Clinical significance of colonoscopy before laparoscopic bariatric/metabolic surgery in Japanese patients.

PURPOSE: Obesity is known to be associated with colorectal adenoma (CRA) and colorectal cancer (CRC); yet colonoscopy is not considered an essential preoperative evaluation before bariatric/metabolic surgery. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of preoperative colonoscopy for obese Japanese patients. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 114 patients who underwent screening colonoscopy before bariatric/metabolic surgery. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the independent predictors of CRA/CRC among the characteristics identified as significant or nearly significant by univariate analyses. RESULTS: Colonoscopy revealed abnormal findings indicating the need for biopsy or polypectomy in 20 of the 114 patients (17.5%), and CRA was diagnosed in 13 patients (11.4%). Three patients (2.6%), who were all ≥ 56 years old, had a CRA ≥ 10 mm in diameter. The multivariate analysis showed that older age and male sex were significant predictors of CRA/CRC, which was identified in 46.2% of the male patients aged ≥ 46 years. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that older age and male sex may be risk factors for CRA/CRC in obese Japanese candidates for bariatric/metabolic surgery; thus, preoperative colonoscopy should be considered for these high-risk patients.

Apoptosis-related factors are relevant to progression of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary therapy centered on antitumor drugs is indicated in patients with unresectable pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET). However, the criteria for selection of optimal therapeutic agents is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the malignancy of PanNET for optimal therapeutic drug selection. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with PanNET who underwent surgery were reviewed retrospectively, and immunohistochemical characteristics, including expression of GLUT1, SSTR2a, SSTR5, Survivin, X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), and Caspase3 in the resected specimens, were investigated. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated with regard to the characteristics using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS: GLUT1 expression showed significant correlation with sex (p = 0.036) and mitotic rate (p = 0.048). Survivin and XIAP expression showed significant correlation with T-stage (p = 0.014 and 0.009), p-Stage (p = 0.028 and 0.045), and mitotic rate (p = 0.023 and 0.007). XIAP expression also significantly influenced OS (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Survivin and XIAP correlated with grade of malignancy, and expression of XIAP in particular was associated with a poor prognosis. Expression of these proteins may be a useful indicator to select optimal therapeutic agents in PanNET.

Appropriate indications for laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy (LRH) has increased, but appropriate indications for LRH are unclear. This study aimed to clarify appropriate indications for LRH. METHODS: We retrospectively compared surgical outcomes between open RH (ORH) (n = 57) and LRH (n = 40) groups. To detect difficult cases of complete pure LRH, we examined patients with unplanned intraoperative hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS)/open conversion (n = 6). RESULTS: In the LRH versus ORH group, as previous hepatectomy, laparoscopic (75% vs. 12%, p < 0.001) and partial hepatectomy (Hr0) (73% vs. 37%, p = 0.002) were more frequently performed, and as RH procedure, partial hepatectomy (Hr0) (88% vs. 47%, p = 0.0002) was more frequently performed. S1 tumor cases were higher in ORH group (11% vs. 0%), but S2-6 cases were higher in LRH group (73% vs. 49%) (p = 0.02). In LRH group, compared to the pure LRH patients, HALS/open conversion patients underwent significantly more previous hepatectomy with more than lobectomy (Hr2-3) (33% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.033) and more RH procedures with segmentectomy (HrS) (33% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.03). All LRH requiring a repeat hepatic hilar approach were HALS conversions. CONCLUSION: Appropriate indications for LRH were previous hepatectomy was laparoscopic partial hepatectomy (Hr0), and RH procedure was partial hepatectomy (Hr0) for S2-6 tumor location. When RH is more than segmentectomy (HrS) requiring a repeat hepatic hilar approach, planned HALS or ORH may be a better approach than pure LRH.

Development of an artificial intelligence system for real-time intraoperative assessment of the Critical View of Safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The Critical View of Safety (CVS) was proposed in 1995 to prevent bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The achievement of CVS was evaluated subjectively. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to evaluate CVS scores in LC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AI software was developed to evaluate the achievement of CVS using an algorithm for image classification based on a deep convolutional neural network. Short clips of hepatocystic triangle dissection were converted from 72 LC videos, and 23,793 images were labeled for training data. The learning models were examined using metrics commonly used in machine learning. RESULTS: The mean values of precision, recall, F-measure, specificity, and overall accuracy for all the criteria of the best model were 0.971, 0.737, 0.832, 0.966, and 0.834, respectively. It took approximately 6 fps to obtain scores for a single image. CONCLUSIONS: Using the AI system, we successfully evaluated the achievement of the CVS criteria using still images and videos of hepatocystic triangle dissection in LC. This encourages surgeons to be aware of CVS and is expected to improve surgical safety.

