Comparison of dragging ablation and point-by-point ablation with a laser balloon on linear lesion formation.

INTRODUCTION: Lesion size and continuity in dragging laser balloon (LB) ablation, which may enable fast and durable pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation, are unknown. We evaluated the differences in size and continuity of linear lesions formed by dragging ablation and conventional point-by-point ablation using an LB in vitro model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chicken muscles were cauterized using the first-generation LB in dragging and point-by-point fashion. Dragging ablation was manually performed with different dragging speeds (0.5-2°/s) using an overlap ratio of the beginning and last site during one application at 12 W/20 s and 8.5 W/30 s. Point-by-point ablation was performed with 25% and 50% overlap ratios at six energy settings (5.5 W/30 s to 12 W/20 s). Lesion depth, width, and continuity were compared. Lesion continuity was assessed by the surface and deep visible gap degree categorized from 1 (perfect) to 3 (poor). Twenty lesions were evaluated for each ablation protocol. Lesion depth and width in dragging ablation at high power (12 W) were comparable with most measurements in point-by-point ablation. Lesion depth and width were smaller at faster-dragging speed and lower power (8.5 W) in dragging ablation. The surface visible gap degree was better in dragging ablation at all dragging speeds than a 25% overlapped point-by-point ablation (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Dragging LB ablation at high power provides deep and continuous linear lesion formation comparable with that of point-by-point LB ablation. However, lesion depth and width depending on the dragging speed and power.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer Recurrence with Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastases That Was Successfully Treated with Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy].

A laparoscopy-assisted right hemicolectomy and D3 lymph node dissection were performed to treat a 60-year-old woman with ascending colon cancer. Microscopically, the resected specimen was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma(tub1>tub2, pSS, pN1, M0). Adjuvant chemotherapy using UFT/UZEL was administered for 6 months. Enlarged para-aortic lymph nodes were identified by follow-up CT 2 years post operation, and a para-aortic lymph node dissection was performed. Microscopic examination revealed that the #216 b1 int lymph node contained poorly differentiated metastatic adenocarcinoma. After 36 courses of FOLFOX as adjuvant chemotherapy, the chemotherapy was discontinued because of an adverse event. She has remained well without recurrence for 5 years after the second surgery. There have been reports of survival improvements by surgical resections in patients with solitary para-aorta lymph node metastases of colorectal cancer. These observations suggest that the surgical therapy may have contributed to the improved prognosis in the present case.

[Lung metastasectomy for postoperative colorectal cancer in patients with a history of hepatic metastasis].

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the validity of pulmonary metastasectomy for postoperative colorectal cancer with hepatic metastasis and to investigate the role of clinicopathological factors as predictors of outcome. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer with (group PH, n=27) or without (group P, n=46) a history of hepatic metastasis were included in the study. Clinicopathological variables, including sex, age, site, serum carcinoembryonic antigen level of the primary tumor, disease-free interval, prior hepatic resection, timing of pulmonary metastases, preoperative chemotherapy, type of pulmonary resection, and number, size, and location of pulmonary metastases were retrospectively collected and investigated for prognostic significance. RESULTS: The 5-year survivals were 59.5% (PH) and 70.0% (P) with no significant difference. Among all investigated prognostic variables, sex (female vs male) and the number of pulmonary metastases( 1 vs >1) were the most important factors affecting outcome after colorectal resection and pulmonary resection. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection is not contraindicated in clinical practice. The presence of female gender and a single pulmonary metastasis were favorable predictors of survival after complete pulmonary resection for metastatic colorectal cancer.

[A case of Barrett's esophageal carcinoma treated with combined therapy].

