Transanally assisted lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LLND) might be an effective approach for patients with rectal cancer with lateral lymph node metastasis, it is technically challenging because of the anatomical complexity and location of the deep pelvis. An assistance by transanal approach might be useful for a successful LLND. METHODS: From September 2016 to May 2021, 39 patients with low rectal cancer underwent transanal total mesorectal excision with LLND. Among them, 18 patients underwent LLND using a conventional laparoscopic approach alone, while the remaining 21 underwent LLND using both conventional and transanal approaches. Their clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: The operation time for LLND on each side was significantly shorter in the transanal group (105 min vs. 54 min, P < 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss was also significantly less in the transanal group (40 g vs. 0 g, P = 0.031). The rate of overall postoperative complications ≥ grade II according to the Clavien-Dindo classification was significantly less in the transanal group (66.7% vs. 28.6%, odds ratio: 5.000, 95% confidence intervals: 1.313-19.047, P = 0.040). The number of harvested lateral lymph nodes in both groups was similar (8.5 vs. 8, P = 0.544). CONCLUSION: The transanal approach for LLND reduced operative time, blood loss, and morbidity compared with the conventional approach alone in a cohort of patients with rectal cancer.

Standardized Procedure of Transperineal Minimally Invasive Abdominoperineal Resection for Low Rectal Cancer.

Although transperineal minimally invasive abdominoperineal resection (tp-APR) based on the concept of transanal total mesorectal excision has recently been used for rectal cancer, the operative procedure has not been standardized to date due to its technical difficulty. The tp-APR procedure used by the authors for a male patient with low rectal cancer is presented in this video.

Sarcopenia assessed by skeletal muscle mass volume is a prognostic factor for oncological outcomes of rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, sarcopenia has been reported to be associated with poor postoperative outcomes in various cancers. However, its clinical significance for rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by surgery remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 46 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent curative surgery after NACRT. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring the cross-sectional psoas muscle area (PA) at L3 and total bilateral psoas muscle volume (PV). Patients with a lower PV or PA value than the median were assigned to the sarcopenia group while others were assigned to the non-sarcopenia group. Clinical outcomes were then compared between groups. RESULTS: The sarcopenia group included 22 patients. The rate of overall postoperative complications did not differ between groups. Five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was significantly lower in the sarcopenia group when sarcopenia was assessed by PV after NACRT (44.0% vs. 82.6%, P = 0.00494). In contrast, RFS did not differ between groups when sarcopenia was assessed by PA. Multivariable analysis identified PV after NACRT as the most significant risk factor for RFS (hazard ratio 4.00; 95% CI 1.27-12.66, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia assessed by total PV after NACRT may be an accurate and reliable predictor of poor oncological outcomes in rectal cancer patients.

Short-term and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for elderly patients with colorectal cancer aged over 80 years: a propensity score matching analysis.

PURPOSE: There has been an increase in the percentage of elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, few studies have reported the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for elderly patients with CRC aged over 80 years. METHODS: This study included 529 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for clinical stage 0-III CRC at Kobe University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2018. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to create balanced cohorts of the elderly (aged ≥ 80, n = 113) and the non-elderly (aged < 80, n = 113). Their clinical outcomes were compared after PSM. RESULTS: After matching, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was higher in the non-elderly group, and adjuvant chemotherapy was less frequently employed in the elderly group. D3 dissection was performed more frequently and the number of the harvested lymph nodes tended to be larger in the non-elderly group. There was no significant difference in the rates of postoperative complications, reoperation within 30 days, and 30-day mortality between the groups. The 5-year relapse-free survival rate was not statistically different between the two groups (77.3% for the non-elderly vs. 62.7% for the elderly, p = 0.13). The multivariate analyses for the whole cohort showed that the factors of sex, tumor location, operation time, and conversion to open surgery, but not the age, were significant predictors of postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer patients aged over 80 years is technically and oncologically safe.

Current status and trend of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer.

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRH) is utilized worldwide as one of the standard surgical treatments for right-sided colon cancer. However, there have been issues concerning its applicability, techniques, and trend. The present study aimed to elucidate the current status and trend of LRH by reviewing literature focusing on important issues associated with this surgery. Based on previous studies, LRH most likely provides better short-term outcomes and similar oncological outcomes compared to open surgery. Despite the increasing use of robotic approach in this surgery, it seems to have always been associated with longer operative times and greater hospital cost with limited advantage. Intracorporeal anastomosis seems to improve short-term outcomes, such as quicker recovery of bowel function, compared to extracorporeal anastomosis. However, it does not contribute to shorter hospital stay. With regard to dissection technique, various approaches, and landmarks have been advocated to overcome the technical difficulty in LRH. This difficulty is likely to be caused by anatomical variation, especially in venous structures. The superiority of one approach or landmark over another is still argued about due to the lack of large-scale prospective studies. However, deep understanding both of anatomical variation and characteristics of each approach would be of extreme importance to minimize adverse effects and maximize patient benefit after LRH.

