Comparison of perioperative and oncological outcome of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in left decubitus position and in prone position for esophageal cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clarify the differences between thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left decubitus position (LP) and in the prone position (PP) in terms of short-term perioperative outcomes and long-term oncological outcomes after more than 5 years of follow-up. METHODS: Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and were followed up for more than 5 years were analyzed retrospectively. Of 142 patients, 72 underwent LP esophagectomy and 70 underwent PP esophagectomy. Operation time, blood loss, operative morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and the number of dissected lymph nodes were compared to evaluate short-term outcomes. Cancer recurrence and overall survival were compared to examine long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Patient and tumor characteristics were not different between the LP and PP groups except for the rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Blood loss was significantly lower in the PP group than in the LP group. Incidence of Clavien-Dindo (C.D.) grade ≥ III complications was significantly lower in the PP group than in the LP group. Pulmonary complications were also significantly lower in the PP group than in the LP group. Operation type (LP versus PP) was identified as an independent risk factor for pulmonary complications (odds ratio 0.27, p = 0.03) by multivariate analysis. Cancer recurrence rate, initial recurrence site, and overall survival rate were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: PP is regarded as a less invasive procedure than LP with the same oncological effect.

Safety and efficacy of a novel continuous incision technique for laparoscopic transcystic choledocholithotomy.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel continuous incision technique for the cystic duct and the bile duct over the orifice for laparoscopic transcystic choledocholithotomy (LTCL). METHODS: LTCL was attempted in 103 consecutive patients from January 1998 to March 2015 and was successful in 96 patients. The cystic duct confluence was made by cutting upward from the orifice in 19 patients. The cystic duct was incised downward beyond the orifice to the bile duct in the other 77 patients. Both of these procedures involved LTCL. RESULTS: LTCL was successful in 96 patients. It failed in seven patients because of large bile duct stones (BDS), left lateral entry of the cystic duct, or the cystic duct's small diameter. The success rates of LTCL were 98% (47/48), 96% (42/44), and 64% (7/11) for patients with BDS <10 mm, 10-20 mm, and ≥20 mm, respectively. The success rate for removing BDS <20 mm was significantly higher than the removal rate for BDS ≥20 mm (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the incidences of complications associated with BDS ≥10 mm and with BDS <10 mm (P = 0.49). In those who underwent successful LTCL, complications occurred in 3 of 23 patients with failed preoperative duodenoscopic sphincterotomy and in 9 of the other 73 patients; the incidence of complications did not significantly differ between these groups (P = 0.93). CONCLUSION: LTCL is safe and feasible for exploration of the bile duct and removal of BDS <20 mm.

[Outcomes of cetuximab combination chemotherapy in clinical practice for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer].

We aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of cetuximab combination chemotherapy as a standard treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in our hospital using actual clinical data. This study included 14, 9, and 4 patients who received third-line, second-line, and first-line treatment, respectively. The overall response rate(RR), progression-free survival( PFS), and overall survival(OS)were calculated according to treatment line and were compared with the results of largescale clinical studies. In patients undergoing third-line treatment, the RR was 14.3%, while the median PFS and OS were 2.9 and 9.6 months, respectively. These results were almost identical to those of the NCIC CTG CO. 17 study. In patients undergoing second-line treatment, the RR was 22.2% and the median PFS and OS were 5.8 and 7.1 months, respectively. These results were not inferior to those of the BOND study. In patients undergoing first-line treatment, partial response was observed in 75% of patients and stable disease was observed in 25% of patients. One patient subsequently underwent surgery. The RR(75%)was equal to that observed in the CRYSTAL study and the OPUS study. Standard treatment using cetuximab combination chemotherapy was found to be reproducible as third-line and second-line treatments in our clinical practice. Few patients received first-line treatment; hence, a larger number of patients will have to be evaluated in the future. Nevertheless, the administration of cetuximab combination chemotherapy may be appropriate as a medical treatment strategy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Bile duct stone formation around a nylon suture after gastrectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Many cases of choledocholiths formed around sutures and clips used during cholecystectomy have been reported. We describe a case of gallstone formation around a nylon suture after non-biliary surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a case. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old Japanese man, who had undergone distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and reconstruction with the Billroth II method 8 years earlier, presented with gastric discomfort. Abdominal ultrasonography was conducted and we diagnosed cholecysto-choledocholithiasis with dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. He underwent cholecystectomy and cholangioduodenostomy for choledocholith removal. Gallstones, which had formed around a nylon suture used during the previous gastrectomy, were found in the bile duct. Sutures of the same material had also been placed on the duodenum. Chemical analysis revealed that the stones were composed of calcium bilirubinate. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 19, and choledocholithiasis has not recurred thus far. CONCLUSION: The findings from this case suggest that standard, non-resorbable sutures used in gastrectomy may be associated with the formation of bile duct stones; therefore, absorbable suture material may be required to avert gallstone formation even in the case of gastrectomy.