During a routine health examination, a 50-year-old man was found to have an elevated lesion at the esophagogastric junction. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was diagnosed from the biopsy findings. Computed tomography showed metastases in the mediastinal, intra-abdominal, and paraaortic lymph nodes. The clinical stage diagnosis was cT2, cN4, cM0, cStage IVa. Combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, CDDP, and 5-FU (DCF) was started initially. After 2 courses of DCF, the primary lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes had decreased in size, but the intra-abdominal lymph node had grown. A curative operation with paraaortic lymph node dissection was considered possible; thus, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of the esophagus with 3-field lymph node dissection was performed. The final findings revealed Barrett's esophageal carcinoma, EG, 0-III,23×18 mm, mod-por, CT-pT1b (sm3) pN4, sM0, fStage IV. Histologically, the mediastinal lymph node metastases disappeared with chemotherapy, but no reduction was observed in the abdominal lymph nodes. After surgery, 2 courses of combination adjuvant chemotherapy with CDDP and 5-FU were administered along with 50 Gy of radiotherapy. Subsequently, the treatment was changed to tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium alone on an outpatient basis. The patient remains recurrence free 22 months postsurgery.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ampulla of vater with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma components.

A 73-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of general fatigue and jaundice. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass lesion at the ampulla of Vater with dilatation of the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography revealed dilatation of the bile duct and a negative filling defect due to the tumor. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. The specimen included an ulcerated firm tumor of the papilla Vater. The surface of the ampulla consisted of well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma, whereas the deep layer, such as submucosal or muscular layer, contained large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma component was positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and CD56. The patient died from multiple liver and bone metastases 13 months after surgery. This is a very rare case of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma accompanied by adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma components.

Beneficial effects of protein-bound polysaccharide K plus tegafur/uracil in patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer: analysis of immunological parameters.

Protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) increased the 5-year disease-free survival rate and reduced the risk of recurrence in a randomised, controlled study for stage II and III colorectal cancer. In order to elucidate the disease-free survival benefits with PSK and what immunological markers could indicate a PSK responder, serial changes in immunological parameters were monitored in the study. PSK decreased the mean serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) level, and increased the mean population of natural killer (NK) cells compared with the controls. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate for patients with serum IAP values or=8% at 3 months after surgery, PSK conferred a significantly better (p=0.038) 5-year disease-free survival (86.7%; 95% CI: 74.5-98.8%) compared to the control group (60.0%; 95% CI: 29.6-90.4%). In the proportional hazards model, the presence of regional metastases (relative risk, 3.595; 95% CI: 1.518 to 8.518; p=0.004) and omission of PSK treatment (relative risk, 3.099; 95% CI: 1.202 to 7.990; p=0.019) were significant indicators of recurrence. PSK acts as an immunomodulatory activity and biochemical modulator in stage II or III colorectal cancer. Pre-operative serum IAP values or=8% at 3 months after surgery are possible PSK response predictors.

Factors affecting the prognosis of anatomical liver resection for liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver resection has improved the survival of colorectal cancer patients with metastases. However, there are groups at high risk of recurrence after liver resection. This report reviews our results using anatomical liver resection and analyzes the prognostic factors. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed 78 patients who underwent anatomical liver resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer between June 1988 and March 2002. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had synchronous metastases, and 49 had metachronous. The 5-year overall survival rate was 43%. Patients with more than three metastatic tumors had a significantly poorer 5-year recurrence-free survival rate. There was no statistical difference in the 5-year overall survival rate between patients with metachronous metastases (41%) and those with synchronous (44%) metastases. The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly poorer for patients with an interval of 1 year or less between colorectal and liver resections than for patients with a longer interval. Recurrence after liver resection occurred in 38 patients (49%). The recurrences occurred in the lung in 18 patients, in remnant liver in 15 patients, in lymph nodes in 7 patients, and in other organs in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that anatomical liver resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer improves survival. Liver metastases that occur within 1 year of colorectal resection may need an interval of observation before liver resection.

Transvaginal Hybrid NOTES Procedure for Treatment of Gallstone Ileus.

