Variations of the hepatic artery and bile duct in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction: Impact on postoperative outcomes.

PURPOSE: Preoperative comprehension of the anatomical variations of the hepatic artery and bile duct is essential for safe laparoscopic surgery for pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). This study aimed to investigate the impact of anatomical variations of the hepatic artery and bile duct on surgical technique and postoperative complications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with PBM who underwent laparoscopic surgery at our institution between January 2014 and December 2022 to investigate anatomical variations in the hepatic artery and bile duct, surgical technique, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: We included 112 patients with PBM, with a median age of 4 years (interquartile range, 0-55). Overall, 29 of 112 patients had an aberrant right hepatic artery (ARHA) running ventral to the common hepatic duct (CHD), and they underwent hepaticojejunostomy on the ventral side of the ARHA. Additionally, eight of 112 patients had an aberrant posterior hepatic duct (APHD), which was joined to the CHD in all but one case. The presence of APHD was associated with postoperative bile leak occurrence. CONCLUSION: Performing hepaticojejunostomy ventral to the ARHA is important to prevent complications. Furthermore, APHD may be a risk factor for postoperative bile leak and requires careful bile duct plasty.

Management of Congenital and Postoperative Chylothorax: Use of Thoracoscopic Lymphatic Leak Ligations with Intraoperative ICG Lymphangiography.

BACKGROUND: Congenital chylothorax (CCT) and postoperative chylothorax (POCT) are rare and difficult to treat. We report our treatment strategy and outcomes for chylothorax, including thoracoscopic surgery with indocyanine-green (ICG) near-infrared fluorescence lymphangiography. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with CCT and POCT from 2014 to 2021 was performed. After definitive diagnosis, conservative treatments with octreotide, followed by intravenous steroids as needed, were performed. Patients who were refractory to conservative treatment were transferred to surgical treatment, consisting of thoracoscopic lymphatic leak ligations using ICG intraoperative lymphangiography. The effectiveness of conservative and surgical treatment was then examined. RESULTS: We included 19 cases of CCT and 31 cases of POCT. The 31 POCT patients included 23 of 84 postoperative patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), 7 of 54 postoperative patients with esophageal atresia (EA), and 1 of 3 postoperative patients with lymphatic malformation. The efficacy of conservative treatment was 12/19 for CCT, 22/23 for CDH, and 4/7 for EA. Surgical intervention was performed in 10 patients, and the rate of resolution of chylothorax within 3 weeks after surgery was 90%. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic lymphatic leak ligations with intraoperative ICG lymphangiography are feasible and useful in patients with chylothorax refractory to conservative treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Laparoscopic Duodenal-Caudal Detachment Method: Early Experience of a Novel Technique for Malrotation with Volvulus in Neonates.

Purpose: A laparoscopic approach for malrotation is feasible and safe in hemodynamically stable neonates without intestinal necrosis; however, volvulus is associated with recurrence and conversion. We developed a novel approach using a laparoscopic duodenal-caudal detachment method to perform the Ladd procedure for neonates with volvulus under the limited view of laparoscopy. This study presents the results, effectiveness, and details of the method. Materials and Methods: In the laparoscopic duodenal-caudal detachment method, we first detached the adhesions around the duodenum, including the Ladd's band. After the adhesions were completely removed, the duodenum was freely drawn caudally, leading to the release of torsion. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgery for malrotation of the volvulus at 30 days of age between January 2014 and September 2021. Results: Seven neonates underwent the laparoscopic duodenal-caudal detachment method and 13 underwent the open Ladd procedure. The new technique was performed in all 7 patients, and there were no conversions or recurrences. The operation time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic procedure group (55 minutes versus 111 minutes; P < .01). Conclusions: Our detorsion method, involving an initial incision of the Ladd's band, is safe and effective for neonates and may lead to an improvement in the conversion rates.