Real-time detection of hepatic micrometastases from pancreatic cancer by intraoperative fluorescence imaging: preliminary results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a highly sensitive fluorescent imaging technique was developed for the real-time identification of hepatic tumors. The authors applied this procedure for the intraoperative detection of radiographically occult hepatic micrometastases from pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent surgical intervention were examined. Preoperative clinical images had not revealed any hepatic metastases. On the day before surgery, indocyanine green was injected intravenously. During the operation, the liver was observed with a near-infrared camera system, and abnormal fluorescent foci were examined by frozen-section histology. The patients with hepatic micrometastases were judged to have unresectable disease and underwent only palliative surgery followed by systemic chemotherapy using gemcitabine. RESULTS: Abnormal hepatic fluorescence at least 1.5 mm in greatest dimension without any apparent tumor was observed in 13 patients. Among them, histologic examination confirmed micrometastases in 8 of 49 patients (16%). All patients with hepatic micrometastases had clinical T3 or T4 disease and high serum CA19-9 levels (P = .042). On follow-up computed tomography images that were obtained within 6 months after surgery, the patients with hepatic micrometastases manifested hepatic overt metastases (7 of 8 patients; 88%) more frequently than the patients without hepatic micrometastases (4 of 41 patients; 10%; P < .001). Regardless of histologic confirmation, the positive predictive value of abnormal fluorescence for the manifestation of hepatic relapse within 6 months was 77% (10 of 13 patients), and the negative predictive value was 97% (35 of 36 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Indocyanine green-fluorescent imaging can detect hepatic micrometastases of pancreatic cancer during surgery. The hepatic micrometastases seem to have an adverse clinical impact identical to that of evident distant metastases.

[Central venous access port devices (CVAPD) - related complications in colorectal cancer patients].

OBJECTIVES: Frequency of CVAPD-related complications in colorectal cancer patients is investigated to clarify the relationship to the clinical factors. METHODS: The subjects were 57 patients with unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer who received interposition operation of CVAPD during the period from February 2006 to April 2009. The clinical factors including the insertion sites, the indwelling period of time, surgical operators, and the types of CVAPD products were analyzed in relation to the complications. RESULTS: The patients were 42 males and 15 females in the median age of 67 (28-82) years at insertion of CVAPD. The reasons for the introduction of CVAPD were liver metastasis in 25 patients, peritoneal metastasis in 12 patients, recurrent lymph node metastasis in 7 patients, lung metastasis in 18 patients, local factors in 8 patients, and other in 4 patients (multiple response). For CVAPD-related troubles, a total of 10 patients (17.5%) postponed the therapeutical treatment; for occurrence of infection in 4 patients (7.0%), thrombosis in 5 (8.8%), and fracture of a catheter in 1 (1.8%). The CV port device was removed in 9 patients. Analytical results showed that the frequency of CV port device-related complications was not affected by the puncture sites, surgical operators, indwelling period of time, and types of CVAPD products. CONCLUSION: Some troubles are often observed which require CVAPD removal, regardless of surgical operators and indwelling period of time, though the frequency of CVAPD-related complications is relatively lower. Review of the operational procedures of the CVAPD insertion and the types of the product to be used, early detection of the complications, and also understanding of the potential risks by the medical staff and patient are important for management of such clinical troubles related to CVAPD.

Jejunal loop obstruction by a gallstone from hepaticojejunostomy-induced acute cholangitis: report of a case.

We report a case of jejunal loop obstruction by a large gallstone caused by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy-induced acute cholangitis. The patient was admitted with sepsis as well as abdominal and back pain. Abdominal computed tomography showed a dilated jejunal loop and an obstructing large mass. After his clinical condition and laboratory values improved, we performed laparotomy, which revealed a dilated jejunal loop with a palpable mass, and a gallstone was removed via enterotomy. After the disimpaction of the stone and control of the infection, his clinical condition and laboratory values continued to improve. Gallstone formation is rare after hepaticojejunostomy and to our knowledge, no other cases of acute cholangitis caused by a stone obstructing the jejunal loop have ever been reported. As with other major complications, early diagnosis and prompt initiation of surgical treatment are important to prevent any deterioration in the patient's general condition.

Diagnostic peritoneal lavage for diagnosing blunt hollow visceral injury: the accuracy of two different criteria and their combination.

PURPOSE: To test the usefulness of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) for identifying blunt hollow visceral injury with two different sets of criteria or a combination of the two. METHODS: Fifty victims with physical examinations and/or computed tomography findings equivocal for blunt hollow visceral injury underwent DPL. Whether or not to perform surgery was determined based on Otomo's DPL criteria [lavage white blood cell counts (L-WBC) over lavage red blood cell counts (L-RBC) divided by 150 (L-WBC > or = L-RBC/150) in the presence of hemoperitoneum, or L-WBC over 500/mm(3) (L-WBC > or = 500) in the absence of hemoperitoneum]. The cell count ratio, a comparison of L-WBC, L-RBC, peripheral WBC (P-WBC), and peripheral RBC (P-RBC) [(L-WBC/L-RBC)/(P-WBC/P-RBC) > or = 1] were all calculated retrospectively. RESULTS: There were one and two false-positive cases based on Otomo's criteria and the cell count ratio, respectively, with corresponding accuracies of 97.8% and 95.7%, respectively. There were no false-positive or -negative cases according to the combined use of Otomo's criteria and cell count ratio, yielding an accuracy of 100%. CONCLUSION: Although each criterion alone is very accurate in predicting the presence of blunt hollow visceral injury, the combined use of the two would further improve the accuracy of the diagnosis and thereby reduce the number of unnecessary celiotomies.