Impact of Frailty and Sarcopenia on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The impact of frailty and sarcopenia in patients with gastric cancer is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively examine the impact of frailty and sarcopenia on the short- and long-term outcomes in elderly patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 246 patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent radical gastrectomy. Frailty and sarcopenia were assessed using the modified frailty index (mFI) and psoas muscle mass index (PMI), respectively. RESULTS: There were 30 (12.2%) and 60 (24.4%) patients with High-mFI and Low-PMI, respectively. As the age increased, both sexes showed significant correlations with PMI and mFI (r = - 0.238, 0.322, P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). High-mFI and Low-PMI did not affect the short-term outcomes. However, High-mFI was an independent risk factor for non-home discharge (P = 0.004) and was a significant predictor of 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.76 and 2.26; P = 0.002 and 0.005, respectively) and 1-, 3- and 5-year non-cancer-specific survival (non-CSS) (HR = 4.88, 8.05, and 4.01; P = 0.017, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Low-PMI was a significant predictor of only 5-year OS (HR = 2.03, P = 0.003) and non-CSS (HR = 2.10, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is significant predictor of non-home discharge and 1-, 3-, 5-year OS and 3- and 5-year non-CSS. Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of 5-year OS and non-CSS. Preoperative assessment of both frailty and sarcopenia can help surgeons to select adequate treatment strategies for the elderly population.

Impact of gastrectomy on body composition within 1 month in patients with gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: The present study examined the changes in and risk factors for body composition (BC) during the first postoperative month when dynamic biological reactions occur. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 202 patients who underwent gastrectomy. The BC was assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analysis and evaluated within 1 month preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for BC change. RESULTS: The mean reduction rate in BC at 1 month postoperatively was - 6.0, - 10.5, - 5.6, - 1.1, - 10.1, and + 1.2% for body weight, body fat, skeletal muscle, bone mineral, extracellular water/total body water, and the whole-body phase angle, respectively. A multiple regression analysis revealed that independent risk factors for weight loss were complications, operative time, and type of gastrectomy (P = 0.004, 0.011, 0.015, respectively), and those for skeletal muscle loss were complications and gastrectomy type (P = 0.002, 0.010, respectively). A segmental lean mass analysis revealed that the lower limbs were markedly reduced at 1 week postoperatively (- 8.0%), and these independent risk factors were the female sex and Stage II/III disease (P = 0.008, 0.036, respectively). CONCLUSION: Detailed analyses of BC might help elucidate the mechanisms underlying postoperative physical changes, which might be useful for perioperative management.

Robotic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with side-to-end anastomosis in a patient with anal stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal anastomosis using the double stapling technique (DST) has become a standard procedure. However, DST is difficult to perform in patients with anal stenosis because a circular stapler cannot be inserted into the rectum through the anus. Thus, an alternative procedure is required for colorectal anastomosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old woman presented with bloody stool. Colonoscopy and computed tomography revealed advanced low rectal cancer without lymph node or distant metastasis. We initially planned to perform low anterior resection using a double stapling technique or transanal hand-sewn anastomosis, but this would have been too difficult due to anal stenosis and fibrosis caused by a Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy performed 20 years earlier. The patient had never experienced defecation problems and declined a stoma. Therefore, we inserted an anvil into the rectal stump and fixed it robotically with a purse-string suture followed by insertion of the shaft of the circular stapler from the sigmoidal side. In this way, side-to-end anastomosis was accomplished laparoscopically. The distance from the anus to the anastomosis was 5 cm. The patient was discharged with no anastomotic leakage. Robotic assistance proved extremely useful for low anterior resection with side-to-end anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Performing side-to-end anastomosis with robotic assistance was extremely useful in this patient with rectal cancer and anal stenosis.

