Impact of fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 proposed fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (FFLC) as a bailout surgery. This study investigated the clinical impact of FFLC for severe cholecystitis. METHODS: This study reviewed 772 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) between 2015 and 2018. Of these patients, 171 patients were diagnosed with severe cholecystitis according to our difficulty scoring system. FFLC was not prevalent in our faculty for the first 2 years [early period group (EG)], whereas FFLC was predominantly used for the last 2 years [late period group (LG)]. There were 81 patients (47%) belonging to the EG and 90 patients (53%) in the LG. The clinical data and the surgical outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The difficulty score did not differ between the two groups (11 vs. 11 points, p = 0.846). Patients underwent FFLC significantly more frequently in the LG (63% vs. 12%, p = 0.020). Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) was done in 10 patients (11%) of the LG, which was significantly low compared to that in the EG (n = 20, 25%) (p = 0.020). In all patients, LC was safely achieved without bile duct injury or conversion to laparotomy. The incidence of choledocholithiasis was significantly low in the LG (0 vs. 4, p = 0.048). The median postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LG (6 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: After the introduction of FFLC, there were significant improvements in the surgical outcomes of LC for severe cholecystitis, including the rate of LSC, incidence of choledocholithiasis, and duration of postoperative hospital stay.

Current status and future perspectives of robotic inguinal hernia repair.

With more than 5500 da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS) installed worldwide, the robotic approach for general surgery, including for inguinal hernia repair, is gaining popularity in the USA. However, in many countries outside the USA, robotic surgery is performed at only a few advanced institutions; therefore, its advantages over the open or laparoscopic approaches for inguinal hernia repair are unclear. Several retrospective studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of robotic inguinal hernia repair, but there is still no firm evidence to support the superiority of robotic surgery for this procedure or its long-term clinical outcomes. Robotic surgery has the potential to overcome the disadvantages of conventional laparoscopic surgery through appropriate utilization of technological advantages, such as wristed instruments, tremor filtering, and high-resolution 3D images. The potential benefits of robotic inguinal hernia repair are lower rates of complications or recurrence than open and laparoscopic surgery, with less postoperative pain, and a rapid learning curve for surgeons. In this review, we summarize the current status and future prospects of robotic inguinal hernia repair and discuss the issues associated with this procedure.

Dual common bile duct examination with transcystic choledochoscopy and cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for suspected choledocholithiasis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Detection of common bile duct (CBD) stones is a major objective of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We evaluated the feasibility and safety of the routine use of transcystic choledochoscopy following IOC (dual common bile duct examination: DCBDE), which may improve the diagnostic accuracy of CBD stones and facilitate one-stage clearance, in LC for suspected choledocholithiasis. METHODS: Between May 2017 and November 2018, 38 patients with suspected choledocholithiasis were prospectively enrolled in this study, regardless of whether they underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Transcystic choledochoscopy was routinely attempted following IOC in LC. RESULTS: Five cases were excluded due to cholecystitis, bile duct anomaly, or liver cirrhosis. DCBDE was performed in the remaining 33 patients. The biliary tree was delineated by IOC in all patients. Subsequently, choledochosope was performed in 32 patients except for one who was found to have pancreaticobiliary malunion in IOC. The scope was successfully passed into the CBD in 25 (78.1%) patients. Choledochoscopy detected 3 (9.4%) cases of cystic duct stones and 4 (12.5%) cases of CBD stones which were not identified by IOC. All those stones were removed via cystic duct. There were no intra- and postoperative complications, except for two cases of wound infection and one case of a transient increase in serum amylase. CONCLUSIONS: DCBDE in LC is a safe and promising approach for intraoperative diagnosis and one-stage treatment of suspected choledocholithasis.

Efficacy of celecoxib as preemptive analgesia for patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of preemptive analgesia with a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block versus celecoxib for patients undergoing laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (LTAPP). METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for LTAPP were randomized into three groups: a celecoxib group, given 200 mg celecoxib 2 h before surgery; a celecoxib/diclofenac group, given 200 mg celecoxib 2 h before surgery and 50 mg rectal diclofenac sodium on recovery from general anesthesia; and a block group, given a TAP block with 60 mL 0.25% levobupivacaine after general anesthesia. We assessed the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for pain at rest and with movement 24 h after surgery. Postoperative analgesia use and adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: The NRS scores for pain at rest and with movement were lower in the celecoxib group than in the block group, 24 h postoperatively. The time to first request for analgesia tended to be longer in the block group than in the celecoxib group. No significant between-group differences were noted in analgesic use or adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib was not inferior to the TAP block as preemptive analgesia. Thus, celecoxib could be given as simple preemptive analgesia for LTAPP by considering a multimodal analgesic strategy in the early postoperative period.

Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status plus Tumor Burden Score for the Assessment of Prognosis after Curative Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: There are no previous studies analyzing the prognostic predictive value of adding the tumor factor (i.e., Tumor Burden (TB) score) to the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the value of the CONUT plus TB (CONUT-TB) score as a prognostic predictor in patients with HCC undergoing liver resection. METHODS: Between 2015 and 2018, 96 consecutive patients with HCC underwent liver resection at our institution. Patients undergoing repeated liver resection and combined resection of a metastatic lesion were excluded. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their CONUT-TB scores according to a cutoff value. Clinicopathologic prognostic factors for survival were analyzed using a database containing the medical records. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff value of the CONUT-TB score determined by using a minimum p value approach was 13 points. Among the 81 patients included in the analytic cohort, 71 patients had low (<13) and 10 patients had high (>13) CONUT-TB scores. The overall 3-year survival rate of patients following liver resection for HCC in the high-CONUT-TB group was significantly worse than that of patients in the low-CONUT-TB group (62.5 vs. 89.3%, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis indicated that a high CONUT-TB score was independently associated with overall survival after liver resection (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: The CONUT-TB score is a valuable predictor of survival in patients with HCC after liver resection.

A novel classification of aberrant right hepatic ducts ensures a critical view of safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Based on the spatial relationship of an aberrant right hepatic duct (ARHD) with the cystic duct and gallbladder neck, we propose a practical classification to evaluate the specific form predisposing to injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the preoperative images (mostly magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) and clinical outcomes of 721 consecutive patients who underwent LC at our institute from 2015 to 2018. We defined the high-risk ARHD as follows: Type A: communicating with the cystic duct and Type B: running along the gallbladder neck or adjacent to the infundibulum (the minimal distance from the ARHD < 5 mm), regardless of the confluence pattern in the biliary tree. Other ARHDs were considered to be of low risk. RESULTS: A high-risk ARHD was identified in 16 cases (2.2%): four (0.6%) with Type A anatomy and 12 (1.7%) with Type B. The remaining ARHD cases (n = 34, 4.7%) were categorized as low risk. There were no significant differences in the operative outcomes (operative time, blood loss, hospital stay) between the high- and low- risk groups. Subtotal cholecystectomy was applied in four cases (25%) in the high-risk group, a significantly higher percentage than the low-risk group (n = 1, 2.9%). In all patients with high-risk ARHD, LC was completed safely without bile duct injury or conversion to laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our simple classification of high-risk ARHD can highlight the variants located close to the dissecting site to achieve a critical view of safety and may contribute to avoiding inadvertent damage of an ARHD in LC.

[A case of highly advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination -- a histological CR to S-1 and CDDP combination chemotherapy].

A 64-year-old man with type 3 advanced gastric cancer was referred to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography (CT)showed thickening of the gastric wall and lymph node metastasis near the stomach, and laparoscopy revealed peritoneal dissemination. After 6 courses of CDDP therapy, lymph node metastasis was no longer detectable on CT scans. A second laparoscopy showed no peritoneal dissemination; therefore, distal partial gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was performed. Histological examination showed no tumor cells in the gastric primary lesion, no metastatic lymph nodes, and no disseminated peritoneal nodules, suggesting pathological complete remission.

Simultaneous resection of a neuroendocrine tumor in an incidental Meckel's diverticulum with transabdominal preperitoneal hernial repair: a case report.

BACKGROUND: As laparoscopic surgery becomes more prevalent worldwide, Meckel's diverticula are increasingly being discovered incidentally during surgery. There is no consensus on whether to follow up or resect such diverticula, which are usually asymptomatic. In cases of transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair, resection of such a diverticulum might add the risk of mesh infection. Thus, it is unclear whether simultaneous intestinal resection is advisable. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old man diagnosed with a left indirect inguinal hernia underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, during which a 2-cm Meckel's diverticulum located contralateral to the mesentery of the ileum approximately 30 cm from Bauhin's valve was detected incidentally. Because of the potential risk of future complications such as hemorrhage, diverticulitis, or tumor development, wedge resection of the ileum was performed extracorporeally through an extended umbilical port site after completion of the hernia repair. Pathological examination revealed a neuroendocrine tumor (G1) in Meckel's diverticulum, which was successfully resected without any mesh infection or postoperative complications. DISCUSSION: Our patient's clinical course raises two important issues. First, a Meckel's diverticulum detected incidentally during laparoscopic surgery should be resected promptly because malignant tumors within such diverticula have frequently been reported. Second, simultaneous resection with hernia repair using mesh seems to be as safe as other clean-contaminated surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Management of incidental Meckel's diverticula should be selected by appropriate assessment for the risk of malignancy and complications.

Laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal combined with interval lymphadenectomy after emergency surgery for perforated colon cancer: A case report.

A 55-year-old man underwent Hartmann's procedure for generalized peritonitis caused by perforation of sigmoid colon cancer, which was histologically diagnosed as tubular adenocarcinoma penetrating the muscularis propria (T3). The extent of lymph node dissection was insufficient for the advanced cancer, according to the concept of complete mesocolic excision. Two months after surgery, he underwent laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal, combined with interval lymphadenectomy. En bloc resection of the colostomy, rectal stump and associated mesentery was performed with high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. Subsequently, the intestinal continuity was restored by end-to-end anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful except for infection at the stoma site. No lymph node metastasis was found by histological examination of the resected specimen, with no evidence of cancer recurrence 8 months after the initial surgery.

Gastric Plexiform Fibromyxoma Resected Using Nonexposed Endoscopic Wall-Inversion Surgery: A Case Report.

Gastric plexiform fibromyxoma is extremely rare. In our case, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of a 41-year-old woman patient revealed a 1-cm submucosal tumor (SMT) in the greater curvature of the lower body of the stomach. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography, the tumor was hypervascular in the arterial phase with continuous enhancement in the post-venous phase. On endoscopic ultrasonography, it had a low echo pattern. The preoperative diagnosis was a gastric SMT with a rich vasculature; however because the biosy specimen did not contain tumor tissue, a malignant tumor could not be excluded. The patient underwent nonexposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS), and the tumor was completely resected. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor was positive for D2-40 and α-smooth muscle actin, but negative for c-kit, discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumor-1, desmin, S100, Melan-A, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, insulinoma-associated protein 1, CXCL13, ETS transcription factor, follicular dendritic cell, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, human melanoma black, h-caldesmon, and CD1a, 10, 21, 23, 31, 34, 68, and 163. Approximately, 1-2% of the tumor cell nuclei were Ki-67-positive. Finally, we diagnosed the tumor as a plexiform fibromyxoma. In conclusion, NEWS is an effective method for the treatment of SMTs with a diameter of <3 cm.

Prognostic factors for the successful conservative management of nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The criteria for deciding upon non-operative management for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) are poorly defined. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic factors for survival in conservative treatment of NOMI. METHODS: Patients with bowel ischemia were identified by searching for "ICD-10 code K550" in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database between June 2015 and May 2020. A total of 457 patients were extracted and their medical records, including the clinical factors, imaging findings and outcomes, were analyzed retrospectively. Diagnosis of NOMI was confirmed by the presence of specific findings in contrast-enhanced multidetector-row CT. Twenty-six patients with conservative therapy for NOMI, including four cases of explorative laparotomy or laparoscopy, were enrolled. RESULTS: Among the 26 cases without surgical intervention, eight patients (31%) survived to discharge. The level of albumin was significantly higher, and the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, C-reactive protein, and lactate were significantly lower in the survivors than the non-survivors. Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was significantly lower in the survivors than the non-survivors. The most reliable predictor of survival for NOMI was SOFA score (cutoff value ≤ 3 points), which had the highest AUC value (0.899) with odds ratio of 0.075 (CI: 0.0096-0.58). CONCLUSIONS: The SOFA score and several biological markers are promising predictors to determine a treatment plan for NOMI and to avoid unnecessary laparotomy.

Calcium bilirubinate sludge causes early onset of congenital biliary dilatation: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) during early infancy is always characterized by cystic dilation of the common bile duct with a narrow segment connecting the pancreatic duct. CASE PRESENTATION: In two consecutive infants with a prenatal diagnosis of CBD, we found that biliary sludge had formed in the cyst upon the appearance of symptoms including acholic stool and hypertransaminasemia. Infrared absorption spectrometry revealed that the sludge consisted of calcium bilirubinate. CONCLUSION: We suggest that overproduction of bilirubin by neonatal hemolysis causes sedimentation of bilirubin calcium, resulting in obstruction of the narrow segment and development of symptoms.