Technical and oncological safety of pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer in older adults aged over 75 years versus younger adults: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

AIM: The number of surgeries for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in older adults has been rising. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and oncological safety of pancreatectomy for older adults aged ≥75 years with PDAC by retrospectively comparing their short- and long-term outcomes with those of younger adults aged <75 years. METHODS: Data were collected from 117 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC in our department. The indication for surgery regarding patient characteristics was considered according to each patient's American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale. Data of older adults (n = 32) were compared with those of younger adults (n = 85), and comprised patient background, surgical factors, postoperative course, histopathological factors and prognostic factors. Additionally, prognostic nutritional index values preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Although American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status and comorbidities were worse in older adults, there were no significant differences in surgical factors, postoperative courses and histopathological factors between the two groups. The overall complication rate tended to be higher in older adults (40.6%) than in younger adults (29.4%). There were no differences in median lengths of recurrence-free survival and overall survival (older adults vs younger adults: 12 vs 13 months, P = 0.545, and 26 vs 20 months, P = 0.535, respectively) between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in prognostic nutritional index preoperatively to 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: With careful determination of surgical indications, pancreatectomy for PDAC can be carried out with acceptable post-pancreatectomy morbidity in younger adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 531-536.

Development of a cross-artificial intelligence system for identifying intraoperative anatomical landmarks and surgical phases during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Attention to anatomical landmarks in the appropriate surgical phase is important to prevent bile duct injury (BDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Therefore, we created a cross-AI system that works with two different AI algorithms simultaneously, landmark detection and phase recognition. We assessed whether landmark detection was activated in the appropriate phase by phase recognition during LC and the potential contribution of the cross-AI system in preventing BDI through a clinical feasibility study (J-SUMMIT-C-02). METHODS: A prototype was designed to display landmarks during the preparation phase and Calot's triangle dissection. A prospective clinical feasibility study using the cross-AI system was performed in 20 LC cases. The primary endpoint of this study was the appropriateness of the detection timing of landmarks, which was assessed by an external evaluation committee (EEC). The secondary endpoint was the correctness of landmark detection and the contribution of cross-AI in preventing BDI, which were assessed based on the annotation and 4-point rubric questionnaire. RESULTS: Cross-AI-detected landmarks in 92% of the phases where the EEC considered landmarks necessary. In the questionnaire, each landmark detected by AI had high accuracy, especially the landmarks of the common bile duct and cystic duct, which were assessed at 3.78 and 3.67, respectively. In addition, the contribution to preventing BDI was relatively high at 3.65. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-AI system provided landmark detection at appropriate situations. The surgeons who previewed the model suggested that the landmark information provided by the cross-AI system may be effective in preventing BDI. Therefore, it is suggested that our system could help prevent BDI in practice. Trial registration University Hospital Medical Information Network Research Center Clinical Trial Registration System (UMIN000045731).

Glucose metabolic upregulation via phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein affects tumor progression in distal cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) remains poor; thus, the identification of new therapeutic targets is warranted. Phosphorylated S6 ribosomal protein indicates a mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity, and mTORC1 plays a central role in controlling cell growth and regulating glucose metabolism. We aimed to clarify the effect of S6 phosphorylation on tumor progression and the glucose metabolic pathway in dCCA. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with dCCA who underwent curative resection were enrolled in this study. S6 phosphorylation and the expression of GLUT1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and their relationship with clinical factors was investigated. The effect of S6 phosphorylation on glucose metabolism with PF-04691502 treatment, an inhibitor of S6 phosphorylation, was examined in cancer cell lines by Western blotting and metabolomics analysis. Cell proliferation assays were performed with PF-04691502. RESULTS: S6 phosphorylation and the expression of GLUT1 were significantly higher in patients with an advanced pathological stage. Significant correlations between GLUT1 expression, S6 phosphorylation, and SUV-max of FDG-PET were shown. In addition, cell lines with high S6 phosphorylation levels showed high GLUT1 levels, and the inhibition of S6 phosphorylation reduced the expression of GLUT1 on Western blotting. Metabolic analysis revealed that inhibition of S6 phosphorylation suppressed pathways of glycolysis and the TCA cycle in cell lines, and then, cell proliferation was effectively reduced by PF-04691502. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of glucose metabolism via phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein appeared to play a role in tumor progression in dCCA. mTORC1 may be a therapeutic target for dCCA.