Evaluation of the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress Score as a Prognostic Indicator for Older Patients with Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric cancer (GC) among the older adults is increasing. Therefore, determining postoperative age-associated prognostic factors is clinically important. This present study retrospectively investigated the prognostic significance of the estimation of physiologic ability and surgical stress (E-PASS) of such patients with GC. METHODS: We enrolled 136 patients aged ≥75 years with a histopathological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy. RESULTS: Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to evaluate survival, and AUC values were compared to assess the discriminatory ability of carcinoembryonic antigen, the perioperative risk score, the surgical stress score, and the comprehensive risk score (CRS) of E-PASS. The AUC value of CRS was of the highest AUC value as a function of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival. The 5-year OS rates of CRSHigh and CRSLow groups were 50.6 and 76.9% (p = 0.0007) respectively. The 5-year DSS rates of the CRSHigh and CRSLow groups were 78.8 and 95.2% (p = 0.028) respectively. Further, the 5-year survival rates unrelated to cancer of the CRSHigh and CRSLow groups were 64.2 and 80.9% (p = 0.0096) respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that CRS was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: E-PASS was a useful prognostic indicator for older GC patients.

Estimation of Physiological Ability and Surgical Stress Score Is a Useful Prognostic Indicator for Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among the elderly has been increasing. Therefore, determining postoperative prognosis factors in elderly CRC patients has clinical importance. This study retrospectively investigated the prognostic significance of the estimation of physiological ability and surgical stress (E-PASS) in elderly CRC patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 166 elderly patients aged 75 or more with a histopathological diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery. RESULTS: According to the results of receiver operating characteristic analysis, the patients were divided into the following 2 groups based on the comprehensive risk score (CRS): CRS of ≥0.05 (CRSHigh) and CRS of < 0.05 (CRSLow). The 5-year overall survival rates of CRSHigh group and CRSLow group were 51.1 and 89.6%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 5-year disease-specific survival rates of CRSHigh group and CRSLow group were 81.4 and 96.3%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.017). Also, multivariate analysis indicated that CRS was an independent prognostic indicator in elderly CRC patients. With regard to the cause of death, both recurrence and cancer-unrelated deaths were observed significantly more in the CRSHigh group than in the CRSLow group. CONCLUSIONS: E-PASS was a useful prognostic indicator in elderly CRC patients.

Bacterial smear test of drainage fluid after pancreaticoduodenectomy can predict postoperative pancreatic fistula.

OBJECTIVES: It is widely accepted that postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) accompanied by bacterial infection results in a worse outcome than POPF alone. However, few studies evaluating predictive indicators of POPF have focused on bacterial infection. METHODS: A consecutive 100 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institute for periampullary disease were enrolled. POPF was assessed according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula consensus guidelines; grades B and C were defined as clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF). The patients' characteristics, perioperative surgical factors, and laboratory data including the results of culture and smear testing performed using drainage fluid on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 3 were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of CR-POPF was 25%. Univariate analyses revealed that the factors associated with CR-POPF were male sex, soft pancreas, MPD diameter, higher serum C-reactive protein concentration and white blood cell count on POD 3, higher amylase concentration in drainage fluid, and culture and/or smear positivity of drainage fluid. Multivariate analysis newly revealed that the smear positivity of drainage fluid on POD 3 was the independent risk factors for CR-POPF (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Smear positivity of drainage fluid on POD 3 after pancreaticoduodenectomy may be a new predictor of CR-POPF.

Combined Pre- and Postoperative Lymphocyte Count Accurately Predicts Outcomes of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although preoperative lymphopenia is reportedly a prognostic factor in cancer patients, the association between postoperative lymphopenia and patient prognosis has not been widely studied. METHODS: We enrolled 379 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) to analyze correlations among pre- and postoperative lymphocyte counts (LCs) and prognosis in patients with CRC. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperative LCs were significantly correlated (r = 0.615, p < 0.0001). Based on results of receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were subgrouped as preoperative LC ≥1,280 (pre-LCHigh, n = 234), preoperative LC < 1,280 (pre-LCLow, n = 145); and as postoperative LC ≥680 (post-LCHigh, n = 246), and postoperative LC < 680 (post-LCLow, n = 133). Five-year disease-specific survival rates significantly differed between pre-LCHigh (88.6%) and pre-LCLow (72.5%) groups (p < 0.0001); and also between the post-LCHigh (88.5%) and post-LCLow (71.1%) groups (p < 0.0001). Five-year disease-specific survival rates of patients who were both pre-LCLow and post-LCLow was significantly lower than those for patients who were either pre-LCHigh or post-LCHigh or pre-LCHigh/post-LCHigh (p = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis indicated that the combination of pre- and postoperative LC was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of pre- and postoperative LC is a predictive factor for prognosis in CRC patients.

