Perioperative intraperitoneal plus systemic chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer: phase Ib/II single-arm prospective study.

BACKGROUND: In gastric cancer, peritoneal metastasis is the most common form of metastasis and leads to dismal prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining perioperative intraperitoneal (IP) plus systemic chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for patients with gastric cancer with limited peritoneal metastasis or even after reducing peritoneal tumor burden by upfront IP chemotherapy. METHOD: Patients were enrolled in phase Ib in a 3 + 3 dose escalation of IP paclitaxel plus a fixed dose of IP cisplatin and oral S-1. In phase II, patients were managed according to the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) by diagnostic laparoscopy. For patients with a PCI of >12, upfront IP and systemic chemotherapy were given. Patients with a PCI of ≤12 or reduced to ≤12 after upfront chemotherapy underwent CRS with HIPEC. The primary endpoints were safety and the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) confirmation for phase Ib and the 1-year overall survival rate for phase II. RESULTS: The RP2D was defined as IP 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel and 60 mg/m2 cisplatin and oral 70 mg/m2/day S-1 for 14 days. A total of 22 patients were included. After CRS with HIPEC, there were no grade 3 or higher complications. The median hospital stay was 7 days (range, 6-11). The median overall and progression-free survival were 27.3 months (95% CI, 14.4 to not estimable) and 12.6 months (95% CI, 7.7-14.5), respectively. One-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 81.0% (95% CI, 65.8-99.6) and 54.5% (95% CI, 37.2-79.9), respectively. CONCLUSION: A combination of IP plus systemic chemotherapy, CRS, and HIPEC was safe and resulted in good survival outcomes.

Predicting peritoneal recurrence after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: Validation of a prediction model (PERI-Gastric 1 and PERI-Gastric 2) on a Korean database.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal recurrence is a significant cause of treatment failure after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The prediction of metachronous peritoneal recurrence would have a significantly impact risk stratification and tailored treatment planning. This study aimed to externally validate the previously established PERI-Gastric 1 and 2 models to assess their generalizability in an independent population. METHODS: Retrospective external validation was conducted on a cohort of 8564 patients who underwent elective gastrectomy for stage Ib-IIIc gastric cancer between 1998 and 2018 at the Yonsei Cancer Center. Discrimination was tested using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). Accuracy was tested by plotting observations against the predicted risk of peritoneal recurrence and analyzing the resulting calibration plots. Clinical usefulness was tested with a decision curve analysis. RESULTS: In the validation cohort, PERI-Gastric 1 and PERI-Gastric 2 exhibited an AUROC of 0.766 (95 % C.I. 0.752-0.778) and 0.767 (95 % C.I. 0.755-0.780), a calibration-in-the-large of 0.935 and 0.700, a calibration belt with a 95 % C.I. over the bisector in the risk range of 24%-33 % and 35%-47 %. The decision curve analysis revealed a positive net benefit in the risk range of 10%-42 % and 15%-45 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the external validation of the PERI-Gastric 1 and 2 scores in an Eastern population. The models demonstrated fair discrimination and satisfactory calibration for predicting the risk of peritoneal recurrence after radical gastrectomy, even in Eastern patients. PERI-Gastric 1 and 2 scores could also be applied to predict the risk of metachronous peritoneal recurrence in Eastern populations.

