[Re-Administration of Anti-EGFR Antibody Drugs for Unresectable Colorectal Cancer-Focusing on Tumor Markers].

The 2022 edition of the Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer described rechallenge therapy as a backward treatment for unresectable colorectal cancer, but currently, there is no evidence to support its benefit. We reviewed 6 cases of rechallenge therapy in which tumor marker trends could be followed in our department. Two cases had a rapid decline in tumor markers that was maintained for 7-8 months. In 3 cases, PR was also confirmed on imaging. In contrast, there was 1 case with no decrease in tumor markers at all. Our findings suggest that cases of wild-type RAS prior to rechallenge therapy and cases that are responsive to initial anti-EGFR antibody drugs may have been involved in the effect of rechallenge therapy.

A Case Report of Primary Unresectable Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Causing Colonic Obstruction Due to Peritoneal Dissemination.

Although surgical resection is the only available treatment to achieve long-term survival in biliary tract cancer, many cases are often identified at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. Radiotherapy may be an alternative option to prolong survival in cases with locally advanced unresectable disease. While there are some reports of long-term survival after radiotherapy for unresectable biliary tract cancer, it is rare that clinical symptoms are exhibited by peritoneal dissemination more than 8 years after radiotherapy and that resection can be performed. Our case was a 55-year-old female who had visited with a complaint of jaundice and was diagnosed with primary unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. She received definitve chemoradiotherapy, and repeated receiving maintenance chemotherapy thereafter until clinical manifestation. During follow-up, she was diagnosed with stenosis of the sigmoid colon, which was attributed to peritoneal dissemination of cholangiocarcinoma. We herein report a rare case of primary unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma after chemoradiotherapy which was followed by chemotherapy that was controlled for more than 8 years but eventually caused colonic obstruction attributed to peritoneal dissemination.

[Two Cases of Synchronous Double Primary Prostate Cancer Accompanying Bone Metastasis and Colon Cancer].

We report two cases of synchronous double primary cancers, which were composed of prostate cancer accompanied by bone metastasis and colon cancer, within only five months of each other. The first was a 77-year-old man whose ECOG PS was 0. He was referred to our hospital in March 2020 because abdominal CT scan, which was performed at a clinic for the purpose of close examination of poor control of diabetes, showed wall thickening of the sigmoid colon. A further examination revealed prostate cancer accompanied by metastatic bone cancer and sigmoid colon cancer. Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy was performed in April. Currently, six months after the surgery, both the prostate cancer and its accompanying metastatic bone cancer are well controlled by hormonal therapy. The second case was an 86-year-old man with an ECOG PS of 3 who was brought to our hospital by ambulance in August, 2020 because of fever and abdominal pain. A close examination revealed cecal cancer accompanying acute appendicitis. Prostate cancer accompanied by metastatic bone cancer was also diagnosed. Laparoscopic ileocecal resection was performed in the same month, but, unfortunately, the patient had repeated aspiration pneumonia and he finally passed away 43 days after surgery. We discuss the treatment strategy for colorectal cancer with synchronous or metachronous prostate cancer, which has been increasing in recent years, and include epidemiological considerations.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer with Skull Metastasis].

A 55-year-old woman became aware of a tumor on the left side of the head in July, 2020 and was referred to our hospital in September because of its rapid growth. A head CT showed a neoplastic lesion of the skull. A CT from the neck to the pelvis revealed an ascending colon tumor and multiple lesions in the liver, which was suspected as metastasis. A colonoscopy also showed a type 2 like lesion in the ascending colon, and a biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. A pedunculated polyp had been pointed out in the ascending colon at another hospital four years previously, and the pathological result was an adenoma, but endoscopic mucosal resection was not performed. It is considered that the adenoma became advanced colon cancer with metastasis through the mechanism of multistage carcinogenesis. Metastatic lesions of the ascending colon cancer was suspected with regard to the skull lesion. In addition to the rapid growth, surgical removal was desirable from the viewpoint of cosmetology, and surgery was performed in November. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was a metastatic skull tumor derived from ascending colon cancer. The diagnosis was Stage IVb according to the Japanese Classification of Colorectal, Appendiceal, and Anal Carcinoma (9th Edition). Although chemotherapy was started after surgery, the metastatic liver cancer increased rapidly and the patient passed away in April, 2021.