Prognostic Significance of Pre- and Postoperative Lymphocyte Counts in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although preoperative lymphopenia is reportedly a prognostic factor in cancer patients, the association between postoperative lymphopenia and patient prognosis has not been widely studied. METHODS: We enrolled 352 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer (GC) between January 2005 and April 2013 to analyze correlations among pre- and postoperative lymphocyte counts (LCs) and prognosis in GC patients. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperative (obtained 1 day after surgery) LCs were significantly correlated (r = 0.496, p < 0.0001). Pre- and postoperative LCs of elderly patients were significantly lower than those of non-elderly patients. Postoperative lymphocyte count was significantly lower in patients with a differentiated tumor than in those with an undifferentiated tumor. Based on the results of receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were classified into subgroups as: preoperative LC ≥1,676 (pre-LCHigh), preoperative LC <1,676 (pre-LCLow); and as postoperative LC ≥855 (post-LCHigh), and postoperative LC <855 (post-LCLow). Five-year overall survival rates significantly differed between pre-LCHigh (82.5%) and pre-LCLow (71.6%) groups (p = 0.023); and also between the post-LCHigh (81.5%) and post-LCLow (69.5%) groups (p = 0.0072). The 5-year disease specific survival rates were 91.3 and 82.4% in patients with post-LCHigh and those with post-LCLow, respectively, and differences were statistically significant (p = 0.015). Multivariate analysis indicated that postoperative lymphocyte count was an independent prognostic indicator, along with age, gender, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and venous invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative lymphocyte count is a useful predictive factor for prognosis in GC patients.

A prognostic index for colorectal cancer based on preoperative absolute lymphocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil counts.

PURPOSE: Associations between the preoperative absolute neutrophil count (NC), lymphocyte count (LC), and monocyte count (MC) in the peripheral blood and the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have not been widely studied. METHODS: We enrolled 361 patients who underwent surgery for CRC between January 2007 and December 2013 to analyze correlations among the LC, MC, and NC and prognosis. RESULTS: Based on cut-off values determined by a receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were subgrouped as LymphHigh or LymphLow (cut-off: LC = 1460 cells/µL); as MonoHigh or MonoLow (cut-off: MC = 421 cells/µL); and as NeutHigh or NeutLow (cut-off: NC = 3247 cells/µL). Patients were then given lymphocyte-monocyte-neutrophil (LMN) scores by adding the points of their different subgroups (1 point each for LymphLow, MonoHigh and NeutHigh; 0 points for LymphHigh, MonoLow and NeutLow). The 5-year overall survival rates significantly differed by the LMN score (0: 89.7%, 1: 80.6%, 2: 68.8%, and 3: 57.4%; P < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, the LMN score was found to be an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the preoperative absolute number of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils is a useful prognostic indicator in CRC patients.

Score of the preoperative absolute number of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils as a prognostic indicator for patients with gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: The association between the preoperative absolute neutrophil count (NC), lymphocyte count (LC), and monocyte count (MC) in the peripheral blood and the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients has not been investigated widely. METHODS: We enrolled 445 patients who underwent surgery for GC between January, 2005 and April, 2013 to analyze the correlations among NC, LC, and MC and their prognoses. RESULTS: Based on cut-off values calculated by ROC analysis, patients were sub grouped as having: NC ≥ 4477 (NCHigh), NC < 4477 (NCLow); and as LC ≥ 1447 (LCHigh), LC < 1447 (LCLow); and as MC ≥ 658.5 (MCHigh), MC < 658.5 (MCLow). Each group was assigned as follows; NCHigh group = 1, NCLow group = 0, LCHigh group = 0, LCLow group = 1, MCHigh group = 1, MCLow group = 0, and the sum of each score was defined as the lymphocyte-monocyte-neutrophil score (LMN score). The overall 5-year survival rates were 89%, 74%, 57.8%, and 53.3% for LMN scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P = 0.0004). Multivariate analysis indicated that the LMN score was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of preoperative NC, LC, and MC appears to be a useful indicator of GC prognosis.

