Days of the week and 90-day mortality after esophagectomy: analysis of 33,980 patients from the National Clinical Database.

PURPOSE: The effect of the days of the week on the short-term outcomes after elective surgeries has been suggested; however, such data on esophagectomies remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between the day of the week and mortality rates after elective esophagectomy using a large-scale clinical database in Japan. METHODS: The data of elective esophagectomies, registered in the National Clinical Database in Japan, for esophageal cancer treatment between 2012 and 2017 were analyzed. We hypothesized that the later days of the week could have higher odds ratios of death after elective esophagectomy. With 22 relevant clinical variables and days of surgery, 90-day mortality was evaluated using hierarchical logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Ninety-day mortality rates among 33,980 patients undergoing elective esophagectomy were 1.8% (range, 1.5-2.1%). Surgeries were largely concentrated on earlier days of the week, whereas esophagectomies performed on Fridays accounted for only 11.1% of all cases. Before risk adjustment, lower odds ratios of 90-day mortality were found on Tuesday and a tendency towards lower odds ratios on Thursday. In the hierarchical logistic regression model, 21 independent factors of 90-day mortality were identified. However, the adjusted odds ratios of 90-day mortality for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were 0.87, 1.09, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively, revealing no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results imply that the variation in 90-day mortality rates after esophagectomy on different days of the week may be attributed to differing preoperative risk factors of the patient group rather than the disparity in medical care provided.

Identification and verification of communicating accessory bile duct associated with a biliary circuit by modified and dynamic intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Communicating accessory bile duct (CABD) is a rare anatomical anomaly of the bile duct and forms a biliary circuit. It is difficult to identify during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) without the use of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). A modified IOC, in which tube insertion was performed through the infundibulum of the gallbladder, was evaluated dynamically. This procedure allowed us to accurately identify and verify the presence of CABD, a biliary circuit, and the short cystic duct. The short cystic duct could be separated safely without damaging the biliary circuit. Modified and dynamic IOC is recommended for identifying and verifying the presence of CABD during LC.

Robot-assisted total remnant gastrectomy for interposed jejunal pouch dysfunction 25 years after proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A case report.

Proximal gastrectomy (PG) in combination with jejunal pouch interposition is a technique aimed at improving the postoperative dietary outcomes; however, some cases are reported to require surgical intervention owing to difficulty of food intake caused by pouch dysfunction. Herein, we present a case of robot-assisted surgery for interposed jejunal pouch (IJP) dysfunction in a 79-year-old male, occurring 25 years after the initial PG for gastric cancer. The patient had chronic anorexia for 2 years and was treated with medications and dietary guidance; however, 3 months prior to admission his quality of life had reduced, owing to worsening symptoms. The patient was diagnosed with pouch dysfunction due to extremely dilated IJP identified using computed tomography and underwent robot-assisted total remnant gastrectomy (RATRG) with IJP resection. After an uneventful course of intraoperative and postoperative treatment, he was discharged with sufficient food intake on postoperative day 9. RATRG can, thus, be considered in patients with IJP dysfunction after PG.

Association between Serum Zinc Levels and Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Introduction: Although it was reported that serum zinc levels were lower in patients with various malignancies, serum zinc levels of patients with gastric cancer were not well documented. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between clinicopathologic features and serum zinc levels in preoperative patients with gastric cancer. Methods: The study enrolled 83 patients scheduled for gastric cancer surgery at the Kochi Medical School. Clinical data were obtained to investigate associations between clinicopathological features, including nutritional indicators and serum zinc levels. Serum zinc deficiency was defined as serum zinc level <80 µg/dL. Results: The median zinc level of the 83 patients was 73 µg/dL (range, 20-152 µg/dL), and serum zinc deficiency was present in 66.3% of patients. Albumin was significantly lower in the zinc low level group than in the normal group (3.9 g/dL vs. 4.4 g/dL, p < 0.001), and the median serum zinc level was significantly lower in the albumin <4.1 g/dL group than in the albumin ≥4.1 g/dL group (69 µg/dL vs. 82 µg/dL, p < 0.001). Lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the zinc low level group than in the normal group (1,500 vs. 1810 years, p = 0.041). The median serum zinc level was significantly lower in the age ≥74 group than in the age <74 (71 µg/dL vs. 76 µg/dL, p = 0.002). Serum zinc levels showed a significant positive correlation with serum albumin (r = 0.637, p = 0.009). Conclusion: Serum zinc deficiency was found in 66.3% of preoperative patients with gastric cancer, which was highly correlated with serum albumin.

