Comparison of three fistula risk scores after pancreatoduodenectomy: A single-institution retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy greatly influences patients' postoperative course. Several evaluation methods have been used to assess the risk of clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy namely, the original, alternative, and updated alternative fistula risk scores (o-FRS, a-FRS, and ua-FRS, respectively). METHODS: We enrolled 106/179 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy in our institution between April 2013 and Mar 2018. CR-POPF was defined as grade B and C POPF according to the 2016 definitions of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery. RESULTS: Pancreatic gland texture was the only significant risk factor for CR-POPF (p = 0.007). The CR-POPF incidence increased significantly according to the risk groups defined by both o-FRS (p = 0.004) and a-FRS (p = 0.004). The area under the curve for o-FRS, a-FRS, and ua-FRS was 0.693, 0.693, and 0.671, respectively. CONCLUSION: o-FRS, a-FRS, and ua-FRS were almost equally useful for risk evaluation for CR-POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy. Further studies, especially for preoperative objective evaluation of pancreatic gland texture, are needed for more useful and accurate risk evaluation.

Distal partial gastrectomy for gastric tube cancer with intraoperative blood flow evaluation using indocyanine green fluorescence.

With recent advances in the treatment of esophageal cancer and long-term survival after esophagectomy, the number of gastric tube cancer (GTC) has been increasing. Total gastric tube resection with lymph node dissection is considered to be a radical treatment, but it causes high post-operative morbidity and mortality. We report an elderly patient with co-morbidities who developed pyloric obstruction due to GTC after esophagectomy with retrosternal reconstruction. The patient was treated using distal partial gastric tube resection (PGTR) and Roux-en-Y reconstruction with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery and right gastric artery. Intraoperative blood flow visualization using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence demonstrated an irregular demarcation line at the distal side of the preserved gastric tube, indicating a safe surgical margin to completely remove the ischemic area. PGTR with intraoperative ICG evaluation of blood supply in the preserved gastric tube is a safe and less-invasive surgical option in patients with poor physiological condition.

Early ambulation after general and digestive surgery: a retrospective single-center study.

PURPOSE: Postoperative early ambulation contributes to the improvement of postoperative outcomes; however, the definition of "early" ambulation is unclear. In this study, we aimed to define desirable "early" ambulation after digestive surgery in terms of short-term outcomes and to identify the risk factors for delayed ambulation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 718 patients who underwent major digestive surgery between January 2016 and May 2019 in our hospital. The timing of first ambulation after surgery was reviewed and correlated with short-term postoperative outcomes and perioperative patient characteristics. RESULTS: Of 718 patients, 55% underwent first ambulation at postoperative day (POD) 1, 31% at POD 2, and the remaining patients at POD 3 or later. Whereas short-term outcomes were equivalent among patients with first ambulation at POD 1 and those at POD 2, patients who delayed ambulation until POD 3 or after had an increased incidence of infectious complications (P = 0.004), longer hospitalization (P < 0.001), and a decreased home discharge rate (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that significant predictors of delayed ambulation (POD ≥ 3) were poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS), low controlling nutritional status (CONUT), nonlaparoscopic surgery, and transvenous opioid use. Of these factors, the combination of ECOG-PS, CONUT, and nonlaparoscopic surgery clearly stratified patients into four-grade risk groups regarding delayed ambulation (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that first ambulation before POD 2 could be desirable for better short-term outcomes. Active preoperative intervention, such as nutritional care and prehabilitation, in patients with multiple risk factors for delayed ambulation could improve the postoperative course.

Risk factors for postoperative pneumonia after general and digestive surgery: a retrospective single-center study.

PURPOSE: Pneumonia is the second-most common complication in postoperative patients and is associated with significant morbidity and high costs of care. We aimed to determine the risk factors for pneumonia after general and digestive surgery. METHODS: The medical records of 1,016 patients who underwent general and digestive surgery between January 2016 and March 2019 in our hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 1,016 patients, 67 (6.6%) developed postoperative pneumonia. The multivariate analysis showed that significant predictors of postoperative pneumonia were a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS), low forced vital capacity and low forced expiratory volume in one second in the spirometry test, malnutrition (low serum albumin levels and low controlling nutritional status scores and prognostic nutritional index [PNI] values), esophagectomy, upper gastrointestinal surgery, and nonlaparoscopic surgery. Of these factors, the combination of PNI and ECOG-PS clearly stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups with respect to developing postoperative pneumonia (area under the curve: 0.709). CONCLUSIONS: Although postoperative pneumonia is associated with many clinical variables, active medical intervention for the prevention of pneumonia in patients with multiple risk factors can improve the postoperative course. In particular, perioperative nutritional care may prevent postoperative pneumonia in patients with malnutrition and a poor PS.

Renal arteriovenous fistula induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treated by retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy.

Renal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare but potentially severe and life-threatening entity. It can occur after various invasive renal interventions, including resection of a localized renal tumor, renal biopsy, percutaneous renal surgery, and even blunt injury of the kidney. The time of clinical presentation of a renal AVF is variable and may occur decades after the injury originally occurred. Here, we report a case of renal AVF induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy 11 years earlier in an asymptomatic 72-year-old woman. Given the patient's pre-existing hemodialysis dependence, retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy was performed. On the basis of patient's clinical history, the location of the renal AVF, and the pathological diagnosis, we suggested that renal AVF was a late consequence of the injury to the intrarenal vessels induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.