Superior lymph node harvest by fluorescent lymphography during minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with high body mass index.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescent lymphography (FL) using indocyanine green (ICG) allows for the visualization of all draining lymph nodes (LNs), thereby increasing LN retrieval. However, no studies have assessed the efficacy of FL in high body mass index (BMI) gastric cancer patients, even as LN yield decreases with increasing BMI in gastrectomy. This study aimed to investigate the influence of FL on LN retrieval in high BMI gastric cancer patients. METHODS: Gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomies from 2013 to 2021 were included. Patients were classified into two groups, with FL (FL group) or without FL (non-FL group). The effect of FL on LN retrieval was assessed by BMI. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to ensure comparability between groups. RESULTS: Retrieved LN number decreased as BMI increased regardless of FL application (P < 0.001). According to the IPTW analysis, the mean retrieved LN number was significantly higher in the FL group (48.4 ± 18.5) than in the non-FL group (39.8 ± 16.3, P < 0.001), irrespective of BMI. The FL group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of patients with 16 or more LNs (99.5%) than the non-FL group (98.1%, P < 0.001). The FL group also had a significantly higher proportion of patients with 30 or more LNs (86.6%) than the non-FL group (72.2%, P < 0.001). In both the normal and high-BMI patients, the FL group had a significantly larger percentage of patients with a higher nodal classification than the non-FL group. CONCLUSION: FL resulted in more LN retrieval, even in high BMI patients. FL ensures accurate staging by maintaining the appropriate retrieved LN number in high BMI gastric cancer patients.

Increased risk of sleep disturbances in patients with rosacea: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder linked to various mental disorders, but little is known about the impact of rosacea on sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to confirm the association of rosacea with sleep disorders using a large administrative data set. This nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study enrolled 1129 individuals with rosacea and 11 017 age- and sex-matched controls without rosacea from the Korean National Health Insurance System database from 2002 to 2015. The prevalence of sleep disorder (7.8%) was significantly higher in patients with rosacea than in controls (5.81%; p < 0.001). Rosacea was associated with an increased risk of sleep disorder (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.287 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.022-1.623]). Among a variety of sleep disorders, patients with rosacea were likely to have an increased risk of insomnia (aOR, 1.318 [95% CI, 1.002-1.743]). In subgroup analysis, female patients with rosacea (aOR, 1.297 [95% CI, 1.010-1.722]) and those with rosacea and dyslipidemia (aOR, 1.417 [95% CI, 1.062-1.891]) were at a higher risk of having a sleep disorder. Rosacea is associated with an increased risk of having sleep disorders. The management of modifiable risk factors is important for managing sleep disorders in patients with rosacea.

Identifying the best candidates for reduced port gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have focused on the non-inferiority of RPG compared with conventional port gastrectomy (CPG); however, we assumed that some candidates might derive more significant benefit from RPG over CPG. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and perioperative parameters of 1442 patients with gastric cancer treated by gastrectomy between 2009 and 2022. The C-reactive protein level on postoperative day 3 (CRPD3) was used as a surrogate parameter for surgical trauma. Patients were grouped according to the extent of gastrectomy [subtotal gastrectomy (STG) or total gastrectomy (TG)] and lymph node dissection (D1+ or D2). The degree of surgical trauma, bowel recovery, and hospital stay between RPG and CPG was compared among those patient groups. RESULTS: Of 1442 patients, 889, 354, 129, and 70 were grouped as STGD1+, STGD2, TGD1+, and TGD2, respectively. Compared with CPG, RPG significantly decreased CRPD3 only among patients in the STGD1+ group (CPG: n = 653, 84.49 mg/L, 95% CI 80.53-88.45 vs. RPG: n = 236, 70.01 mg/L, 95% CI 63.92-76.09, P < 0.001). In addition, the RPG method significantly shortens bowel recovery and hospital stay in the STGD1+ (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), STGD2 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and TGD1+ (P = 0.026 and P = 0.007), respectively. No difference was observed in the TGD2 group (P = 0.313 and P = 0.740). CONCLUSIONS: The best candidates for RPG are patients who undergo STGD1+, followed by STGD2 and TG D1+, considering the reduction in CRPD3, bowel recovery, and hospital stay.

Metformin: A Potential Treatment for Acne, Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Rosacea.

Metformin is a widely used drug for treatment of diabetes mellitus, due to its safety and efficacy. In addition to its role as an antidiabetic drug, numerous beneficial effects of metformin have enabled its use in various diseases. Considering the anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-fibrotic and antioxidant properties of metformin, it may have the potential to improve chronic inflammatory skin diseases. However, further evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy of metformin in dermatological conditions, This review focuses on exploring the therapeutic targets of metformin in acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa and rosacea, by studying their pathogeneses.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Stage: A Single-Institute Study in South Korea.