Comparisons of prevalence and related factors of depression in middle-aged adults between urban and rural populations in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Findings of urban-rural differences in the prevalence of depression have been controversial, and few reports have directly compared the related factors of depression between urban and rural areas. The present study aimed to investigate differences between urban and rural areas in Japan with regards to the prevalence of and related factors of depression in middle-aged adults, in order to further understanding of the features of depression in this demographic. METHODS: We used a multistage, random sampling procedure and mailing method. In total, 5000 participants were recruited from urban and rural areas in Kumamoto Prefecture (2500 in each area). Participants were aged from 40 to 64 years. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). RESULTS: The prevalence of middle-aged depression was not different between the urban and rural areas. Logistic regression analysis found that being female, living alone, and having a chronic illness were significantly associated with depression in urban-dwelling middle-aged adults. Younger age, sleep disturbance, and financial strain were significantly associated with depression in both urban and rural areas. LIMITATIONS: The definition of depression was based on CES-D scores, without corroborating clinical evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: We found no marked differences in the prevalence of middle-aged depression between the urban and rural areas. Some related factors of depression in middle-aged adults differed between urban and rural areas in Japan. Effective intervention programs for middle-aged adults with depression should consider regional differences.

Living alone is associated with depression among the elderly in a rural community in Japan.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with depression in a sample of elderly Japanese individuals in a rural community and to examine differences among factors associated with individuals living alone or living with others. METHODS: Using a population-based sample from rural Japan, we assessed a total of 1552 participants aged 65 years or older by mailing a survey and evaluating responses based on the Geriatric Depression Scale. Factors associated with depression were also examined. RESULTS: We received 964 valid responses. Depressed subjects comprised 20.5% of the sample. Living alone was significantly related to depression. In individuals living alone, depression was associated with loss of appetite, suicidal ideation, financial strain, and worries in life. However, multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the influence of living alone was negated by having a good social support system. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that living alone is an important factor in depression among the elderly in a rural part of Japan. Results also confirm what others have found in Western cultures: high levels of social support, awareness of receiving social support, and willingness to receive assistance may reduce the risk of depression.

Development of an assessment sheet for fall prediction in stroke inpatients in convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a study to develop an assessment sheet for fall prediction in stroke inpatients that is handy and reliable to help ward staff to devise a fall prevention strategy for each inpatient immediately upon admission. METHODS: The study consisted of three steps: (1) developing a data sampling form to record variables related to risk of falls in stroke inpatients and conducting a follow-up survey for stroke inpatients from their admission to discharge by using the form; (2) carrying out analyses of characteristics of the present subjects and selecting variables showing a high hazard ratio (HR) for falls using the Cox regression analysis; (3) developing an assessment sheet for fall prediction involving variables giving the integral coefficient for each variable in accordance with the HR determined in the second step. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: (1) Subjects of the present survey were 704 inpatients from 17 hospitals including 270 fallers. (2) We selected seven variables as predictors of the first fall: central paralysis, history of previous falls, use of psychotropic medicines, visual impairment, urinary incontinence, mode of locomotion and cognitive impairment. (3) We made 960 trial models in combination with possible coefficients for each variable, and among them we finally selected the most suitable model giving coefficient number 1 to each variable except mode of locomotion, which was given 1 or 2. The area under the ROC curve of the selected model was 0.73, and sensitivity and specificity were 0.70 and 0.69, respectively (4/5 at the cut-off point). Scores calculated from the assessment sheets of the present subjects by adding coefficients of each variable showed normal distribution and a significantly higher mean score in fallers (4.94 +/- 1.29) than in non-fallers (3.65 +/- 1.58) (P = 0.001). The value of the Barthel Index as the index of ADL of each subject was indicated to be in proportion to the assessment score of each subject. CONCLUSION: We developed an assessment sheet for fall prediction in stroke inpatients that was shown to be available and valid to screen inpatients with risk of falls immediately upon admission.

[Two cases of orbital myositis with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance].

PURPOSE: We report two cases of idiopathic orbital myositis with monoclonal gammopathy. CASE: Case one was a 47-year-old man, who had bilateral swelling of the extraocular muscles and impairment of the left optic nerve. Case two was a 27-year-old woman, who had bilateral proptosis. An immunological test showed that both patients had monoclonal gammopathy, and they were diagnosed as having monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance(MGUS). RESULTS: In case one, the patient achieved remission with steroid pulse therapy followed by administration of high doses of a steroid. In case two, because of repeated recurrence, the patient was treated with steroid pulse therapy and then radiation therapy to achieve final remission. CONCLUSION: We need to pay attention in the diagnosis of orbital myositis to distinguish MGUS. Such patients have an atypical clinical course and are resistant to ordinary steroid therapy.