Involvement of clusterin expression in the refractory response of pancreatic cancer cells to a MEK inhibitor.

Constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is essential for tumorigenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To date, however, almost all clinical trials of inhibitor targeting this pathway have failed to improve the outcome of patients with PDAC. We found that implanted MIA Paca2, a human PDAC cell line sensitive to a MAPK inhibitor, PD0325901, became refractory within a week after treatment. By comparing the expression profiles of MIA Paca2 before and after acquisition of the refractoriness to PD0325901, we identified clusterin (CLU) as a candidate gene involved. CLU was shown to be induced immediately after treatment with PD0325901 or expressed primarily in more than half of PDAC cell lines, enhancing cell viability by escaping from apoptosis. A combination of PD0325901 and CLU downregulation was found to synergistically or additively reduce the proliferation of PDAC cells. In surgically resected PDAC tissues, overexpression of CLU in cancer cells was observed immunohistochemically in approximately half of the cases studied. Collectively, our findings highlight the mechanisms responsible for the rapid refractory response to MEK inhibitor in PDAC cells, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy that could be applicable to patients with PDAC using inhibitor targeting the MAPK signaling pathway and CLU.

Comparison of infectious complications after spleen preservation versus splenectomy during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors: A multicenter, propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported contrasting results regarding the advantages of spleen preservation during laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) for preventing infectious complications. METHODS: A total of 3787 patients who underwent LDP for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic disease in 92 centers across Korea and Japan were included in this retrospective study. Postoperative infectious complications and other complications were compared between LDP with splenectomy (LDPS) and LDP with spleen preservation (LSPDP) by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. RESULTS: After PSM, the LSPDP group had a lower rate of overall infectious complications (P = .079) and a significantly lower rate of intra-abdominal abscess (P = .014) compared with the LDPS group. Within the LSPDP group, the vessel preservation subgroup had a significantly higher rate of infectious complications (P = .002) compared with the vessel resection subgroup. Low-volume centers had a higher rate of intra-abdominal abscess than high-volume centers in the LSPDP group (P = .001) and the splenic vessel preservation subgroup (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Spleen preservation in LDP for benign or borderline malignant pancreatic diseases was advantageous in lowering the risk of infectious complications, specifically intra-abdominal abscess. However, the risk of intra-abdominal abscess may differ according to the level of surgeon's experience.

An intraoperative artificial intelligence system identifying anatomical landmarks for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective clinical feasibility trial (J-SUMMIT-C-01).

BACKGROUND: We have implemented Smart Endoscopic Surgery (SES), a surgical system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect the anatomical landmarks that expert surgeons base on to perform certain surgical maneuvers. No report has verified the use of AI-based support systems for surgery in clinical practice, and no evaluation method has been established. To evaluate the detection performance of SES, we have developed and established a new evaluation method by conducting a clinical feasibility trial. METHODS: A single-center prospective clinical feasibility trial was conducted on 10 cases of LC performed at Oita University hospital. Subsequently, an external evaluation committee (EEC) evaluated the AI detection accuracy for each landmark using five-grade rubric evaluation and DICE coefficient. We defined LM-CBD as the expert surgeon's "judge" of the cystic bile duct in endoscopic images. RESULTS: The average detection accuracy on the rubric by the EEC was 4.2 ± 0.8 for the LM-CBD. The DICE coefficient between the AI detection area of the LM-CBD and the EEC members' evaluation was similar to the mean value of the DICE coefficient between the EEC members. The DICE coefficient was high score for the case that was highly evaluated by the EEC on a five-grade scale. CONCLUSION: This is the first feasible clinical trial of an AI system designed for intraoperative use and to evaluate the AI system using an EEC. In the future, this concept of evaluation for the AI system would contribute to the development of new AI navigation systems for surgery.