Gallstone ileus is a rare mechanical bowel obstruction, and previously reported cases have been treated laparoscopically with good results. Although transvaginal hybrid NOTES without a minilaparotomy has been reported to decrease the incidence of surgical wound complications, to our knowledge, this procedure has not been used previously to treat gallstone ileus. We present a case of a 63-year-old woman who underwent transvaginal hybrid NOTES procedure for treatment of gallstone ileus. This case was admitted to our hospital following acute-onset abdominal pain and vomiting. We diagnosed gallstone ileus with cholecystoduodenal fistula by computed tomography and performed totally laparoscopic surgery using only three 5 mm abdominal ports with transvaginal specimen extraction and enterectomy. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and fistula repair were performed 8 months after the initial surgery. The patient experienced additional pain relief and good cosmetic outcomes. In conclusion, using transvaginal hybrid NOTES may become a future option to minimize the invasiveness of other laparoscopic procedures.

A case of splenic metastasis of ovarian cancer treated with complete laparoscopic splenectomy and transvaginal specimen extraction.

A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed with right inguinal lymph node and splenic metastasis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. We performed right inguinal lymph node dissection and total laparoscopic splenectomy in the supine position followed by transvaginal specimen extraction (TVSE). First, using three ports, we extracted the right inguinal lymph node. We repaired the posterior wall of the inguinal canal using a mesh plug. We added two ports and displaced the spleen from the retroperitoneum and lifted it using a snake retractor, disconnecting the hilum using an automatic suturing device. Next, the posterior wall of the vagina was intraperitoneally incised. And an Alexis® laparoscopic system was inserted into the vagina. The cap maintained aeroperitoneum, a collection bag was inserted in the abdominal cavity via the vagina, and the spleen was collected. When the spleen was removed from the body, partial fragmentation of the organ was required in the bag. Organ fragmentation was performed only within the bag, and we made sure not to tear the bag. The vaginal wound was laparoscopically sutured. The patient had no operative complications and was able to actively ambulate at the first day after surgery due to a slight postoperative pain. Total laparoscopic splenectomy with TVSE in the supine position may be a safe and feasible method for selected female patients. This technique enables minimally invasive surgery for female patients with splenic disease.

Liver metastasis of rectal cancer with intraluminal growth in the extrahepatic bile duct.

Metastatic liver tumors are considered to have a tendency for expansive growth and rarely invade the bile duct. We recently encountered a resected case of liver metastasis from rectal cancer with intraluminal growth in the extrahepatic bile duct with a successful left trisegmentectomy of the liver. A 54-year-old woman underwent a posterior total pelvic exenteration for advanced rectal cancer. Ultrasonography and computed tomography four months after the first operation demonstrated a solitary occupied lesion in the liver with dilation of the left hepatic duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography disclosed a filling defect in the intra- to extrahepatic bile duct. Liver metastasis from rectal cancer with intraluminal growth in the bile duct was suspected despite a consideration of primary bile duct cancer. A left trisegmentectomy of the liver and resection of the extrahepatic bile duct with a right hepatojejunostomy were performed. The tumor had invaded the intrahepatic bile duct and had developed intraluminally in the extrahepatic bile duct. Tumor thrombi were microscopically found in the bile duct of the left caudal lobe. Liver metastasis arising from colorectal cancer with intraluminal growth in the bile duct is rare, however we encountered such a case with a successful resection involving a left trisegmentectomy of the liver.

Intraoperative massive pulmonary tumor embolism from clear cell sarcoma in the retroperitoneum: successful treatment using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Malignant neoplasms rarely extend into the inferior vena cava and up to the right side of the heart. Although massive pulmonary tumor embolism occurs relatively rarely, it can be a catastrophic problem. Intraoperative pulmonary tumor embolism and cardiac arrest occurred in a 68-year-old woman while dissecting the inferior vena cava to resect a pararenal tumor extending into the retrohepatic inferior vena cava. Abrupt arterial hypotension, tachycardia, and increased central venous pressure lead to the diagnosis of massive pulmonary tumor embolism. Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass was commenced under profound hypothermia and cardiac arrest. The tumors in the main pulmonary artery were extracted, and fragments of remnant tumor were retrieved by a vascular endoscope, a Fogarty catheter, and milking of the lung. Following embolectomy, the tumor in the retrohepatic to infrarenal inferior vena cava was removed and the primary tumor together with the infrarenal inferior vena cava was resected under hepatic vascular exclusion and partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The inferior vena cava below the renal veins was not reconstructed. The patient recovered with slight retrograde amnesia. A postoperative pulmonary perfusion scintigram showed no defect in the pulmonary circulation. She is well now 8 months after surgery. Safe prevention measures should be accomplished as a part of the perioperative management of patients with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus that may be fragile, and cardiopulmonary bypass should always be stand-by on surgery.