A Case of Retroperitoneal Paraganglioma.

We report a surgical case of retroperitoneal paraganglioma. A paraganglioma is a catecholamine-producing tumor originating in the chromaffin cells of the sympathetic ganglion. It is a kind of pheochromocytoma which occurs on the outside of the adrenal gland. The patient was a 72 year old male with a history of hypertension and a pacemaker implantation. A mass in the ventral side of the right iliopsoas muscle was detected during a routine contrasting computed tomography (CT) examination for checking his pacemaker. The mass was considered to be malignant, and a laparotomy and mass enucleation was performed. It was diagnosed as phaeochromocytoma, based on the pathology and immunestology of the excised specimen. The hypertension was cured soon after the surgery. Nine months after surgery, there is no evidence of any abnormality or recurrence. There is a previous report of a recurrence 25 years after surgery, so a careful follow-up of this patient will be necessary in the future.

A Review of 7 Cases of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Pediatric Cholecystolithiasis.

Pediatric cholecystolithiasis is a relatively rare disease, but it is recently increasing in Japan. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a standard procedure for cholecystolithiasis not only in adults but also in children, and we are aggressively introducing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) at our hospital. We reviewed the patient characteristics, operation procedures and outcomes of 7 children (15 years old and under) with cholecystolithiasis who underwent LC in our hospital between August 1995 and December 2015. The 7 patients included 5 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 8 years 6 months. Underlying diseases were found in 5 patients (cerebral palsy in 2 patients, pancreaticobiliary maljunction with common bile duct stones in 1, acute lymphocytic leukemia in 1, hereditary stomatocytosis in 1), and none were found in the other 2. LC (3 conventional LC and 2 SILC) was performed in 5 of the patients. Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy was performed in 1 patient and laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) was performed in 1 patient at the same time. The mean operative time in all the cases of LC was 108 (70-140) minutes (conventional LC 113 (70-140) min, SILC 100 (90-100) min). Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 4 cases and omitted in 3 cases. The only postoperative complication was a wound infection in 1 patient. The umbilical skin incision length in the SILC was 2.0 cm. We conclude that LC can be safely performed for children with cholecsytolithiasis, and that SILC is feasible and advantageous in terms of its improved cosmesis.

Postoperative complications following single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a retrospective analysis in 360 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is being increasingly performed based on recent evidence showing its cosmetic advantages. However, there is limited information on outcome data for SILC with respect to postoperative complications. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 360 patients undergoing SILC to evaluate the rate, features, and risk factors of postoperative complications. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 671 days, 17 patients (4.7 %) developed postoperative complications, including bile duct injuries, intraabdominal abscess, wound infection, incisional hernia, paralytic ileus, and pneumonia. Reoperation was required in five patients (1.4 %). Overall inpatient mortality occurred in one patient (0.3 %) who developed aspiration pneumonia. In multivariate stepwise regression analyses, poor physical status (American Society of Anesthesiologists score of ≥3) and preoperative diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were identified as significant risk factors for the development of postoperative complications (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SILC is a relatively safe procedure with an acceptable postoperative complication rate but requires careful attention especially in patients with poor physical status and/or acute cholecystitis.

Reduced Port Distal Gastrectomy With a Multichannel Port Plus One Puncture (POP).