What is the optimal range of glycemic control for non-diabetic patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery? A single-center randomized controlled trial using an artificial pancreas.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the optimal target range of perioperative glycemic control for gastroenterological surgery. A closed-loop-type artificial pancreas (AP) was used to diminish the negative impact of hypoglycemia and glycemic variability during tight glycemic control. METHODS: In this single-center randomized trial, non-diabetic patients were assigned to tight (80-110 mg/dL) or moderate glycemic control (110-140 mg/dL) groups between August 2017 and May 2021. AP was used from the intraoperative period until discharge from the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was the serum interleukin (IL)-6 level on the third postoperative day (3POD), and the secondary endpoints included clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Recruitment was closed before reaching the planned number of patients due to slow enrollment. Tight glycemic control (n = 62) resulted in lower mean glucose levels than moderate glycemic control (n = 66) (121.3 ± 10.8 mg/dL vs. 133.5 ± 12.0 mg/dL, p < 0.001). Insulin was administered at a 65% higher rate for tight glycemic control, achieving appropriate glucose control more than 70% of the treatment time. No hypoglycemia occurred during the AP treatment. No significant difference was observed in serum IL-6 levels on 3POD (23.4 ± 31.1 vs. 32.1 ± 131.0 pg/mL, p = 0.64), morbidity rate, surgical mortality rate, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant short-term results did not differ, implying that 80-110 and 110-140 mg/dL are permissible glycemic control ranges when using AP in non-diabetic patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery. (Registered in UMIN; UMIN000028036).

Primary adrenal Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors with tumor thrombus of the inferior vena cava: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ewing's sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm that mainly occurs in skeletal tissue but can rarely arise in soft tissues. Recently, small round cell tumors (including Ewing's sarcoma) caused by chromosomal translocations have been collectively termed Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors. We report a rare case of primary adrenal Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors with tumor thrombus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old Asian woman was referred to our hospital with a left retroperitoneal tumor 19 cm in diameter. Tumor thrombus was identified from the left adrenal vein to the inferior vena cava, infiltrating the right atrium. Total tumor excision with left adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, and thrombectomy was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest, followed by seven courses of adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient has shown no signs of recurrence as of 26 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Radical surgery combined with systemic chemotherapy may contribute to good prognosis in patients with primary adrenal Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.

Navigation by modified and dynamic intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for difficult gallbladder.

We used modified and dynamic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) navigation during laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for difficult gallbladders. We have defined an IOC that does not open the cystic duct as a modified IOC. Modified IOC methods include the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) tube method, the infundibulum puncture method, and the infundibulum cannulation method. Case 1 was chronic cholecystitis after PTGBD for acute cholecystitis with pericholecystic abscess. In this case, modified IOC was performed via PTGBD, and biliary anatomy and incarcerated stone were confirmed. Case 2 was chronic cholecystitis after endoscopic sphincterotomy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis. In this case, modified IOC was performed via gallbladder puncture needle, and biliary anatomy and incision line were confirmed. The target point on the laparoscopic image was determined by moving the tip of the grasping forceps under modified IOC, which we call modified and dynamic IOC. We conclude that the navigation by the modified and dynamic IOC via PTGBD tube or puncture needle is useful to identify biliary anatomy, incarcerated gallbladder stone, and safe incision line during laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy .

Emergency transileocolic vein obliteration for life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices.

We report a case of life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, which was treated by emergency transileocolic vein obliteration (TIO). A 46-year-old male with a massive hematemesis was transported to our hospital by ambulance. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated large gastric varices. Temporary hemostasis using balloon tamponade was attempted, however, bleeding could not be controlled, and his vital signs were unstable despite massive blood transfusions. First, endoscopic treatment was attempted, but the visual field could not be secured due to massive bleeding. Therefore, emergency TIO under general anesthesia was attempted. After laparotomy, 5 Fr. sheath was inserted into the ileocolic vein. Posterior and left gastric veins, which were the blood supply routes of gastric varices, were identified and embolized using microcoils and a 50% glucose solution. Hemostasis was achieved and vital signs recovered. Three days after TIO, transjugular retrograde obliteration was attempted successfully to embolize the residual gastric varices. After the procedures, his condition improved. We conclude that emergency TIO is a useful rescue option for life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices if endoscopic treatment or balloon tamponade is ineffective.

