From January 2009 to October 2018, 70 patients underwent robotic major liver resections, which included conventional major liver resections and right sectionectomy. The short-term and long-term outcomes were compared with 252 open major resections performed during the same period. RESULTS: Operative time was longer in the robotic group (472 min vs. 349 min, p<0.001). However, estimated blood loss was lower in the robotic group compared with the open resection group (269 ml vs. 548 ml, p=0.009). The overall postoperative complication rate of the robotic group was lower than that of the open resection group (31.4% vs. 58.3%, p<0.001), but the major complication rate was similar between the two groups. Hospital stay was shorter in the robotic group (9.5 days vs. 15.1 days, p=0.006). Among patients with HCC, cholangiocarcinoma, and colorectal liver metastasis, there was no difference in overall and disease-free survival between the two groups. After propensity score matching in 37 patients with HCC for each group, the robotic group still showed a shorter hospital stay and comparable long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic major liver resections provided improved perioperative outcomes and comparable long-term oncologic outcome compared with open resections. Therefore, robotic surgery should be considered one of the options for minimally invasive major liver resections.

Technical feasibility of da Vinci SP single-port robotic cholecystectomy: a case report.

The da Vinci surgical system released its new pure single-port platform, the da Vinci SP, offering improvements and refinements for established robotic single-site procedures. Herein, we present the first case of robotic single-site cholecystectomy using the da Vinci SP system (RSPC) demonstrating its safety and technical feasibility. A 59-year-old female with chronic calculus cholecystitis was admitted for elective RSPC. Docking time took 6 minutes. The patient underwent successful RSPC with a total operation time of 89 minutes. There was no significant intraoperative event. The patient had unremarkable postoperative course. Multijoint instruments, simple docking process, and third-arm functionality are among the RSPC's advantages. Absence of the port for an assistant surgeon can be a hindrance in performing more complicated surgeries. The present case suggests that RSPC is safe and feasible. The promising features and potential application of da Vinci SP in hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery need further study.