BACKGROUND: This report describes the techniques and outcomes of reduced port distal gastrectomy (RPDG) with a multichannel port plus one puncture (POP) for gastric cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of eight patients underwent a RPDG using the Eï½¥Z Access™/LAPPROTECTOR™ (Hakko Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) oval type devices with POP by a single surgeon. The median age of the patients was 66 years (range 48-75 years), and their median BMI was 22.3 kg/m2 (range 17.7-26.8 kg/m2). One (12.5 %) of eight patients was female. A thin caliber trocar MiniPort™ (Covidien, New Haven, CT) was inserted at the left upper quadrant by puncture without incision. An assistant used Endo Relief™ (Hope Denshi Co. Ltd., Chiba, Japan) needlescopic forceps. In three cases, the pre-bent forceps (KTY-I, Adachi Industry Co. Ltd., Gifu, Japan) was introduced for surgeon's left hand. After the liver was retracted with a 2-0 Prolene suture, a distal subtotal resection of the stomach with D1+ or D2 lymph node dissection was performed. The Roux-en-Y method or Billroth-I anastomosis was used for reconstruction. The short-term patient outcomes were investigated to evaluate the feasibility of RPDG with POP. RESULTS: We employed this technique without the use of additional trocars in every patient except one. No conversion to laparotomy was observed. Both the Endo Relief™ forceps and prebent forceps were useful to maintain countertraction and keep triangulation. The median length of the operation was 374 (range, 268-420) minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 45 (range, 5-180) ml. The median number of dissected lymph nodes was 32 (range 22-46). Neither major postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leakage and stricture, nor postoperative mortality were observed. The mean length of the hospital stay was 1,5 days. The umbilical wound was indistinct. CONCLUSION: RPDG with POP using a needlescopic device procedure is feasible in terms of patient safety and curability.

A new oval multichannel port to facilitate reduced port distal gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the techniques and outcomes of reduced port distal gastrectomy (RPDG) using a new oval multichannel port. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed reduced port distal gastrectomy through the E·Z Access™ oval type device with three trocars in the umbilical incision, plus the use of additional 5 mm and 2 mm ports. All routine procedures performed in conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (CLDG) were achieved in RPDG. RESULTS: We employed this technique without the use of additional trocars or conversion to laparotomy in all 25 patients. The median length of the operation was 340 (range, 220-487) minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 30 (range, 5-440) ml. Neither major postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leakage and stricture, nor postoperative mortality were observed. The mean length of the hospital stay was 11 days. The umbilical wound was indistinct. The patients were also highly satisfied with the cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSION: Reduced port surgery using the E · Z Access™ oval type device was successfully applied for gastric cancer. This method is technically feasible, produces superior cosmetic results and thus could be an attractive surgical option for gastric cancer patients.

Rapid postoperative reduction in prognostic nutrition index is associated with the development of pancreatic fistula following distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUNDS: Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and devices for pancreatic remnant closure, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) still remains one of the common complications after distal pancreatectomy (DP). Identification of risk factors for POPF may lead to the development of new strategies to prevent this ominous complication. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data on 44 patients undergoing DP with the use of a stapler to identify risk factors for POPF. Study variables included preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and reduction rate of PNI on postoperative day (POD) 7. RESULTS: POPF occurred in 23 patients (52%), of which 13 (56%) were grade B or C. Univariate analyses comparing patients with POPF and those without POPF showed significant differences in body mass index (P = 0.0102), pancreatic thickness (P = 0.0134), white blood cell count on POD7 (P = 0.0432), C-reactive protein level on POD7 (P = 0.0123), and PNI reduction rate (P = 0.0471). A multivariate analysis revealed pancreatic thickness (P = 0.0121) and PNI reduction rate (P = 0.0165) to be significant factors for POPF. Furthermore, the PNI reduction rate was significantly higher in patients with clinically relevant (grade B/C) POPF than in those with no or grade A POPF (P = 0.0257). In most patients, the massive postoperative PNI reduction preceded the diagnosis of clinically relevant POPF. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that rapid postoperative reduction in PNI is associated with the development of POPF.

Pancreatic somatostatinoma diagnosed preoperatively: report of a case.

CONTEXT: Somatostatinoma is a rare neoplasm of the pancreas. Preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. CASE REPORT: We report a 72-year-old woman with a pancreatic head tumor measuring 37 mm in diameter, and enlargement of the lymph nodes on the anterior surface of the pancreatic head and the posterior surface of the horizontal part of the duodenum. Laboratory data showed an elevated plasma somatostatin concentration. Examination of a biopsy specimen of the pancreatic head mass obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) showed histopathological features of a neuroendocrine tumor. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cells were positive for somatostatin, leading to a preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic somatostatinoma. The patient underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. The plasma somatostatin concentration decreased progressively after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A rare case of pancreatic somatostatinoma with lymph node metastases was presented. Immunohistochemical analysis of a biopsy specimen obtained by EUS-FNA was useful for preoperative diagnosis.