A case of resected hepatocellular carcinoma with gallbladder metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can often spread as intrahepatic metastases. Extrahepatic metastasis (e.g., lung, lymph nodes, and bones) is rare, and gallbladder metastasis from HCC is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old woman who presented with right hypochondrial pain was referred to our hospital for further examination of a liver tumor. The blood chemistry data showed elevated levels of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) (3730 ng/mL), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) (130 mAU/mL), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (358.6 ng/mL). Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibody were negative. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) showed a tumor measuring 12 × 7 cm in the right lobe of the liver. This tumor was contrast-enhanced in the hepatic arterial phase and then became less dense than the liver parenchyma in the portal phase. A well-enhanced tumor was found in the gallbladder. No regional lymph nodes were enlarged. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated that the liver tumor showed a pattern of early enhancement and washout. The gallbladder tumor was also detected as an enhanced mass. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) showed compression of the left hepatic duct due to the liver tumor. The patient was diagnosed with simultaneous HCC and gallbladder cancer. Right hepatic trisectionectomy and caudate lobectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection were performed. Histopathological examination of the resected liver specimen showed a poorly differentiated HCC cell component with a trabecular and solid growth, and diffuse invasion of the portal vein. The same tumor cells were found in the gallbladder, but no continuity with the liver tumor was identified. Immunohistochemistry of the liver tumor and gallbladder was positive for AFP, Glypican 3, and CK7, and negative for CK19. The final pathological diagnosis was the gallbladder metastasis from HCC. A follow-up diagnostic image 33 months after surgery showed a mass in the upper lobe of the left lung. The patient underwent left upper lobectomy. Postoperative pathology revealed that the lung lesion was a metastasis of HCC. The patient was still alive with lung metastasis and was being treated with a molecular-targeting drug in good health 42 months after the initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The standard treatment for advanced HCC with extrahepatic metastases is molecularly targeted drugs, but surgery is also an option if the lesion can be resected en bloc without remnants.

Which is the best predictor of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy: drain fluid concentration or total amount of amylase?

AIM: Drain fluid amylase concentration (DFAC) has been reported as a predictor of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreatectomy. However, the clinical significance of measuring the total drain fluid amylase amount (DFAA) considering the daily drainage volume of CR-POPF remains unclear. METHODS: Data from 216 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) (n = 126) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) (n = 90) between August 2014 and November 2020 were reviewed. All drains were closed but not suctioned. DFAA was calculated by multiplying the DFAC and daily drainage fluid volume. DFAC and DFAA were recorded on d 1 and 3 after pancreatectomy. The cutoff value of CR-POPF was determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: CR-POPF was found in 75 patients (35%) (PD: 30%, DP: 41%, P = .111); the mortality rate was zero. The cutoff value of DFAC-day 1 was 1757 U/L (sensitivity [SE]: 84%, specificity [SP]: 62%, and accuracy [AC]: 69%). The cutoff value of DFAA-day 1 was 139 U (SE: 71%, SP: 72%, and AC: 71%). The cutoff value of DFAC-day 3 was 1044 U/L (SE: 73%, SP: 79%, and AC: 78%). The cutoff value of DFAA-day 3 was 21 U (SE: 68%, SP: 72%, and AC: 70%). Multivariate analysis indicated that a nondilated pancreatic duct and high DFAC-day 3 were independently associated with CR-POPF after PD, indicating that a prolonged operative duration, massive blood loss, and high DFAC-day 3 are independently associated with CR-POPF after DP. CONCLUSION: DFAC is more reliable than DFAA for predicting CR-POPF after both PD and DP.

Ruptured intra-abdominal testicular seminoma with hemorrhage shock, after inadequate surgical exploration for undescended testis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Undescended testes are associated with an increased risk of malignancy and infertility, and surgical treatment in childhood is recommended. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old man presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting. Despite a history of surgery for a left undescended testis in infancy, his left-sided scrotum appeared underdeveloped. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a pelvic mass, involving a major axis of approximately 15 cm, with high-density ascites suggestive of hemorrhage. A ruptured gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected. As he was in hemorrhagic shock, an emergency laparotomy was indicated. The active bleeding mass was controlled through complete resection. A pathological evaluation of the mass revealed a seminoma arising from an undescended testis. His post-operative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on post-operative day 6. Recurrence on the retroperitoneal lymph nodes was detected 1 year postoperatively, and a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed after chemotherapy. He remains well without any apparent signs of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Paying close attention to an empty scrotum is advisable, even postoperatively, for undescended testis because of possible subsequent potential malignancy presenting with hemorrhage, as our patient demonstrated.

Preliminary results of robotic inguinal hernia repair following its introduction in a single-center trial.