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and fatal cancers worldwide. National cancer screening programs in countries with high incidences of this disease provide medical aid beneficiaries with free-of-charge screening involving upper endoscopy to detect early-stage GC. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine healthcare access. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis, overall incidence, and stage distribution of GC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified patients in our hospital cancer registry who were diagnosed with GC between January 2018 and December 2021 and compared the cancer stage at diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. The years 2018 and 2019 were defined as the "before COVID" period, and the years 2020 and 2021 as the "during COVID" period. RESULTS: Overall, 10,875 patients were evaluated; 6,535 and 4,340 patients were diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. The number of diagnoses was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (189 patients/month vs. 264 patients/month) than before it. Notably, the proportion of patients with stages 3 or 4 GC in 2021 was higher among men and patients aged ≥40 years. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of GC diagnoses decreased significantly in a single institute. Moreover, GCs were in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay in the detection of GC worldwide.

Safety and feasibility of reduced-port robotic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a phase I/II clinical trial using the da Vinci Single Port(SP) robotic system.

Minimally invasive surgery reduces surgical trauma and the size and number of incisions. The da Vinci SP robotic surgical system was designed to overcome the technical demands of single-incision laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of single-port (SP) robotic distal gastrectomy (SPRDG) for patients with gastric cancer using the da Vinci SP system (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). This study was designed as a single-arm prospective phase I/II clinical trial of SPRDG (first posted date: 21/09/2021, NCT05051670; clinicaltrials.gov). SPRDG using the da Vinci SP system was performed on 19 patients with gastric cancer between December 2021 and October 2022. The primary outcome was the safety of SPRDG as measured by major postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were operation time, bleeding amount, bowel motility recovery, and length of hospital stay. SPRDG was performed in all 19 patients without unexpected events, such as use of additional trocars or conversion to laparoscopic or open surgery. No major complications occurred postoperatively (0/19, 0.0%). The mean operation time was 218 min (range 164-286 min). The mean hospital stay duration was 3.2 days (range 2-4 days). This phase I/II clinical trial, performed by a single expert surgeon, demonstrated the safety and feasibility of SPRDG with the da Vinci SP system in selected patients with gastric cancer. SPRDG could be a reasonable alternative to conventional or reduced-port minimally invasive gastrectomy, as it has cosmetic advantages, early recovery, and safe discharge.

Atopic Dermatitis and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and All-Cause Mortality: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with various comorbidities. However, inconsistent results on the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and mortality have been reported in patients with AD. This study was aimed to evaluate the risk of MI and all-cause mortality in patients with AD. METHODS: This nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study enrolled 56,205 adults ≥ 20 years of age with AD and 3,825,609 controls without AD from the Korean National Health Service (NHIS) database from 2009 to 2016. RESULTS: The risk of MI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.111, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.050-1.176) was increased in patients with AD. By AD severity, patients with moderate-to-severe AD had a higher risk of MI (aHR, 1.163, 95% CI, 1.080-1.251) than individuals without AD. The risk of all-cause mortality was only increased for patients with moderate-to-severe AD (aHR, 1.096, 95% CI, 1.040-1.155) compared to individuals without AD. In subgroup analysis, an increased risk of MI was observed in female, non-obese, non-smoking, non-diabetic, and non-dyslipidemic patients with moderate-to-severe AD compared to individuals without AD. An increased risk of all-cause mortality was observed in patients with moderate-to-severe AD compared to non-AD controls among individuals ≥60 years of age and non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of MI and all-cause death was increased in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Even without well-known risk factors for MI and mortality, patients with AD require the proper management and screening for comorbidities to prevent MI and decrease all-cause mortality.