Proposal of nomograms to predict clinical outcomes in patients with ampulla of Vater cancer based on the Korea-Japan collaborative study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients who underwent curative resection of ampulla of Vater (AOV) cancer. This is the first study for nomograms in AOV cancer patients using retrospective data based on an international multicenter study. METHODS: A total of 2007 patients with AOV adenocarcinoma who received operative therapy between 2002 January and 2015 December in Korea and Japan were retrospectively assessed to develop a prediction model. Nomograms for 5-year OS and 3-year RFS were constructed by dividing the patients who received and who did not receive adjuvant therapy after surgery, respectively. Significant risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Performance assessment of the four prediction models was conducted by the Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves using bootstrapping. RESULTS: A total of 2007 and 1873 patients were collected for nomogram construction to predict 5-year OS and 3-year RFS. We developed four types of nomograms, including models for 5-year OS and 3-year RFS in patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant therapy, and 5-year OS and 3-year RFS in patients who received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The C-indices of these nomograms were 0.795 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.766-0.823), 0.712 (95% CI: 0.674-0.750), 0.804 (95% CI: 0.7778-0.829), and 0.703 (95% CI: 0.669-0.737), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This predictive model could help clinicians to choose optimal treatment and precisely predict prognosis in AOV cancer patients.

Use of a novel endoscopic overtube with bilateral tool channels for endoscopic resection of experimental lesions and repair of intestinal defects in the right colon: preclinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic tumor resection and intestinal defect repair are technically challenging leading to invasive surgery and colectomy performed for resection of benign polyps. In this study, we evaluated the use of an endoscopic overtube with bilateral tool channels for these procedures. METHODS: Using a fresh porcine colorectum in a 3D ex vivo model, 3 cm lesions at the posterior wall of the transverse colon were removed by two different techniques: standard endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) technique (STD, n = 12) and ESD using the overtube with an endoscopic snare and grasper through the bilateral channels (OT, n = 12). Procedure times and the number of muscular injuries were evaluated. Using the same model, 5-10 mm full-thickness perforations within a 3 cm mucosal defect at the posterior wall of the transverse colon were closed by two different techniques: standard endoscopic closure technique (STD, n = 12) and endoscopic closure using the overtube with two graspers (OT, n = 12). The outcomes measured included bursting pressure and the number of endoscopic clips used for closure. RESULTS: Endoscopic resection of lesions was performed by the OT group in a significantly shorter total procedure time (STD vs. OT = median 38.9 min vs. 17.3, p < 0.001) and with fewer muscular injuries (median 0 vs. 2, p = 0.002), compared with the STD group. After repair of intestinal defects, the OT group showed higher median bursting pressures (STD vs. OT = 11.2 mmHg vs. 57.1, p = 0.008) despite using fewer clips (median 13 vs. 10, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a novel traction technique with an endoscopic overtube using multiple instruments to remove lesions and repair intestinal defects in the colon more effectively. This endoscopic platform could provide a safe alternative to invasive surgical treatment.

Predictive factors for early recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma often experience early recurrence even after upfront R0 resection. This study aimed to define early recurrence and identify preoperative risk factors for early recurrence after upfront pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study involved 500 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head at 10 institutions between 2007 and 2016. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinicopathological results were compared between early and non-early recurrence groups. Predictors of early recurrence were determined using statistical analyses. RESULTS: Log-rank tests revealed a significant difference (P < .001) between recurrence within 3 to 6 months and 6 to 9 months. Early recurrence was subsequently defined as recurrence within 6 months. Patients were categorized into early recurrence (n = 104) and non-early recurrence groups (n = 389). The median overall survival of the early and non-early recurrence groups was 8.6 months and 42.6 months (P < .001), respectively. Preoperatively, high carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels ≥120 U/mL, retroperitoneal invasion, and diabetes mellitus were identified as independent predictive risk factors for early recurrence according to multivariate analysis. Comparing survival rates among patients with 3, 2, 1, or none of these factors, the median overall survival was 17.6 (n = 90), 21.2 (n = 184), 47 (n = 141), and 61.5 (n = 73) months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The optimal period that defines the early recurrence for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head is 6 months. Tumor size ≥20 mm, preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels ≥120 U/mL, retroperitoneal invasion of the tumor, and the presence of diabetes mellitus are independently associated with early recurrence.