Risk factors for a prolonged operative time in a single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: A prolonged operative time is associated with adverse post-operative outcomes in laparoscopic surgery. Although a single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) requires a longer operative time as compared with a conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, risk factors for a prolonged operative time in SILC remain unknown. METHODS: A total of 20 clinical variables were retrospectively reviewed to identify factors for a prolonged operative time (longer than 3 h) in a total of 220 consecutive patients undergoing SILC. RESULTS: The median operative time was 145 min (range, 55-435) and a prolonged operative time was required in 62 patients (28%). Independent factors that predict a prolonged operative time as identified through multivariate analysis were body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.009), acute cholecystitis (P < 0.001) and operator (resident or staff surgeon) (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a prolonged operative time was significantly associated with an increased amount of intra-operative blood loss (P < 0.001) and a prolonged stay after surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a higher BMI, acute cholecystitis and a resident as an operator significantly increase the duration of SILC procedures.

Laparoendoscopic single-site common bile duct exploration using the manual manipulator.

BACKGROUND: Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has developed as a new surgical modality that has increased cosmetic benefits over conventional endoscopic surgery. However, there are no reports about LESS surgery in common bile duct exploration. This report presents a LESS surgery to manage CBD stones by laparoscopic choledochotomy and C-tube placement with favorable outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective review analyzes 13 patients who underwent LESS CBD exploration with C-tube drainage for choledocholithiasis. The technique is herein described and the outcomes measured. The Radius Surgical System (Tübingen Scientific Medical, Tübingen, Germany) is a flexible manual manipulator that was applied for suturing and ligation to overcome the difficulties associated with LESS surgery. RESULTS: The diameters of the CBDs ranged from 12 to 20 mm, the median number of stones was 5.8, and the median diameter of stones was 9 mm. All of the routine procedures including choledochotomy, intraoperative ultrasound, choledochoscopy, and intraoperative cholangiography guidance were performed. Stone clearance from the CBD was achieved for all but one of the patients. It was possible to close the common bile duct opening with regular forceps, but this required extra effort compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery. On the other hand, the manual manipulator enabled the optimal penetration angle and was useful for both intracorporeal suturing and ligation for the closure of the common bile duct opening. The manual manipulator also helped to overcome in-line viewing and hand/instruments collisions, which are common problems in LESS surgery. No mortality was associated with this procedure, and two wound infections were drained without anesthesia. No recurrent stones were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: LESS surgery was successfully applied to CBD exploration as an available alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This method is technically feasible and produces superior cosmetic results. The manual manipulator may therefore have several advantages for performing LESS surgery.

Intermittent negative pressure external drainage of the pancreatic duct reduces the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The formation of a pancreatic fistula remains one of the serious morbidities after pancreaticojejunostomy. This study is focused on the efficacy of negative pressure external drainage of the main pancreatic duct in pancreaticojejunostomy. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-eight consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticojejunostomy at our hospital from May 2008 to May 2012 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into a group of 25 earlier patients (Group A) with gravity drainage of the pancreatic duct (from May 2008 until May 2010) and a group of 33 later patients (Group B) with negative pressure drainage (treated from June 2010 until May 2012). These two groups were compared based on the patient characteristics, parameters related to the operation, and postoperative complications and hospital stay. Furthermore, examinations were performed for subgroups of patients with a soft pancreas (43 patients) or a hard pancreas (15 patients) based on the hardness of the remnant pancreas. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the patient demographics, laboratory data or parameters related to the operation. Although there was no difference in the amount of drainage from the pancreaticojejunostomy, the amylase values in the drainage around the pancreaticojejunostomy of group B were significantly lower than those of group A (p = 0.026). The complication rates were also significantly lower in group B than in group A for the development of a postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (p = 0.012), intraabdominal abscess (p = 0.045), or wound infection (p = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the mean hospital stay. When restricted to patients with a soft pancreas, the incidence of POPF (grade B or C) of group B was significantly lower than that of group A (p = 0.003). The P-value for the soft pancreas group was lower than that of the overall cases. In the examination restricted to patients with a hard pancreas, POPF (grade B or C) did not occur in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study showed that the application of intermittent negative pressure external drainage of the main pancreatic duct significantly reduces the rate of pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal abscess formation after pancreaticojejunostomy, and these effects were more remarkable in the patients with a soft pancreas.