Ureteral rupture with retroperitoneal urinoma caused by peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer.

We describe the rare case of a patient with ureteric rupture during systemic drug treatment for peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer, who underwent double-J stent placement. A 66-year-old man with gastric cancer was referred to the authors' hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an irregular elevated lesion with thickened gastric folds, and biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed extensive wall thickening with homogeneous enhancement of the stomach, enlarged lymph nodes in the perigastric area, and nodules in the peritoneal cavity, suggesting peritoneal metastases. The clinical diagnosis was cT4N2M1 with peritoneal metastases, and the patient received chemotherapy (S-1 plus oxaliplatin). After six courses of chemotherapy, the patient presented to the emergency outpatient department with a complaint of acute severe pain in the left lower back. Emergency abdominal contrast-enhanced CT showed extravasation of the contrast medium from the left upper ureter in the periureter area along with the retroperitoneum, and there was no mass lesion or stone in the kidney, ureter, or bladder. A double-J stent was placed under cystoscopic guidance, and no resistance was felt when the stent was inserted. The patient's postprocedural course was uneventful, and he received ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel after double-J stent placement. However, 2 months later, systemic drug treatment was discontinued because of loss of appetite and increased general fatigue and changed to the best supportive care. His general condition gradually deteriorated, and he died 3 months after the ureteral rupture. Prompt interventions, including retrograde placement of ureteral stents with concurrent use of antibiotics, will reduce mortality and morbidity in this rare entity.

Incidence, clinicopathological characteristics, and therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer patients with metastasis to the central nervous system.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis from gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 419 patients diagnosed with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer at Kochi Medical School between January 2007 and December 2021 were evaluated. Data of patients were reviewed, and clinicopathological information and survival outcomes of those with CNS metastases were compared to patients without CNS metastases. RESULTS: In total, 12/419 (2.9%) patients (median age: 66.5 years [range, 41-82 years]) were diagnosed with CNS metastasis from gastric cancer. Eleven had diffuse-type gastric cancer which was significantly more common than in those without CNS metastasis (91% vs. 61%, p = .034). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status was positive in one of the 12 patients. The median survival time was significantly lower for patients with CNS metastasis than for those without CNS metastasis (1.8 months vs. 11.4 months, p < .001). The median survival time for patients who underwent surgical resection, radiation, or chemotherapy for CNS metastasis was significantly higher than those who received only best supportive care (3.5 months vs. .6 months; p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: CNS metastasis was found in 2.9% (12/419) of patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. Diffuse-type histology was a risk factor for CNS metastasis. Multidisciplinary treatment, including surgical resection, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy, for CNS metastasis from gastric cancer may benefit selected patients.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for concurrent gastric cancer and complete agenesis of the dorsal pancreas.

We present an unusual case of laparoscopic total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection in a 56-year-old woman with gastric cancer and agenesis of the dorsal pancreas (ADP). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed erosive lesions with thickened gastric folds; biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a thickened wall of the gastric body; the distal pancreas was not visualized. Under the clinical diagnosis of gastric cancer with ADP, the patient underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy. The absence of a pancreatic neck, body, and tail was confirmed; lymph nodes along the splenic artery were dissected. Pathological analysis demonstrated a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma invading the serosa, with five lymph node metastases. The postoperative course was unremarkable; postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was performed using S-1 plus oxaliplatin. No symptom recurrence was observed at the 6-month follow-up. Laparoscopic surgery, with careful preoperative anatomic evaluation, can be considered for concurrent gastric cancer and ADP.

Staple Line Reinforcement for Intracorporeal Anastomosis Reduces Time for Reconstruction During Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Despite the widespread use of laparoscopic surgery, intracorporeal anastomosis remains a complicated procedure that often prolongs the operation time. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel staple line reinforcement (SLR) during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Kochi Medical School between November 2021 and May 2022. A review of these patients was conducted, and perioperative outcomes were compared according to the use of SLR. RESULTS: The reconstruction time using SLR was significantly shorter compared to when SLR was not used (20.5 min vs. 32.0 min, p=0.048). The incidence of hemostasis during anastomosis was significantly lower in the SLR group than in the non-SLR group (0 vs. 3 times, p=0.041). There were no significant differences in the operating time and estimated blood loss after surgery between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications or nutritional status between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The usefulness of SLR in reducing the time for intracorporeal reconstruction and archiving the best interaction between device and tissue during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer, was herein demonstrated.