Pancreas-preserving partial duodenectomy for non-ampullary duodenal neoplasms: three case reports.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple surgical procedures for resecting non-ampullary duodenal neoplasms (NADNs), and the appropriate method is selected depending on the tumor location and diagnosis. We herein report 3 cases of NADNs that were resected using pancreas-preserving partial duodenectomy (PPD). CASE REPORTS: The first patient, a 73-year-old woman with a circumferential duodenal adenoma in the supra-ampullary duodenum, underwent surgery. After laparotomy, the duodenum proximal to the tumor was confirmed using intraoperative endoscopy and dissected. The duodenum distal to the tumor was dissected under direct visualization, and the specimen was removed. The distal stump of the duodenum was closed, and duodenojejunostomy was performed as described by Billroth II. The tumor was diagnosed as an adenoma 75 mm in size. She was discharged 12 days after surgery without any complications. The second patient, a 48-year-old man, was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) with a diameter of 14 mm in the supra-ampullary duodenum. Laparoscopic PPD was performed. He was diagnosed with NEN G1 and discharged the 11th day after surgery. The third patient, a 71-year-old man with a 0-Is + IIa lesion in the horizontal duodenum, underwent surgery. After laparotomy, the horizontal duodenum and proximal jejunum were resected, and duodenojejunostomy was performed. The patient was diagnosed with stage I adenocarcinoma and discharged on the 15th day after surgery. CONCLUSION: PPD is useful for avoiding the morbidity of pancreatoduodenectomy in the management of NADNs without invasion to the ampulla of Vater or pancreas.

Changes of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Their Receptors in an Obese Rat Model After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gut microbiota have health-related effects and are associated with a wide range of disorders. However, the changes of SCFAs and their receptors after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) remain unclear. This study aimed to examine changes of SCFAs and their receptors after SG in an obese rat model. METHODS: Thirty obese Sprague-Dawley rats eating a high-energy diet for 6 weeks were divided into three groups: sham-operated (SO) control, pair-fed (PF) control, and SG group. Six weeks after the surgery, metabolic parameters, SCFA levels in the blood and stool, mRNA and protein expression of SCFA receptors in the ileum and epididymal fat, and gut microbiota were examined. RESULTS: Metabolic parameters in the SG group were significantly improved compared with the SO group. Acetic acid levels in the blood and stool were significantly higher in the SG group than the PF group. The butyric acid level in the stool was also significantly higher in the SG group than in the PF group. In the ileum and epididymal fat, mRNA and protein expression of GPR41 was significantly higher in the SG group than in the other two groups, and mRNA and protein expression of GPR43 was significantly higher in the SG group than in the PF group. Increases in the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Clostridium were observed in the stool after SG. CONCLUSIONS: SG may activate SCFA pathways through a change in gut microbiota.

An additional port in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy for surgical safety.

BACKGROUND: Tokyo Guidelines 2018, clinical practice guidelines for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis, recommend bailout procedures to prevent bile duct injury (BDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for difficult gallbladder. We first insert an additional port (AP) for difficult gallbladder that may require bailout procedures. Because the usefulness of an AP during LC is unclear, we therefore examined the efficacy of the AP during LC in this study. METHODS: Data were collected from 115 patients who underwent LC for acute cholecystitis in our department. The indications for AP were excessive bleeding, scarring, and poor visual field around Calot's triangle. AP was inserted into the right middle abdomen so as not to interfere with other trocars and was used by the assistant. Surgical outcomes were evaluated based on AP use during LC. RESULTS: AP was inserted in 19 patients during LC (AP group). The indications for AP were excessive bleeding in nine patients, scarring around Calot's triangle in seven patients, and poor visual field around Calot's triangle in three patients. Open conversion was performed in two patients in the non-AP group. BDI occurred in one patient in the non-AP group. In patients with Difficulty Score 3, operation time was significantly shorter (P = .038) and Critical View of Safety (CVS) score was significantly higher in the AP group (P = .046). CONCLUSION: AP is useful in patients with excessive bleeding to shorten operation time and increase the CVS score. AP may be one useful option for difficult gallbladder.

JPN clinical practice guidelines 2021 with easy-to-understand explanations for the management of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: In preparing the Japanese (JPN) guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis 2021, the committee focused the issues raised by the results of nationwide epidemiological survey in 2016 in Japan. METHOD: In addition to a systematic search using the previous JPN guidelines, papers published from January 2014 to September 2019 were searched for the contents to be covered by the guidelines based on the concept of GRADE system. RESULTS: Thirty-six clinical questions (CQ) were prepared in 15 subject areas. Based on the facts that patients diagnosed with severe disease by both Japanese prognostic factor score and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) grade had a high fatality rate and that little prognosis improvement after 2 weeks of disease onset was not obtained, we emphasized the importance of Pancreatitis Bundles, which were shown to be effective in improving prognosis, and the CQ sections for local pancreatic complications had been expanded to ensure adoption of a step-up approach. Furthermore, on the facts that enteral nutrition for severe acute pancreatitis was not started early within 48 h of admission and that unnecessary prophylactic antibiotics was used in almost all cases, we emphasized early enteral nutrition in small amounts even if gastric feeding is used and no prophylactic antibiotics are administered in mild pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: All the members of the committee have put a lot of effort into preparing the extensively revised guidelines in the hope that more people will have a common understanding and that better medical care will be spread.