Fluorescence-guided Two-port Robotic Gastrectomy Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Gastrectomy: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the number of retrieved lymph nodes between conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (CLG) and robotic gastrectomy integrated with fluorescence guidance and a two-port system (integrated robotic gastrectomy, IRG). Background: The benefits of robotic surgery over laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer have not yet been established. Using built-in features of robotic system, further benefit can be provided to the patients with effective lymphadenectomy and enhanced recovery. Methods: A nonrandomized controlled trial was performed by a single surgeon at single-center, tertiary referral hospital between January 2018 and October 2021. Overall, 140 patients scheduled to undergo minimally invasive subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the number of retrieved lymph nodes. Secondary endpoints were complications, hospital stay, pain score, body image, and operative cost. Results: This study analyzed 124 patients in the per-protocol group (IRG, 64; CLG, 60). The number of retrieved lymph nodes was higher in the IRG group than those in the CLG group (IRG vs CLG; 42.1 ± 17.9 vs 35.1 ± 14.6, P = 0.019). Moreover, other surgical parameters, such as hospital stay (4.1 ± 1.0 vs 5.2 ± 1.8, P < 0.001) and body image scale (better in 4 of the 10 questions), were significantly better in the IRG than in the CLG. Conclusions: Robotic surgical procedures integrated with fluorescence guidance and a reduced-port system yielded more retrieved lymph nodes. In addition, the IRG group showed better perioperative surgical outcomes, particularly regarding the length of hospital stay and postoperative body image. Trial registration: NCT03396354.

Intracorporeal modified delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy during 2-port distal gastrectomy: technical aspects and short-term outcomes.

Purpose: Surgeons have become increasingly interested in reduced-port gastrectomy to minimize trauma while maintaining oncologic safety. Although gastroduodenostomy has the benefits of better nutritional outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than other types of reconstruction, gastroduodenostomy is not a preferred option for reduced-port distal gastrectomy because of technical difficulties. In this study, we describe our intracorporeal modified delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy technique, which is easily applicable during 2-port distal gastrectomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our database of 30 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent 2-port distal gastrectomy with intracorporeal modified delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy from October 2016 to May 2021. In this reduced-port approach, we used a Tropian Single port (TROPIAN TECH) via a 25-mm transumbilical incision and a 12-mm port at the right flank. All anastomoses were performed using a 60-mm endolinear stapler. We used 3 additional sutures to provide proper traction and support for the anastomosis. Results: Mean ± standard deviation of operation time was 148.9 ± 34.7 minutes; reconstruction time was 13.2 ± 4.6 minutes; estimated blood loss was 29.3 ± 44.4 mL; and length of hospital stay was 4.5 ± 1.2 postoperative days. A total of 11 patients (36.7%) had a Clavien-Dindo grade I or grade II complication, and there were no grade IIIa or higher complications. Conclusion: Intracorporeal modified delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy was safely performed via a 2-port approach, resulting in acceptable surgical outcomes and no major complications.

Short-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy with articulating instruments for gastric cancer compared with the robotic approach.

To overcome the limitations of laparoscopic surgery, robotic systems have been commonly used in the era of minimally invasive surgery despite their high cost. However, the articulation of instruments can be achieved without a robotic system at lower cost using articulating laparoscopic instruments (ALIs). Between May 2021 and May 2022, perioperative outcomes following laparoscopic gastrectomy using ALIs versus robotic gastrectomy were compared. A total of 88 patients underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy using ALIs, while 96 underwent robotic gastrectomy. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except for a higher proportion of patients with a medical history in the ALI group (p = 0.013). Clinicopathologic and perioperative outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. However, the operation time was significantly shorter in the ALI group (p = 0.026). No deaths occurred in either group. In conclusion, laparoscopic gastrectomy using ALIs was associated with comparable perioperative surgical outcomes and a shorter operation time compared to robotic gastrectomy in this prospective cohort study.

