Impact of tumor stage and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in fluorescence-guided lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A propensity score-matched study in a western center.

BACKGROUND: The use of indocyanine green fluorescence has been shown to be a safe and effective method for improving lymph node retrieval in patients with gastric cancer. However, previous studies have focused on early-stage tumors and/or the Asian population and excluded patients who received neoadjuvant treatment. METHODS: In this study, 142 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy at a Spanish hospital between January 2017 and December 2022. Of these, 42 patients received preoperative indocyanine green injection to guide lymphadenectomy. Their outcomes were compared to a retrospective cohort of 42 patients after 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: The feasibility of indocyanine green lymphatic mapping was 95.5%. No complications associated with indocyanine green injection were observed. The indocyanine green group had a significantly higher number of retrieved lymph nodes than the non-indocyanine green group (32.67 vs 25.14; P = .013). This statistically significant difference was maintained across subgroups of neoadjuvant treatment, non-obese patients, pT0 to 2 stage, and pN0 stage. In 47.6% of patients from the indocyanine green group, lymphadenectomy was extended outside the standard D2 dissection area based on indocyanine green uptake, but none of the retrieved lymph nodes were metastatic. There were no differences in postoperative complications and length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Indocyanine green-guided lymphadenectomy is safe and feasible and increases the number of retrieved lymph nodes compared to conventional lymphatic dissection, as well as in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of indocyanine green should be routine if available for guiding lymph node dissection in gastric cancer, regardless of tumor stage or previous neoadjuvant treatment. However, further studies are needed to determine the impact of this technique on disease-free and overall survival.

Laparoscopic intracorporeal rectus aponeuroplasty (LIRA technique): a step forward in minimally invasive abdominal wall reconstruction for ventral hernia repair (LVHR).

BACKGROUND: Closing the defect (CD) during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair began to be performed in order to decrease seroma, to improve the functionality of the abdominal wall, and to decrease the bulging effect. However, tension at the incision after CD in large defects is related to an increased rate of pain and recurrence. We present the preliminary results of a new technique for medium midline hernias as an alternative to conventional CD. METHODS: A prospective controlled study was conducted from January 2015 to January 2017 to evaluate an elective new procedure (LIRA) performed on patients with midline ventral hernias (4-10 cm width). The posterior rectus aponeurosis was opened lengthwise around the hernia defect using a laparoscopic approach to create two flaps and was then sutured. The size of the flaps was estimated using a mathematical formula. An on-lay mesh was placed intraperitoneal overlapping the fascia defect. The data analyzed included patient demographics, operative parameters, and complications. A computerized tomography was performed preoperatively and postoperatively (1 month and 1 year) to evaluate recurrence, distance between rectus and seroma. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included. Mean width of the defect was 5.5 cm. Average VAS (24 h) was 3.9, 1.1 (1 month), and 0 (1 year). Mean preoperative distance between rectus was 5.5 cm; postoperative was 2.2 cm (1 year). Radiological seroma at first month was detected in 50%. Mean follow-up was 15 months. CONCLUSION: The LIRA technique could be considered as an alternative to conventional CD or endoscopic component separation for medium defects under 10 cm in width. This technique obtained a "no tension" effect that could be related to a lower rate of postoperative pain with no recurrence or bulging, being a safe, feasible, and reproducible technique.

Impact of the feedback provided by a gastric electrical stimulation system on eating behavior and physical activity levels.

OBJECTIVE: The closed-loop gastric electrical stimulation (CLGES) abiliti® system provides tailored gastric electrical stimulation activated by food entry into the stomach and sensor-based data to medical professionals. The aim of this study was to analyze behavior changes using sensor-based food intake and activity data in participants treated with the CLGES system. METHODS: Food intake and activity data (3D accelerometer) were downloaded at baseline and monthly/bimonthly for 12 months in a subset of patients with obesity (N = 45) participating in a multicenter trial with CLGES. Measured food intake parameters included the number of intakes during allowed and disallowed periods, nighttime intakes, and between-meal snacks (average/d). Activity parameters included time in different levels of physical activity (min/d), sleep/sedentary (h/d), and estimated energy expenditure (EE). RESULTS: Weight loss at 12 months averaged 15.7 ± 7.7% of the baseline body weight. Stable reduction in the number of disallowed meals and between-meal snacks (P < 0.05), an increase in all levels of physical activity (P < 0.001), and an increase in activity-based EE (303 ± 53 kcal/d on average, P < 0.001) were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement in eating and activity was seen in participants. It is hypothesized that feedback of the sensor-based data induced behavioral changes and contributed to weight loss in patients treated with CLGES.

New laparoscopic assisted percutaneous gastrostomy. Description and comparison with others gastrostomy types.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrostomy feeding tube insertion has become a common procedure as it enables patients who require long term enteral feeding. Conventional surgical gastrostomies were the only way of gaining enteral access in patients in which it is not possible to pass an endoscope or a nasogastric tube required for endoscopic or radiological gastrostomies, and in patients in which certain anatomical abnormalities contraindicate performing these techniques. As conventional surgical gastrostomies are associated with high morbidity, especially gastric leakage around the tube, percutaneous laparoscopic assisted gastrostomy (PLAG) may be a better way to gain enteral access. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study of a prospective cohort of 224 patients on whom a gastrostomy was performed for nutritional support between January 2009 and October 2015 at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville. The types of gastrostomies carried out were: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG, n = 106), percutaneous radiological gastrostomy (PRG, n = 89), conventional surgical gastrostomy, Open Stamn or Laparoscopic Janeway (SG, n = 9) and percutaneous laparoscopic assisted gastrostomy (PLAG, n = 20), technique that we describe in detail. Short and long term complications are described. RESULTS: Many more complications were seen in the conventional gastrostomy group than in the other three groups, especially leakage of gastric content around the tube, with burning and irritation of the skin (66% compared with 2.83% in PEG and 0% in PLAG and PRG). The group with the highest proportion of patients completely free of complications was PLAG (75%), whilst in the conventional surgical gastrostomy group, no patient was completely free of complications. CONCLUSIONS: We found lower complication rate in PLAG than any other technique. We believe that PLAG could be preferred technique for patients on whom it is not possible to perform PEG or PRG, as it is safe and easy.

Malignant degeneration in pilonidal disease.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal disease is one of the most frequent entities in our daily surgical activity. Although it is a benign disease, malignant degeneration is likely to occur in pilonidal disease. We reviewed surgical interventions for pilonidal diseases performed from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2008. CLINICAL CASE: We reviewed all 3729 histology reports obtained after surgical removal of pilonidal disease. There were three cases of squamous cell carcinoma and one case of basal cell carcinoma. Patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma had a mean age of 54.2 years and a mean time of evolution of the lesions of 20.6 years. We found local recurrence and lymph node recurrence. Mean follow-up period was 5 years and there was no mortality. The patient with basal cell carcinoma had 1 year of pilonidal disease evolution. There were no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Malignancy can arise in pilonidal diseases with a long evolution time. There is a high rate of recurrence and morbimortality in cases of squamous cell carcinomas. Adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to complete local excision has demonstrated a decrease in the rate of local recurrence.