Risk factors of unplanned intraoperative conversion to hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery or open surgery in laparoscopic liver resection.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is possible in many patients, but pure LLR is sometimes difficult to complete, and unplanned intraoperative hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) or open conversion is sometimes necessary. However, appropriate indications and timing for conversion are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the indications for HALS and open conversion from pure LLR. METHODS: We collected data from 208 patients who underwent LLR from January 2010 to February 2021 in our department. We retrospectively examined these data between cases of unplanned intraoperative HALS conversion, open conversion, and pure LLR, and clarified risk factors and indications for HALS or open conversion. RESULTS: There were 191 pure LLRs, nine HALS conversions, and eight open conversions. In the HALS conversion group versus pure LLR group, body mass index (BMI) (27.0 vs. 23.7 kg/m2, p = 0.047), proportions of patients with history of upper abdominal surgery (78% vs. 33%; p = 0.006), repeat hepatectomy (56% vs. 15%; p = 0.002), S7 or S8 tumor location (67% vs. 35%; p = 0.049), and difficulty score (DS) ≥ 7 (56% vs. 19%; p = 0.008) were significantly higher, and surgical time (339 vs. 239 min; p = 0.031) was significantly longer. However, postoperative states were not significantly different between the two groups. The BMI cutoff value for risk of unplanned intraoperative conversion determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 25 kg/m2, and the proportion of patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (89% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the HALS conversion versus pure LLR group. In the open conversion group, although there were no significant differences compared to the HALS group in clinicopathological factors except for sex, blood loss was greater (1425 vs. 367 mL; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Risk factors for considering HALS during LLR were patients with a history of upper abdominal surgery including repeat hepatectomy, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, S7 or S8 tumor location, DS ≥ 7, and prolonged surgical time. Furthermore, uncontrollable intraoperative bleeding was an indication for open conversion.

Gastric Wall Thickness and Linear Staple Height in Sleeve Gastrectomy in Japanese Patients with Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a standard procedure due to its low complication rates and favorable outcomes. However, limited data are available regarding the optimal size of linear staplers in relation to gastric wall thickness (GWT). METHODS: Between August 2016 and December 2020, we performed LSG in 70 patients with an average age, body weight, and body mass index of 42 years, 107 kg, and 40 kg/m2, respectively. We measured the GWT at the antrum, body, and fundus using resected specimens. We used an endo-linear stapler, and the closed staple height (CSH) was 1.75 mm. RESULTS: We found that the average GWT at the antrum was significantly thicker than the GWT at the body and fundus. There was a statistically significant relationship between body weight and the GWT at the antrum and body and obstructive sleep apnea and the GWT at the body. The average CSH/GWT ratios were 0.55, 0.62, and 0.90 at the antrum, body, and fundus, respectively. However, in 20 patients (29%), the CSH/GWT ratio at the fundus area was ≥ 1.0, and only preoperative body weight was a significant predictor for a CSH/GWT ratio of ≥ 1.0. CONCLUSION: A light body weight may be related to a CSH/GWT ratio of ≥ 1.0 at the fundus.

Application of a novel surgical difficulty grading system during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of bile duct injury and vasculo-biliary injury while performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is an unsolved problem. Clarifying the surgical difficulty using intraoperative findings can greatly contribute to the pursuit of best practices for acute cholecystitis. In this study, multiple evaluators assessed surgical difficulty items in unedited videos and then constructed a proposed surgical difficulty grading. METHODS: We previously assembled a library of typical video clips of the intraoperative findings for all LC surgical difficulty items in acute cholecystitis. Fifty-one experts on LC assessed unedited surgical videos. Inter-rater agreement was assessed by Fleiss's κ and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC). RESULTS: Except for one item ("edematous change"), κ or AC exceeded 0.5, so the typical videos were judged to be applicable. The conceivable surgical difficulty gradings were analyzed. According to the assessment of difficulty factors, we created a surgical difficulty grading system (agreement probability = 0.923, κ = 0.712, 90% CI: 0.587-0.837; AC2  = 0.870, 90% CI: 0.768-0.972). CONCLUSION: The previously published video clip library and our novel surgical difficulty grading system should serve as a universal objective tool to assess surgical difficulty in LC.