Usefulness of Omentoplasty to Reduce Perineal Wound Complications in Abdominoperineal Resection After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Omentoplasty is sometimes used to prevent perineal wound complications after abdominoperineal resection (APR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). However, recent studies have raised some controversy about its clinical benefit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcomes for rectal cancer patients who received APR after NACRT were retrospectively compared between the groups with omentoplasty (n=28) and without omentoplasty (n=14). RESULTS: The operative time was significantly longer in the omentoplasty group (575 vs. 404 min, p<0.001). Laparoscopic surgery was performed more frequently in the omentoplasty group. Perineal wound problems including dehiscence and infection were significantly reduced in the omentoplasty group (46.4% vs. 78.6%, p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that omentoplasty was the most important factor in reducing perineal wound complications (odds ratio=0.020, 95% confidence intervaI=0.001-0.393; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Omentoplasty was useful in reducing perineal wound complications after APR following NACRT.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for the treatment of remnant stomach gastrointestinal stromal tumors in incomplete-type Carney's triad: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in Carney's triad, successfully treated using laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection after chemotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old woman presented to our hospital for treatment of recurrent GISTs. The patient had been admitted for treatment 11 years prior, with black stools being the chief presenting complaint at that time. On examination at that time, multiple submucosal tumors in the pyloric antrum and multiple pulmonary tumors had been observed. She underwent open partial gastrectomy, and the diagnosis of GISTs was confirmed. She was administered tyrosine kinase inhibitors to treat lung metastases from 2 months after surgery. Due to the increasing size of the lung tumors, a right upper lobectomy was performed 9 years after the index gastric surgery. Histopathological examination of the lung specimen, in combination with re-examination of the gastric specimens, was indicative of incomplete-type Carney's triad. Eleven years after the index gastric surgery, multiple GISTs were observed in her entire stomach. Tumor biopsy revealed a succinate dehydrogenase deficiency, confirming the diagnosis of recurrent GISTs. For treatment, the patient underwent laparoscopic completion gastrectomy, with D1 plus lymph node dissection. CONCLUSION: This is a first case report of completion gastrectomy performed laparoscopically for the treatment of GISTs associated with incomplete-type Carney's triad. The recurrent GISTs developed over a protracted period of 11 years from the index gastric surgery to tumor recurrence.

Increases of calcium and magnesium and decrease of iron in human posterior longitudinal ligaments of the cervical spine with aging.

To elucidate compositional changes of ligaments with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the posterior longitudinal ligaments (PLLs) by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. After the ordinary dissection, PLLs were resected from the subjects ranging in age from 65 to 95 yr. The PLLs of the cervical spine were resected between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, the PLLs of the thoracic spine between the fifth and seventh thoracic vertebrae, and the PLLs of the lumbar spine between the second and third lumbar vertebrae. Calcium and magnesium increased progressively with aging in the PLLs of the cervical spine, but they did not increase with aging in the PLLs of the thoracic and lumbar spine. In contrast, iron decreased gradually with aging in the PLLs of the cervical spine. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant correlations were found among the contents of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium in the PLLs of the cervical spine.

Increased microorganisms DNA levels in peripheral blood monocytes from psoriatic patients using PCR with universal ribosomal RNA primers.

It has long been suspected that systemic and focal infections cause or exacerbate psoriatic lesions. We previously showed that peripheral blood monocytes in psoriatic patients are activated and overproduce inflammatory cytokines. In addition, it has been reported that macrophages activated by ingesting microorganisms release tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta. Therefore we hypothesized that the monocytes in psoriatic patients may be activated by ingesting microorganisms and overproduce inflammatory cytokines. We examined the detection of microorganism DNA in monocytes from 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and from 12 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from monocytes, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed for the detection using universal primers from conserved regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene or the fungal 18S rRNA gene. At the same time, we calculated the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores and analyzed their correlations with the microorganisms DNA levels. The results showed that bacterial 16S DNA levels in monocytes were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in controls. The fungal 18S DNA levels were also higher in psoriatic patients than in controls, but the differences were not significant. Although the microorganisms DNA levels in monocytes of psoriatic patients were high, there was no correlation between the bacterial DNA levels in monocytes of the psoriatics and PASI scores. Our study suggests that monocytes in psoriatic patients engulf more bacteria than there in controls, causing an activation of monocytes and triggering the formation of new lesions in the initial stages of psoriasis.