Prognostic impact of fluorescent lymphography on gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescent lymphography-guided lymphadenectomy (FL) for gastric cancer is gaining popularity. However, its impact on prognosis is not known. This study aimed to assess the prognostic impact of FL in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 5678 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy from 2013 to 2017. The survival was compared between the FLFL group and the conventional lymphadenectomy (non-FL group) using 1:1 propensity score matching after exclusion. Patients in the FL group underwent gastrectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy after endoscopic peritumoral injection of indocyanine green the day before surgery. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, the FL and non-FL groups each had 1064 patients with similar demographic and clinicopathological characteristics. All matched variables had a standardized mean difference under 0.1. The FL group showed a significantly higher number of retrieved lymph nodes (56.2±20.1) than the non-FL group (46.2±18.2, P <0.001). The FL group also had more stage III patients ( P= 0.044) than the non-FL group. The FL group demonstrated higher overall survival ( P= 0.038) and relapse-free survival ( P= 0.036) in stage III compared with the non-FL group. However, no significant differences in overall and relapse-free survival were observed between the two groups for stages I ( P= 0.420 and P= 0.120, respectively) and II ( P= 0.200 and P= 0.280, respectively). CONCLUSION: FL demonstrated a higher survival in stage III gastric cancer patients by the more accurate staging resulting from larger lymph node retrieval. Thus, given its potential to improve prognostication by enhancing staging accuracy, it is recommended as an option to consider the use of FL in clinical practice.

Chylous Ascites After Gastric Cancer Surgery: Risk Factors and Treatment Results.

PURPOSE: Although chylous ascites is a frequent complication of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, proper diagnostic criteria and optimal treatment strategies have not been established. This study aimed to identify the clinical features of chylous ascites and evaluate the treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy between 2013 and 2019. Diagnosis was made when milky fluid or elevated triglyceride levels (≥100 mg/dL) appeared in the drains without a preceding infection. The clinical features, risk factors, and treatment outcomes were assessed according to the initial treatment modalities for fasting and non-fasting groups. RESULTS: Among the 7,388 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, 156 (2.1%) experienced chylous ascites. The median length of hospital stay was longer in patients with chylous ascites than in those without (median [interquartile range]: 8.0 [6.0-12.0] vs. 6.0 [5.0-8.0], P<0.001). Low body mass index (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.9; P<0.001), advanced gastric cancer (aOR=1.51, P=0.024), open surgery (reference: laparoscopic surgery; aOR=1.87, P=0.003), and extent of surgical resection (reference: subtotal gastrectomy, total gastrectomy, aOR=1.5, P=0.029; proximal gastrectomy, aOR=2.93, P=0.002) were associated with the occurrence of chylous ascites. The fasting group (n=12) was hospitalized for a longer period than the non-fasting group (n=144) (15.0 [12.5-19.5] vs. 8.0 [6.0-10.0], P<0.001). There was no difference in grade III complication rate (16.7% vs. 4.2%, P=0.117) or readmission rate (16.7% vs. 11.1%, P=0.632) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A fat-controlled diet and medication without fasting provided adequate initial treatment for chylous ascites after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Changes in failure to rescue after gastrectomy at a large-volume center with a 16-year experience in Korea.

Failure to rescue (FTR), the mortality rate among patients with complications, is gaining attention as a hospital quality indicator. However, comprehensive investigation into FTR has rarely been conducted after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients. This study aimed to assess FTR after radical gastrectomy and investigate the associations between FTR and clinicopathologic factors, operative features, and complication types. From 2006 to 2021, 16,851 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence and risk factors were analyzed for complications, mortality, and FTR. Seventy-six patients had postoperative mortality among 15,984 patients after exclusion. The overall morbidity rate was 10.49% (1676/15,984 = 10.49%), and the FTR rate was 4.53% (76/1676). Risk factor analysis revealed that older age (reference: < 60; vs. 60-79, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-3.79, P = 0.019; vs. ≥ 80, OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.57-8.91, P = 0.003), high ASA score (vs. 1 or 2, OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.59-4.91, P < 0.001), and serosa exposure in pathologic T stage (vs. T1, OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.51-4.97, P < 0.001) were associated with FTR. Moreover, patients who underwent gastrectomy during 2016-2021 were less likely to die when complications occurred than patients who received the surgery in 2006-2010 (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18-0.68, P = 0.002). This investigation of FTR after gastrectomy demonstrated that the risk factors for FTR were old age, high ASA score, serosa exposure, and operation period. FTR varied according to the complication types and the period, even in the same institution.