Postoperative ratio of the maximum C-reactive protein level to the minimum peripheral lymphocyte count as a prognostic indicator for gastric cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Inflammation, together with immune and nutritional status, are associated with the progression of various cancer types. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the postoperative ratio (post-CLR) of the maximum C-reactive protein value (post-CRPMax) to the minimum peripheral lymphocyte count (post-LCMin) in patients with gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 227 patients who underwent curative surgery for histopathologically diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates differed significantly between the post-CLRHigh (≥ 152.6) group and the post-CLRLow (< 152.6) group for all patients (45.0% vs. 68.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). The 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were also significantly related to post-CLR for all patients, (80.6% vs. 64.3% for the post-CLRLow and the post-CLRHigh groups, respectively; P = 0.002). Among patients without infectious complications, the CLR affected both the 5-year OS rate (48.4% vs. 69.2% for the post-CLRHigh and the post-CLRLow groups, respectively; P = 0.006) and the 5-year DSS rate (80.2% vs. 67.0% for the post-CLRLow and the post-CLRHigh groups, respectively; P = 0.027). Multivariate analysis revealed that post-CLR was an independent prognostic indicator for both the OS and DSS of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding show that the post-CLR can help predict the prognosis of GC patients.

Prognostic Significance of the Preoperative Ratio of C-Reactive Protein to Albumin and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of C-reactive protein to albumin (CRP/Alb) is a biochemical marker of systemic inflammatory response and has been associated with poor survival in cancer. This study retrospectively investigated the relationship between the CRP/Alb ratio and prognosis in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 453 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery. RESULTS: A statistically significant weak correlation was observed between CRP/Alb ratio and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (r = 0.19; P < 0.0001). There were statistically significant correlations between high CRP/Alb ratio and age (P = 0.0004), tumor size (P = 0.02), depth of invasion (P = 0.012), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.022). A high NLR was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.0027), tumor size (P = 0.0006), depth of invasion (P < 0.0001), lymphatic involvement (P = 0.0031), venous involvement (P = 0.0022), and stage of disease (P = 0.0024). Based on results by receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were divided as follows: CRP/Alb ratio ≥ 0.0232 (CARHigh), CRP/Alb ratio < 0.0232 (CARLow), NLR ≥ 2.43 (NLRHigh), and NLR < 2.43 (NLRLow). Five-year survival rates of patients with both CARHigh and NLRHigh, either CARHigh or NLRHigh, and both CARLow and NLRLow were 59.6, 75.8, and 87.5%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the combination of CRP/Alb ratio and NLR was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CRP/Alb ratio and NLR may be useful in predicting prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Prognostic Significance of Platelet-Based Inflammatory Indicators in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytosis develops in association with malignant tumors and may reflect the inflammation status in cancer patients. This study retrospectively investigated the prognostic significance of two platelet-based inflammatory indicators, the platelet × C-reactive protein multiplier value (P-CRP), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: The 453 enrolled patients had a histopathological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma and underwent curative surgery. RESULTS: P-CRP correlated significantly with age, tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and disease stage. A high PLR correlated significantly with tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic involvement, venous involvement, and disease stage. In the ROC analysis, the optimal cutoff value of P-CRP and PLR was 3.689 and 173.3, respectively. Five-year survival rates were 62.9 and 82.1% in patients with P-CRPHigh (≥3.689) and P-CRPLow (<3.698), respectively (P < 0.0001). Five-year survival rates were 66.3 and 81.3% in patients with PLRHigh (≥173.3) and PLRLow (<173.3), respectively (P = 0.0022). The prognosis of the P-CRPHigh/PLRHigh group was significantly worse than that of the P-CRPHigh or PLRHigh and P-CRPLow/PLRLow groups in terms of overall survival (P < 0.0001) and disease-specific survival (P = 0.029). In a multivariate analysis, the combination of P-CRP and PLR was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of P-CRP and PLR may be useful in predicting prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Combined analysis of the pre- and postoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts the outcomes of patients with gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biochemical marker of the systemic inflammatory response and has been associated with prognosis for various types of cancer. This retrospective study investigates the relationship between the pre- and postoperative NLR and the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. METHODS: The subjects were 280 patients who underwent curative surgery for histopathologically diagnosed gastric adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: The preoperative NLR was significantly correlated with tumor size, tumor depth, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and disease stage. In contrast, there was no correlation between the postoperative NLR and the various clinicopathological variables. Prognosis was significantly worse for patients with a high preoperative NLR than for those with a low preoperative NLR. Prognosis was also significantly worse for patients with a high postoperative NLR than for those with a low postoperative NLR. Furthermore, the prognosis was worse for gastric cancer patients whose pre- and postoperative NLRs were both high. Multivariate analysis indicated that a high pre- and postoperative NLR was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of pre- and postoperative NLRs appears to be useful for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Combined analysis of the preoperative and postoperative prognostic nutritional index offers a precise predictor of the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is considered useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC). This retrospective study investigated the relationship between both the pre- and postoperative PNI and the prognosis of GC patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 254 patients who underwent curative surgery for histopathologically diagnosed GC. RESULTS: Patients were divided according to their pre- and postoperative PNI as follows: preoperative PNI of ≥ 52 (pre-PNIHigh), preoperative PNI of < 52 (pre-PNILow), postoperative PNI of ≥ 49 (post-PNIHigh), and postoperative PNI of < 49 (pre-PNILow). Both pre- and postoperative PNI were significantly associated with GC prognosis. Patients were then divided as follows: group A, patients with pre-PNIHigh and post-PNIHigh; group B, patients with either pre-PNIHigh and post-PNILow or pre-PNILow and post-PNIHigh; and group C, patients with pre-PNILow and post-PNILow. The 5-year survival rates were 100.0, 83.0, and 67.1% for groups A, B, and C, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that the combination of pre- and postoperative PNI was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: Combined analysis of the pre- and postoperative PNI offers accurate information about the prognosis of patients with GC.