Successful conversion surgery after FOLFIRINOX therapy in a patient with advanced pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma with a solitary peritoneal dissemination: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma is rare; it accounts for 1% of all malignant pancreatic exocrine tumors. Although surgical resection is an option for curative treatment, the safety and efficacy of conversion surgery in patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma with metastasis remain unknown. CASE: A 67-year-old man with epigastric pain and a pancreatic tumor was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography revealed a large tumor with a maximum diameter of 67 mm at the pancreatic head and a 23-mm mass in the left upper abdominal cavity. Because a definitive diagnosis could not be made based on endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy findings, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. The tumor in the greater omentum at the left upper abdomen, resected under laparoscopy, was histopathologically diagnosed as pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma. Therefore, the pancreatic tumor was diagnosed as an unresectable pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma with a solitary peritoneal dissemination. The size of the main pancreatic tumor decreased to 15 mm after 18 courses of FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin). Subsequently, the patient underwent conversion surgery, and the initial diagnosis of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma was confirmed on pathological examination. The patient was discharged 31 days postoperatively, following which he received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1. No sign of recurrence has been observed for 32 months after surgical resection. CONCLUSION: FOLFIRINOX may be effective in patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, and conversion surgery after FOLFIRINOX may be applicable to selective patients.

Frequency and therapeutic strategy for patients with ovarian metastasis from gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of ovarian metastasis from gastric cancer. METHODS: This study included 155 female patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer at the Kochi Medical School between January 2007 and December 2021. A review of patients with ovarian metastasis was conducted, and their clinicopathological information and survival outcomes were compared with respect to ovarian metastasis. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with ovarian metastasis from gastric cancer with a median age of 54 years (range: 30-87 years) and an incidence of 9.7%. The median age of patients who developed ovarian metastasis was significantly lower those without ovarian metastasis (54 years vs. 71 years, P = 0.014). The median survival time (MST) for 15 patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer who developed ovarian metastasis was 21.4 months (range: 0.2-41.4 months). The MST for 15 patients who underwent surgical resection and systemic drug treatment including chemotherapy to ovarian metastasis was significantly higher than those who received systemic drug treatment alone (28.1 months vs. 10.0 months; P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Ovarian metastasis was found in 9.7% of female patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer and in younger patients than in those without ovarian metastasis. Multidisciplinary treatment, including surgical resection and systemic drug treatment for ovarian metastasis from gastric cancer, may benefit selected patients.

Unexpected gastrointestinal bleeding from the ileocolic artery penetrating the duodenum after hilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery.

Cases of bleeding from the ileocolic artery penetrating the duodenum are uncommon, as bleeding from the colonic diverticulum usually spontaneously stops. Herein, this case depicts sudden gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient whose only relevant history was hepaticojejunostomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma and a previous abdominal surgery for a traffic accident.

Frequency and prognostic impact of cachexia during drug treatment for unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Patients with unresectable advanced metastatic gastric cancer have a poor prognosis. This study examined the incidence and prognostic impact of cachexia during systemic drug treatment in such patients. METHODS: We enrolled patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer who were treated with chemotherapy at Kochi Medical School from 2007 to 2020. Cancer cachexia was defined as > 5% weight loss or > 2% weight loss with a body mass index of < 20 kg/m2 within the past 6 months. Associations between clinicopathological parameters, cancer cachexia, and the overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Cancer cachexia occurred in 55.2% of 134 enrolled patients 6 months after chemotherapy. The incidence of cancer cachexia in initial unresectable gastric cancer was significantly higher than that in patients with recurrent cancer after curative resection. The median overall survival was significantly lower in the patients with cancer cachexia than in those without cancer cachexia at 6 months after starting systemic chemotherapy (13.7 months vs. 21.6 months, P = 0.032). Cancer cachexia at 6 months of starting treatment and CRP > 0.14 were identified as significantly associated with poor outcomes in a multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.339, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.160-2.085, P = 0.019; HR 1.885, 95% CI 1.124-3.161, P = 0.016); respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer cachexia was frequently observed in unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients who received chemotherapy and was useful as a prognostic factor for the overall survival.

