Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) has been rapidly adopted for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. However, the benefits of RG over laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for GC remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 451 patients who underwent either RG (n = 83) or LG (n = 368) for GC were enrolled in this study. A 1:1 matched, propensity score-matched analysis was performed using the following factors: age, sex, body mass index, pT, pN, pStage, tumor location, vessel invasion, tumor markers, surgical procedure, reconstruction method, extent of lymphadenectomy, and Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System qualified surgeon as an operator. The surgical outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: A well-balanced cohort of 158 patients was analyzed (n = 79 in the RG group, n = 79 in the LG group). Regarding the short-term outcomes, the respective blood loss volume, drain amylase content, and number of retrieved lymph nodes in the RG and LG groups were 38.62 ± 73.06 ml and 67.53 ± 108.20 ml (p < 0.05), 450 ± 371 IU/l and 1590 ± 6392 IU/l (p < 0.01), and 35.02 ± 15.51 and 25.28 ± 11.70 (p < 0.01). The morbidity rate was similar between the RG and LG groups (not significant [NS]). Regarding the long-term survival outcomes, there were no intergroup differences in 3-year overall survival (91.72% in the RG group vs. 83.39% in the LG group: NS) and 3-year, disease-free survival (93.31% in the vs. 90.44%: NS). CONCLUSIONS: RG was safe and contributed to better short-term outcomes and similar long-term survival outcomes compared with LG.

Lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio predicts long-term outcomes for patients with lower rectal cancer.

BACKGROUNDS: The lymphocyte to C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio (LCR) is an indicator of systemic inflammation and host-tumor cell interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of LCR in lower rectal cancer patients who received preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). METHODS: Forty-eight patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent CRT followed by curative surgery were enrolled in this study. Routine blood examinations were performed before and after CRT were used to calculate pre-CRT LCR and post-CRT LCR. The median LCR was used to stratify patients into low and high LCR groups for analysis. The correlation between pre- and post-CRT LCR and clinical outcomes was retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: The pre-CRT LCR was significantly higher than the post-CRT LCR (11,765 and 6780, respectively, P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly higher for patients with high post-CRT LCR compared with low post-CRT LCR (90.6% and 65.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). In univariate analysis, post-CRT LCR, post-CRT neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and fStage were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. In multivariate analysis, post-CRT LCR, but not other clinicopathological factors or prognostic indexes, was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-CRT LCR could be a prognostic biomarker for patients with lower rectal cancer.

Advantages of the Left-handed Ultrasonic Shears Technique for Robotic Gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate advantages of the left-handed ultrasonic shears technique in robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 67 consecutive gastric cancer patients who underwent robotic gastrectomy. Fifty-six patients underwent gastrectomy with the left-handed ultrasonic shears technique (the left hand group), and 11 patients underwent surgery with the conventional approach (the conventional group). Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Operative blood loss, morbidity, and mortality were similar between the 2 groups. We observed a trend toward a shorter operation time and higher number of retrieved lymph nodes in the left hand group compared with the conventional group. Console time (docking-gastrectomy) in the left hand group was significantly shorter than in the conventional group (192.20 vs. 218.36 min, P<0.05). In robotic distal gastrectomy, both operation time and console time in the left hand group were significantly shorter than in the conventional group (276.10 vs. 354.80 min, 176.43 vs. 209.20 min, P<0.05 for both). The postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complication (Clavien Dindo≥1) rate in the left hand group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (0% vs. 20%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the left-handed ultrasonic shears technique is safe and provides a technically superior operative environment with satisfactory postoperative results.

Results of Hepatic Resection for Liver Metastasis of Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgical indication for hepatic resection is controversial in gastric cancer liver metastasis (GLM). The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of hepatic resection for GLM. METHODOLOGY: Ten patients who underwent hepatic resection for GLM between 2001 and 2013 were enrolled in this study. Six patients underwent synchronous hepatic resection and gastrectomy, and the remaining four patients underwent metachronous hepatic resection. Six patients had solitary liver metastasis, and 4 patients had multiple liver metastasis. The median follow-up period was 12.4 months (the range being 0.5 months to 50 months). RESULT: The actual 1- year and 3-year overall survival rates for the patients who underwent hepatic resection are 88.9% and 17.8%, respectively. The median survival time was 21.5 months. And the 1-year recurrence free survival time was 20.0%. The median recurrence free survival rate was 4.7 months. Regarding post-operative recurrence, synchronous hepatic resection tended to be a recurrence factor (p=0.08). CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection for GLM has an acceptable outcome. Metachronous hepatic resection tends to have a better outcome than synchronous hepatic resection for the treatment of GLM. J. Med. Invest. 65:27-31, February, 2018.