Prognostic value of the combination of pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Inflammation is closely related to cancer development and progression. This retrospective study investigated the prognostic value of the combination of pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: The subjects of this study were 406 patients who underwent surgery for CRC. RESULTS: Based on receiver-operating characteristic analysis, patients were divided into the following groups: those with a preoperative CRP of ≥ 0.5 mg/dL (pre-CRPHigh), those with a preoperative CRP of < 0.5 mg/dL (pre-CRPLow), those with a postoperative CRP of ≥ 17.0 mg/dL (post-CRPHigh), and those with a postoperative CRP of < 17.0 mg/dL (post-CRPLow). They were then allocated to one of the following three groups: Group A, comprised of those in the pre-CRPHigh and post-CRPHigh groups; Group B, comprised of those in either the pre-CRPHigh and post-CRPLow or pre-CRPLow and post-CRPHigh groups; and Group C, comprised of those in the pre-CRPLow and post-CRPLow groups. The disease-specific 5-year survival rates were 53.8%, 72.8%, and 87.2% in Groups A, B, and C, respectively, and these differences were significant. Finally, multivariate analysis revealed that the combination of pre- and postoperative CRP levels was an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of pre- and postoperative CRP was predictive of the prognosis of CRC patients.

New Prognostic Indicator is Useful for Predicting the Survival of Patients with Unresectable Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Complete resection of tumors is possible after heavy chemotherapy in a few patients with unresectable colorectal cancer (UCRC). This study evaluated the ability of new prognostic score to identify such patients. METHODOLOGY: Four peripheral blood markers were evaluated in 50 patients diagnosed with UCRC at the time of patients' first visit to the hospital: C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Each was scored +1 or 0 for that marker. For example, when patient shows CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/dL, ALB 3.5 g/dL, NLR ≥ 5, and CEA ≥ 10 ng/mL, his score is +4. Thus, patients' scores could range from 0 to +4. RESULTS: The median survival time (MST) of the 15 patients with scores 0 and +1 was longer than that of the 35 with scores +2, +3, and +4 (35 vs. 6 months, P < 0.001). R0 operation after treatment was performed in 2 patients (4%) with score 0 and +1. CONCLUSION: Our prognostic score is useful in selecting patients with UCRC who will survive.