Securing Resection Margin Using Indocyanine Green Diffusion Range on Gastric Wall during NIR Fluorescence-Guided Surgery in Early Gastric Cancer Patients.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence lymphography-guided minimally invasive gastrectomy using indocyanine green (ICG) is employed to visualize draining lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. Endoscopically injected ICG spreads along the gastric wall and emits fluorescence from the serosal surface of the stomach. We aimed to assess the efficacy of ICG diffusion in securing the resection margin. We retrospectively analyzed 503 patients with early gastric cancer located in the body of the stomach who underwent fluorescence lymphography-guided gastrectomy from 2018 to 2021. One day before surgery, ICG was endoscopically injected into four points of the submucosal layer peritumorally. We measured the extent of resection and the resection line based on the ICG diffusion area from the specimen using NIR imaging. The mean area of the ICG diffusion was 82.7 × 75.3 and 86.7 × 80.2 mm2 on the mucosal and serosal sides, respectively. After subtotal gastrectomy, the length of the proximal resection margin was 38.1 ± 20.1, 33.4 ± 22.2, and 28.7 ± 17.2 mm in gastroduodenostomy, loop gastrojejunostomy, and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy, respectively. The ICG diffusion area along the gastric wall secured a resection margin of >28 mm. The ICG diffusion range can be used as a simple and easy method for determining the resection margin during gastrectomy using NIR imaging.

Fluorescent Lymphography-Guided Lymphadenectomy during Minimally Invasive Completion Total Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer Patients.

No study has evaluated fluorescent lymphography for lymphadenectomy in remnant gastric cancer (RGC). This study aimed to assess the clinical application of fluorescent lymphography in minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC. Patients who had undergone minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative outcomes and long-term prognosis were compared between patients who had undergone minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy with fluorescent lymphography (the FL group) and those without fluorescent lymphography (the non-FL group). The FL group comprised 32 patients, and the non-FL group comprised 36 patients. FL visualized lymphatics in all 32 patients without complications related to the fluorescent injection. The median number [the interquartile range] of LN retrieval was significantly higher in the FL group (17 [9.3-23.5]) than in the non-FL group (12.5 [4-17.8]); p = 0.016). The sensitivity of fluorescent lymphography in detecting metastatic LN stations was 75%, and the negative predictive value was 96.9% in the FL group. The overall relapse-free survivals were comparable between the groups (p = 0.833 and p = 0.524, respectively). FL is an effective tool to perform a more thorough lymphadenectomy during minimally invasive completion total gastrectomy for RGC. Using FL in RGC surgery may improve surgical quality and proper staging.

Safe Discharge Criteria After Curative Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters and complication status to predict which patients can be safely discharged from the hospital on the third postoperative day (POD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from a prospectively maintained database of 2,110 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery were reviewed. The third POD vital signs, laboratory data, and details of the course after surgery were collected. Patients with grade II or higher complications after the third POD were considered unsuitable for early discharge. The performance metrics were calculated for all algorithm parameters. The proposed algorithm was tested using a validation dataset of consecutive patients from the same center. RESULTS: Of 1,438 patients in the study cohort, 142 (9.9%) were considered unsuitable for early discharge. C-reactive protein level, body temperature, pulse rate, and neutrophil count had good performance metrics and were determined to be independent prognostic factors. An algorithm consisting of these 4 parameters had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.2-97.3), sensitivity of 80.3% (95% CI, 72.8-86.5), and specificity of 51.1% (95% CI, 48.3-53.8). Only 28 (1.9%) patients in the study cohort were classified as false negatives. In the validation dataset, the NPV was 93.7%, sensitivity was 66%, and 3.3% (17/512) of patients were classified as false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: Simple clinical and laboratory parameters obtained on the third POD can be used when making decisions regarding the safe early discharge of patients who underwent gastrectomy.