Correlation between surgical mortality for perforated peritonitis and days of the week for operations: A retrospective study using the Japanese National Clinical Database.

BACKGROUND: The association between weekend interventions and poor outcomes is termed the "weekend effect." This retrospective study investigated whether the weekend effect exists in the surgical treatment of acute diffuse peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforation. METHODS: Patients (n = 16,209) who underwent operation for acute diffuse peritonitis during 2016-2017 were included and grouped depending on the perforation site. Using 23 variables, we performed hierarchical logistic regression analysis and calculated odds ratios for surgical mortality. RESULTS: Surgical mortality rates were 8.8%, 15.0%, and 14.1% for patients with gastroduodenal, small bowel, and large bowel perforations, respectively. Unadjusted odds ratios for surgical mortality differed significantly on Wednesdays only for patients with large bowel perforation (odds ratio: 0.772, 95% confidence interval: 0.613-0.972, P = 0.03). However, there was no significant difference in adjusted odds ratios. CONCLUSION: The quality of emergency surgical treatment is uniform in Japan throughout the week in terms of mortality.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio as prognostic factors for unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prognostic value of C-reactive protein-to-albumin (CAR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) in conjunction with host-related factors in patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 411 patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer were treated at Kochi Medical School between 2007 and 2019. Associations between clinicopathological parameters and systemic inflammatory and nutritional markers, including CAR and NLR, with overall survival were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off values of predicted median survival time were 0.096 (sensitivity, 74.9%; specificity, 42.5%) for CAR and 3.47 (sensitivity, 64.1%; specificity, 57.5%) for NLR, based on the results of receiver operating characteristic analysis. A weak significant positive correlation was identified between CAR and NLR (r = 0.388, P < 0.001). The median survival time was significantly higher in patients with intestinal-type than those with diffuse-type histology (18.3 months vs. 9.5 months; P = 0.001), CAR < 0.096 than those with CAR ≥ 0.096 (14.8 months vs. 9.9 months; P < 0.029), and those with NLR < 3.47 than NLR ≥ 3.47 (14.7 months vs. 8.8 months; P < 0.001). Multivariate survival analysis revealed that diffuse-type histology (hazard ratio (HR) 1.865; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.397-2.490; P < 0.001)), 1 or more performance status (HR 11.510; 95% CI 7.941-16.683; P < 0.001), and NLR ≥ 3.47 (HR 1.341; 95% CI 1.174-1.769; P = 0.023) were significantly associated with independent predictors of worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: High CAR and NLR are associated with poor survival in patients with unresectable and recurrent gastric cancer.

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided laparoscopic deroofing of a liver cyst: A case report.

In performing laparoscopic deroofing (LD) of liver cysts, indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent imaging is particularly useful for delineating adequate margins for the procedure and for avoiding duct injuries. However, the optimal timing of ICG injection has not yet been clarified. Herein, we describe a patient who had a large liver cyst, in whom safe and efficient LD was performed under sharp fluorescent imaging obtained by intravenous injection of ICG 1 hour before cyst fenestration.

Day of surgery and mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy: A retrospective analysis of 29 270 surgical cases of pancreatic head cancer from Japan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The day of the week can impact medical treatment outcomes; however, few large-scale, disease-specific studies have focused on the association between the day of the week and mortality in patients after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Clinical Database. Twenty-two clinical variables were adopted for hierarchal logistic regression modeling to determine adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for surgical mortality after elective pancreatoduodenectomy. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality and surgical mortality rates were 1.0% and 1.7%, respectively (n = 29 720). Surgeries were performed the least on Fridays (13.4%) compared with other weekdays. Crude rates of severe postoperative complications (mean, 14.1%; range, 13.5%-14.8%) and pancreatic fistulas (mean, 10.0%; range, 9.6%-10.3%) remained stable throughout the week. Unadjusted/adjusted ORs did not significantly differ between Friday and Monday (0.868, 95% CI: 0.636-1.173, P = .365, and 0.928, 95% CI: 0.668-1.287, P = .653, respectively), and results were similar for the remaining weekdays. Nineteen independent factors were associated with surgical mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of perioperative mortality for elective pancreatoduodenectomy is low in Japan, with no evidence of disparities in surgical mortality rates between weekdays.