Omentoplasty versus no omentoplasty for cervical esophagogastrostomy following radical esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Omentoplasty--wrapping the omentum around the alimentary tract anastomosis is thought to lower the rate of anastomotic leakage. We evaluated the role of omentoplasty to reinforce cervical esophagogastrostomy after radical esophagectomy. METHODOLOGY: We compared anastomotic leakage, stricture formation, and related deaths in 63 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy, with (n = 48) or without (n = 15) omentoplasty, between 1995 and 1999. RESULTS: An esophageal anastomotic leakage was diagnosed in 1 of the 48 patients (2.1%) with omentoplasty versus 3 of the 15 patients (20.0%) without omentoplasty (P < 0.01). Anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 (4.2%) of the omentoplasty group and 1 (6.7%) of the no omentoplasty group (P < 0.01). Death within 1 month was zero in the omentoplasty group and one (6.7%) in the no-omentoplasty group, despite no differences in lethal anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Omentoplasty of cervical esophagogastrostomy reduced anastomotic leakage. Although promising, these observations require confirmation with a randomized prospective study.

Lung metastasectomy for postoperative colorectal cancer in patients with a history of hepatic metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of pulmonary metastasectomy for postoperative colorectal cancer with hepatic metastasis, and to investigate the role of clinicopathological factors as predictors of outcome. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer with (group PH, n = 27) or without (group P, n = 46) a history of hepatic metastasis were included in the study. Clinicopathological variables, including sex, age, site, carcinoembryonic antigen in the primary tumor, disease-free interval, prior hepatic resection, timing of pulmonary metastases, preoperative chemotherapy, type of pulmonary resection, and number, size, and location of pulmonary metastases were retrospectively collected and investigated for prognostic significance. RESULTS: Five-year survival rates were 59.5 and 70.0 % for patients with and without a history of hepatic metastasis, respectively; these values did not differ significantly. Among all investigated prognostic variables, sex and number of pulmonary metastases (1 vs. >1) were the most important factors affecting the outcome after colorectal and pulmonary resection. There was no significant difference in overall survival whether it was calculated from the time of resection of the primary colorectal cancer or of pulmonary metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection is not contraindicated in clinical practice. Significant factors indicating a good prognosis were female sex and the number of pulmonary metastases. Special attention should be paid to comparison of survival among studies.

Extraperitoneal colostomy in laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection using a hand inserted from the perineal side.

INTRODUCTION: Extraperitoneal colostomy is considered to be more effective at preventing post-colostomy complications than intraperitoneal colostomy. However, this operation is difficult via laparoscopic surgery alone. We present an extraperitoneal colostomy technique using a hand inserted from the perineal side. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Extraperitoneal colostomy was performed in five patients. After the rectum was resected, a hand was inserted into the abdominal cavity from the perineal side, and pneumoperitoneum was created. The peritoneum was dissected to make the extraperitoneal route, and the proximal colon was passed along this route with fingers and laparoscopic manipulation. All procedures were completed without tissue damage or hemorrhage. No patient developed a hernia or ileus postoperatively. DISCUSSION: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for an extraperitoneal colostomy is difficult via laparoscopic ports only. It can be simplified by operating with manual assistance via the perineal wound.

A phase II study of weekly paclitaxel and doxifluridine combination chemotherapy for advanced/recurrent gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel and doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) have distinct mechanisms of action and toxicity profiles. This study evaluated the antitumor activity and toxicities of combination chemotherapy with these drugs in patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer (AGC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed AGC, which was either unresectable or metastatic, were included in this study. The treatment consisted of 80 mg/m² paclitaxel given i.v. on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks, and 533 mg/m² doxifluridine given orally on days 1-5 every week. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients were evaluated for toxicity and 93 patients were evaluated for a therapeutic response. The overall response rate was 33.3% (1st line: 41.7%, 2nd line: 25.0%), including a complete remission in two patients, a partial remission in 29, stable disease in 39, progressive disease in 17; the response was not evaluable in six patients. The median overall survival was 287 days. Commonly observed grade 3/4 adverse events were leukopenia (13.5%), anorexia (3.8%), fatigue (3.8%) and diarrhea (2.9%). CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel and doxifluridine combination chemotherapy is a well-tolerated and convenient treatment regimen that can be given on an outpatient basis with promising efficacy for AGC.

Weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine for peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer with malignant ascites.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of systemic chemotherapy for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer remains unclear. The efficacy of weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) in gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer with ascites were eligible. The treatment consisted of paclitaxel intravenously (i.v.) administered at 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks, and doxifluridine administered orally at 533 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 every week. The response rate for patients with ascites was determined based on the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. Also, the concentration of paclitaxel in the ascites was measured. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were investigated. The response rate (RR) was 41.7%, including complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) in 4 and 6 patients, respectively. The concentration of paclitaxel in the ascites was maintained between 0.01 µM and 0.05 µM until 72 hours. The median overall survival (OS) was 215 days, and 1-year survival rate was 29.2%. No severe toxicity was noted. CONCLUSION: Weekly paclitaxel in combination with doxifluridine is effective for gastric cancer patients with malignant ascites with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Left renal vein graft for vascular reconstruction in abdominal malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Advanced abdominal malignancies are occasionally invasive for the major blood vessels, such as the portal vein (PV), inferior vena cava (IVC), and major hepatic veins (HVs), and complete removal of the tumors is required for patients undergoing vascular resection and reconstruction. We used left renal vein (LRV) grafts for vascular reconstruction in patients with these malignancies and evaluated their clinical relevance. METHODS: A total of 113 patients underwent vascular resection including the PV (42 patients), IVC (68 patients), and HV (3 patients) for hepatobiliary-pancreatic or abdominal tumor resection. Of these, 11 patients underwent vascular reconstruction with a LRV graft of the PV, superior mesenteric vein (SMV), and HVs in 3 patients each, and the IVC in 2 patients. The HVs were resected with segmentectomy involving Couinaud's segments VII, VIII, and IV; VII, VIII, and II; or III, IV, VIII in each patient. The PV and SMV were resected in 5 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic carcinoma, and in 1 patient being treated with extended right hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy for hepatic hilar carcinoma. The IVC was partially resected in 1 patient with advanced colon cancer and 1 with malignant schwannoma. RESULTS: The mean graft length of LRV obtained was 3.6 (3.5-4.0) cm. The graft was used as a tube in 9 patients, and as a patch in 2 patients. The mean duration of clamping time was 41.9 (35-60) min. Portal vein thrombosis was encountered in 2 patients, and anastomotic stenosis in 1 patient. Other morbidity was not related to vascular reconstruction. One patient who underwent extended right hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy died of liver failure in the hospital. The serum creatinine level after surgery did not deteriorate except in the one patient who died in the hospital. Graft patency was maintained during the follow-up period in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: A LRV graft may enhance the possibility of vascular reconstruction without deteriorating serum creatinine level, and it provides sound graft patency.

Ileal perforation caused by cytomegalovirus infection in a patient with recurrent gastric cancer: report of a case.

We report a case of ileal perforation caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a patient with peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer. Emergency laparotomy revealed a pinhole-sized perforation in a reddish segment of the small bowel, 100 cm proximal to the terminal ileum, and peritoneal carcinosis of recurrent gastric cancer invading the transverse colon and the gastrojejunal anastomosis of a Billroth-II procedure. The affected ileum was resected, a primary anastomosis was performed, and a colostomy was made in the ascending colon. The histology of the ileum revealed acute inflammation with vasculitis and CMV inclusions in the macrophages and endothelial cells and evidence of CMV on immunostaining. There was no evidence of cancer cell invasion or any other pathogens. Although the prognosis associated with bowel perforation due to CMV infection is poor, emergency surgery saved our patient's life.