A newly developed oval-shaped port device (E•Z ACCESS Oval type) for use in reduced port surgery: initial clinical experiences with cholecystectomy.

We recently developed an oval-shaped E•Z Access device designed exclusively for use with the LAP PROTECTOR™ Oval type device (Hakko Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The transverse abdominal opening diameter made by round-shaped (Alexis® Wound Retractor, Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; and LAP PROTECTOR™ Round type) and oval-shaped (LAP PROTECTOR™ Oval type) wound retractors was measured and compared in 5 patients with cholecystolithiasis. Each device was placed through a single 25-mm longitudinal umbilical incision, and the length of trocar separation was compared. LESS cholecystectomy was then performed using the oval-shaped E•Z ACCESS/LAP PROTECTOR™. The transverse abdominal opening diameter was maximized with the LAP PROTECTOR™ Oval type device. The average distance between the working-ports for the glove method, round-shaped, and oval-shaped E•Z ACCESS/LAP PROTECTOR™ devices in the 25-mm umbilical incisions were 20 ± 0.8 mm, 24 ± 1.5 mm, and 35 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. Wider trocar separation was achieved using the oval-shaped device, making the surgical procedures easier to perform. No perioperative port-related or surgical complications were observed. LESS cholecystectomy using the E•Z ACCESS Oval type device was found to be technically feasible. The Oval type device appears to allow for wider trocar separation, thereby reducing stress on the surgeon, ensuring patient safety, and providing cosmetic benefits.

[A review of 13 cases of obturator hernia].

We reviewed clinical features of patients who we treated for obturator hernia. The subjects were 13 patients who underwent an operation for obturator hernia in our hospital between April 2002 and December 2012. The mean age was 78.5 years, and all patients were female. The mean body mass index was 16.8 kg/m(2). The Howship-Romberg sign was present in only 3 patients. All patients were correctly diagnosed by preoperative pelvic computed tomography. All patients underwent operation. Operative procedures included the laparoscopic approach in 8 patients, the open approach in 3 patients and the inguinal approach in 2 patients. The hernia hilus was repaired with a simple closure in 5 patients, and with a mesh in 8 patients. The hernia contents were small intestine in all the patients. Three patients underwent partial resection of the small intestine because of necrosis of the intestine wall. Three patients had a recurrence of the obturator hernia. In our present series, the patients with obturator hernia were slender females at an advanced age. Plevic CT was useful for the diagnosis of obturator hernia.

Disk suspension method: a novel and safe technique for the retraction of the liver during laparoscopic surgery (with video).

BACKGROUND: A good operative field is important for safe operations, but it is sometimes difficult to obtain a satisfactory operative field in laparoscopic upper abdominal surgery. We developed a novel and safe technique for the retraction of the liver and falciform ligament during laparoscopic surgery, and evaluated its technical feasibility and safety. METHODS: Forty-three patients with gastric cancer were divided into two groups: disk suspension group (DS group; snake retractor and elastic band fixation with a silicon disk), and fixed retractor group (FR group; snake retractor and nonelastic band fixation without a silicon disk). To evaluate liver damage during retraction, we measured the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) 1. RESULTS: In the DS group, all liver lobes were adequately retracted and the hepatoduodenal and gastrohepatic ligaments were fully exposed. This procedure took less than 3 min. On the other hand, 5 of 18 patients of the FR group had insufficient surgical fields for laparoscopic gastrectomy because of soft and/or large livers. Although the preoperative AST and ALT levels were not different between the two groups, the DS group did not display increases in both AST and ALT levels, whereas the FR group showed increases in both on POD 1 (AST: 50.2 ± 8.4 IU/l vs. 124.2 ± 37.7 IU/l, P = 0.07; and ALT: 35.6 ± 6.4 IU/l vs. 106.1 ± 36.2 IU/l, P = 0.07). No complications related to the liver retraction were observed in the DS group. However, liver congestion was evident in six patients and minor liver injury in two patients of the FR group during the esophagojejunostomy. CONCLUSIONS: The DS method is a simple and safe and provides a better surgical field during laparoscopic surgery of the upper abdomen without damaging the liver.

