Serum carnitine as a biomarker of sarcopenia and nutritional status in preoperative gastrointestinal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an important factor in the postoperative outcome of gastrointestinal cancer patients. However, little research has been carried out on potential biomarkers of sarcopenia. Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that is stored in skeletal muscle and is essential for muscle energy metabolism. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether serum carnitine level is a biomarker of sarcopenia in preoperative patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The secondary purposes were (i) to examine the associations between carnitine, nutritional status, and albumin level, and (ii) to determine whether carnitine is a prognostic factor for postoperative complications. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients scheduled to undergo gastroenterological surgery between August 2016 and January 2017 were enrolled. Their mean age was 68.4 ± 10.5, and 64.9% were male. Serum carnitine fractions [total carnitine (TC), free l-carnitine (FC), and acylcarnitine (AC)] were measured prior to surgery. The correlation between carnitine level and a variety of clinical features was analysed, including skeletal muscle index (SMI), sarcopenia, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Tumour locations included the oesophagus (n = 17), stomach (n = 16), pancreas (n = 20), bile duct (n = 9), liver [n = 33; primary liver cancer (n = 18), liver metastasis (n = 15)], and colorectal region (n = 19). TC and FC levels varied significantly by tumour location. TC and FC showed significant positive correlations with SMI [TC (r = 0.295, P = 0.0014), FC (r = 0.286, P = 0.0020)] and PNI [TC (P = 0.0178, r = 0.222), FC (P = 0.0067, r = 0.2526)]. These levels were significantly lower in the sarcopenia group (TC, P = 0.0124; FC, P = 0.0243). In addition, TC and FC showed significant positive correlations with ALB level [TC (P = 0.038 r = 0.19), FC (P = 0.016 r = 0.23)]. When patients were divided into high ALB (≥3.5 g/dL, 96 patients) and low ALB (<3.5 g/dL, 18 patients) groups, these correlations were no longer significant, but in the low ALB group there was a tendency towards a negative relationship between ALB level and both TC and FC. No significant relationship was found between postoperative complications and carnitine level. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that carnitine level is a biomarker of sarcopenia and nutritional status. However, it did not find an association between carnitine level and postoperative complications.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy preserving aberrant gastroduodenal artery utilized in a previous coronary artery bypass grafting: A case report and review of literature.

RATIONALE: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a technically demanding procedure with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, preoperative evaluation of anatomy is indispensable. Multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) enables us to precisely understand arterial anatomy. It is a well-known fact that anatomical variants are often present in the hepatic artery (HA) but rarely in the gastroduodenal artery (GDA). We present the case of a patient with ampullary cancer with a rare anatomical anomaly, "replaced GDA (rGDA) " arising from the superior mesenteric artery, along with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). PATIENT CONCERNS: A 69-year-old male patient was referred to our department for further investigation of elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. He presented with no symptoms besides intermittent fever of 38°C. He had an operative history of CABG using the RGEA. DIAGNOSIS: Abdominal CT and esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an ampullary tumor and biopsy specimen from the lesion revealed adenocarcinoma. CT angiography revealed the rGDA instead of a normal common HA. INTERVENTION: We performed a safe PD, preserving the rGDA and the RGEA to maintain hepatic and cardiac perfusion. OUTCOMES: Owing to the presence of a refractory pancreatic fistula, the length-of-hospital stay was extended, and he was discharged on postoperative day 72 without vascular complications. At present, the patient is in good physical condition and does not present with cardiovascular complications as well as tumor recurrence at 6 months after surgery. LESSONS: This is possibly the first case of a patient who underwent PD and has a proper HA following a GDA arising from a superior mesenteric artery (rGDA) and has a previous operative history of CABG using the gastroepiploic artery. The coexistence of the history of cardiovascular surgery made PD for this patient considerably more challenging.In the case of a rare anatomical anomaly, a coronary artery bypass via the RGEA should not be considered as an obstacle when R0 resection is achievable.

Emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for intraabdominal hemorrhage in a patient with a left ventricular assist device: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), called "second generation LVADs," have significantly improved the survival and quality of life outcomes. Accordingly, non-cardiac surgery in a patient with LVADs has required for conditions not directly related to their LVADs. And the management of bleeding in non-cardiac site remains one of long-term critical topics. Laparoscopic approach is useful in a patient with LVADs; however, there have been only few clinical reports. This report describes the first case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for intraabdominal hemorrhage from the gallbladder serosa in a patient with LVADs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old man with an LVAD had undergone LVAD (Jarvik 2000™; Jarvik Heart, Inc., New York, NY, USA) implantation at 53 years of age. He was in shock, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed abdominal hemorrhage from the gallbladder serosa. Emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. We could avoid injury of the LVADs driveline, which was located across the upper abdominal midline, near the right hypochondriac region, by laparoscopic approach. LVADs (Jarvik 2000) did not disturb the operating field because of its smaller size. There were no intra- and postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic approach is useful and safe in a patient with LVADs for abdominal surgery. We could perform LC for intraabdominal hemorrhage from gallbladder serosa safety.

The Prevention of Hepatectomy-Induced Adhesions by Bilayer Sponge Composed of Ultrapure Alginate.

BACKGROUND: Adhesion formation is a critical issue in surgery, particularly in hepatectomy. The present study aimed to develop a bilayer adhesion barrier comprising alginate (Alg) of different molecular weight (Mw). It was expected that a slowly dissolving layer remains on the cut surface, functioning as a physical barrier, whereas a rapidly dissolving layer widely distributes in the peritoneal cavity to prevent de novo adhesions. METHODS: Bilayer Alg sponges were fabricated using low Mw Alg for the upper layer and high Mw Alg for the bottom layer. The dissolution behavior of each layer was evaluated in vitro in peritoneum-like environments. We constructed a Pean crush hepatectomy-induced adhesion model in rats. The effects of the bilayer sponge on cut surface and de novo adhesions were separately evaluated in terms of their extent and grade. RESULTS: The Alg sponge layer with low Mw dissolved faster than that with high Mw in vitro. One week after the hepatectomy, although no significant decrease in adhesion extent on the cut surface was observed in rats that received Seprafilm and Interceed, treatment with Alg bilayer sponge significantly decreased the adhesion extent to 38% of that without treatment. Moreover, a significant decrease in de novo adhesion extent was observed in the Alg bilayer sponge compared with the Interceed group. CONCLUSIONS: The Alg bilayer sponge was effective for preventing both cut surface and de novo adhesions in the rat Pean crush hepatectomy model. The simple yet functional design of the Alg bilayer sponge can facilitate its use in future clinical practice.

Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma with Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome Diagnosed via Splenic Bleeding.

An 85-year-old woman underwent emergent splenectomy due to left abdominal pain and active bleeding in a massively enlarged spleen. The histological diagnosis was splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). A prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was noted, and additional tests led to the diagnosis of type 2A-like acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS). An APTT cross mixing test ruled out the presence of inhibitors. She received eight courses of rituximab monotherapy. The coagulation data showed no improvement, possibly because the lymphoma showed a poor response to the treatment. AVWS rarely causes bleeding in solid organs. This is the first case of SMZL with AVWS diagnosed via splenic bleeding.