Inflammation-based prognostic scores and nutritional prognostic index in patients with locally-advanced unresectable colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Unresectable colorectal cancer has a poor prognosis. However, some patients survive intensive chemotherapy, and complete resection of primary and metastatic tumors may even be possible. In the present study, we examined the prognostic factors associated with survival after intensive chemotherapy in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 61 patients diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced colorectal cancer between January 2004 and December 2013. Among the prognostic parameters, we found that the prognoses of patients with abnormal performance status (PS) of 2 or 3, high Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) of 1 or 2, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >5, and low prognostic nutritional index (PNI) <40 were poor. Thus, we scored each patient according to our scoring system (abnormal PS, 2 or 3 = +1; high GPS, 1 or 2 = +1; high NLR, >5 = +1; and low PNI, <40 = +1). If the patient showed abnormalities in every parameter, the score would be +4. RESULTS: Sixteen patients had a score of 0, 17 scored +1, 10 scored +2, 17 scored +3, and one scored +4. The median survival time (MST) of the 61 patients was 9 months. Patients were divided into two groups, a low-score group (0 and +1) and a high-score group (+2, +3, and +4). The MST of the 33 patients in the low-score group was significantly longer than that of the 28 patients in the high-score group (15 months versus 4 months, P < 0.001). Also, conversion chemotherapy was performed in 4.9% (3/61) of patients. And these 3 patients were in a low-score group. CONCLUSIONS: This new prognostic scoring system may help to select patients with unresectable advanced colorectal cancer who are able to survive through intensive chemotherapy.

What is necessary to shorten the operative time in initial introduction of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer?

INTRODUCTION: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) is a good alternative to laparoscopic gastrectomy, as it improves treatment outcomes and reduces the burden of technical difficulties; however, prolonged operative time may be a disadvantage. This study aimed to identify measures to shorten the operative time during the initial introduction of RG at an institution. METHODS: We assessed 33 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction and divided them into three groups: laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG), robotic distal gastrectomy in the early phase (RDG-E), and in the late phase (RDG-L). Operative time, six technical steps, and junk time, including the roll-in/roll-out, docking/undocking, and instrument exchange times, were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The median (range) overall operative times of LDG, RDG-E, and RDG-L were 248 (179-323), 304 (249-383), and 263 (220-367) min, respectively, but no significant differences were observed. For each surgical step of RG, RDG-L in suprapancreatic lymph node dissection was significantly shorter than that in RDG-E. The median (range) junk times of LDG, RDG-E, and RDG-L were 16.7 (12.7-26.4), 48.3 (38.6-67.7), and 42.0 (35.4-49.2) min, respectively. Junk time was significantly longer in RDG-L than in LDG (p = 0.003), but not significant between RDG-E and RDG-L. The learning curve effect of overall, console, and junk times were achieved in four cases of RDG. CONCLUSION: Junk time is a major factor in prolonging RDG operative time. However, to reduce the time after initial introduction, measures to promote robot-specific standardization and more effective use of robotic instruments are essential.

Post-colostomy internal hernia of the stomach treated with laparoscopic gastropexy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Internal hernias are formed by the protrusion of internal organs through an aperture formed congenitally or postoperatively. Internal hernias are most commonly associated with the small intestine. Only two cases of a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach have been reported. This hernia arises from the space between the lifted sigmoid colon and the left abdominal wall. In the two aforementioned cases, treatment comprised suturing of the sigmoid colon to the lateral abdominal wall and changing of the intraperitoneal route to an extraperitoneal one. Herein, we present a very rare case who underwent laparoscopic gastropexy for a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient, a 67-year-old woman, was undergoing chemoradiation for rectal cancer and planned to undergo abdominoperineal resection. However, tumor perforation resulted in a high fever and a right gluteal abscess; therefore, a sigmoid colostomy was performed through the intraperitoneal route in the left lower abdomen. One month after the surgery, the patient presented to our emergency room with vomiting, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Computed tomography revealed a markedly distended stomach caused by the obstruction of the pylorus secondary to the colostomy; laparoscopic gastropexy was performed subsequently and the postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the laparoscopic gastropexy treatment of a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach; our findings may help physicians manage such hernias.