Enucleation of an Insulinoma of the Pancreas Using Reduced Port Surgery: Report of a Case.

Reduced port surgery (RPS) is a new surgical modality producing increased cosmetic benefits over conventional endoscopic surgery. We herein report the first case of insulinoma of the pancreas treated by RPS. RPS enucleation was performed for a 23-year-old Japanese female who was admitted to our hospital with repeated episodes of hypoglycemia attributable to an insulinoma. The preoperative examinations confirmed the diagnosis of a solitary insulinoma of the pancreatic tail. Enucleation of the insulinoma using RPS was performed. A 2.5-cm umbilical incision was made, and three laparoscopic trocars were individually inserted into the abdominal cavity via this incision. Another 3-mm trocar was inserted from the left subcostal region. All procedures that were usually performed in conventional laparoscopic surgery were also performed by RPS: intraoperative ultrasonography, mobilization of the tail of the pancreas, enucleation of the tumor, and suturing of the stump. A mechanical manipulator, the Radius Surgical System (Radius), was used for suturing and ligation. The Radius was sufficient to overcome in-line viewing and hand/instrument collisions, and enabled us to perform precise suturing and ligation. Serial blood sugar, C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR), and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) measurements revealed that all values were normal after resection. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. RPS was successfully applied for enucleation of a solitary mass in the tail of the pancreas, and represents an alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This method is technically feasible and results in superior cosmesis. The Radius facilitated advanced laparoscopic surgery and may also have advantages in RPS.

Case report: laparoendoscopic single-site fenestration of giant hepatic cyst.

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has developed as a new surgical modality producing increased cosmetic benefits over conventional endoscopic surgery. However, there are limited reports about LESS surgery in liver diseases. We reported a case of a giant hapatic cyst that was treated by LESS surgery. LESS fenestration was performed on a 60-year-old female. A 2.2-cm umbilical incision was made. Three laparoscopic trocars were individually inserted into the abdominal cavity via a single umbilical incision. Only straight laparoscopic instruments were applied throughout the procedures. Aspiration, dome resection, argon laser coagulation, drainage, and removal were performed by LESS surgery. One of the 5-mm trocars was replaced with a 12-mm trocar to retrieve the resected cyst wall. All of the procedures for liver fenestration were the same as conventional laparoscopy and were successfully performed without any difficulties. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course. The LESS surgery has been successfully applied to liver fenestration as an available alternative to conventional laparoscopic fenestration. This method is technically feasible and results in superior cosmesis.

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin decreases the plasma high-mobility group box-1 protein levels, whereas improving the acute liver injury and survival rates in experimental endotoxemia.

OBJECTIVE: In addition to the hyperactivation of the inflammatory cytokines, high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), recently identified as a lethal late-phase mediator is suspected to be closely correlated with the development of sepsis. Therefore, the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) administration on the production of inflammatory cytokines and the plasma level of HMGB1 was investigated in experimental endotoxemia. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative, experimental study. SETTING: Laboratory animal research center at a university. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g). INTERVENTIONS: Endotoxemia was induced in rats by a bolus intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dosage of 4 mg/kg (LPS group). ART-123 (1 mg/kg) was administered as a bolus injection 30 minutes before or 4 hours after injection of LPS (ART-123 pretreated/treated group). As a control, an equal volume of physiologic saline was administered instead of LPS and ART-123 (control group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Rats were randomly divided into ART-123 pretreated group, ART-123 treated group, and LPS group, respectively. After the injection of LPS, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and thrombin-antithrombin III complex, plasma HMGB1 concentrations, liver immunohistochemical and histopathologic characteristics, liver dysfunction, and survival rate were examined. The increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and plasma HMGB1 induced by LPS in this rat model were improved by the administration of ART-123; additionally, reduced liver dysfunction and increased survival rate were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that ART-123 inhibits the expression of inflammatory cytokines and decreases the plasma HMGB1 levels in experimental endotoxemia. In addition, ART-123 administration markedly reduced liver dysfunction and mortality even with delayed treatment of ART-123. The use of ART-123 may therefore be a beneficial treatment for septic patients.