AIM: Robotic surgery using the da Vinci system has markedly increased worldwide. However, robotic inguinal hernia repair remains unpopular outside the United States. We introduced and evaluated a robotic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (R-TAPP) technique for inguinal hernia in our hospital. METHODS: First, we designed a task protocol according to the surgical results of 388 laparoscopic TAPP (L-TAPP) procedures performed during the 4 years prior to introducing R-TAPP. Our task protocol included several time limitations during a step-wise procedure: creating the peritoneal flap (<60 minutes), mesh placement with fixation (<30 minutes), and peritoneal suture closure (<30 minutes) under experienced supervision. We investigated the preliminary clinical results of R-TAPP performed by a single operator between December 2018 and January 2020. RESULTS: We identified 27 lesions in 20 patients (unilateral in 13 and bilateral in seven). According to the Japan Hernia Society Classification, our cohort included eight type I, five type II, and seven bilateral hernias (nine type I, four type II, and one type IV). The median operation time was 124 minutes (range, 81-164 minutes), and the median console operation time was 85 minutes (range, 50-132). The median time required for the peritoneal incision was 30 minutes (range, 18-54 minutes), that for mesh placement (including tucking) was 13 minutes (range, 7-27 minutes), and that for peritoneal suturing was 9 minutes (range, 3-20 minutes). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that our task protocol for R-TAPP is feasible. However, refinement of our task protocol is essential for standardization.

A novel Killian-Jamieson diverticulectomy using a thyroid gland flap: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a rare pharyngoesophageal diverticulum that is radically treated by diverticulectomy. However, there is no consensus on whether cricopharyngeal myotomy is necessary, and the optimal surgical methods that prevent postoperative complications such as leakage are undetermined. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital with oropharyngeal dysphagia while eating. The patient was preoperatively diagnosed with a Killian-Jamieson diverticulum based on radiographic and clinical findings and underwent a transcervical diverticulectomy. The recurrent laryngeal nerves were preserved using an intraoperative nerve monitoring system, and the diverticulum was identified without difficulty. A partial cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed to expose the base of the diverticulum. The diverticulum was transected transversally using a linear stapler under the guidance of intraoperative upper intestinal endoscopy. A thyroid gland flap supplied by the superior thyroid artery was harvested and placed overlapping the area of the partial cricopharyngeal myotomy. Due to the proximity of the recurrent laryngeal nerve course to the diverticulum stump, the staple line was not buried with sutures. The thyroid gland flap with its rich vascular supply was fixed to completely cover the staple line on the cut surface of the thyroid gland. The postoperative course was uneventful, without vocal cord paralysis. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8. He developed no clinical signs suggesting leakage, recurrence, or adverse events. CONCLUSION: Killian-Jamieson diverticulectomy using a thyroid gland flap and partial cricopharyngeal myotomy is a valid treatment option that may prevent complications and recurrence. Precise evaluation of the diverticulum using an intraoperative nerve monitoring system is crucial for the repair.

Gastric schwannoma with high accumulation on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography resected by non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery.

Gastric schwannoma is a relatively rare tumor arising from Auerbach plexus in the muscle layer of the gastric wall, and constitutes 0.1% to 0.2% of all gastric tumors and 5% of benign non-epithelium-related gastric tumors. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman in whom upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an approximately 2-cm submucosal tumor on the anterior wall of the fornix of the stomach. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a homogeneously enhanced lesion (~ 17 mm) in the upper third of the stomach as well as a lesion (~ 25 mm) on the left kidney that was strongly enhanced in the early phase. An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan revealed high accumulation that is characteristic of gastric tumors. The possibility of malignancy was not completely excluded, and the gastric tumor was resected by non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery. The patient was discharged with a good prognosis 5 days after surgery. In conclusion, non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery is a minimally invasive and effective method for resecting small gastric submucosal tumors (diameters < 3 cm) for which preoperative diagnosis is difficult.

Closure of the cystic duct orifice in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been recognized as an alternative to conversion to laparotomy for severe cholecystitis. However, it may be associated with an increased risk of recurrent stones in the gallbladder remnant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the complete removal of the gallbladder cavity in LSC for severe cholecystitis using the cystic duct orifice suturing (CDOS) technique. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 412 laparoscopic cholecystectomies that were performed from January 2015 to June 2017, 12 patients who underwent LSC with CDOS were enrolled in this retrospective study. In this procedure, Hartmann's pouch was carefully identified, and the infundibulum-cystic duct junction was transected while the posterior wall adherent to Calot's triangle was left behind. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were analyzed. RESULTS: The median operating time and blood loss were 158 min and 20 mL, respectively. In all cases, LSC with CDOS was completed without conversion to open surgery. No injuries to the bile duct or vessels were experienced. The median postoperative hospital stay was 6 days. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients (bile leakage, n = 1: common bile duct stones, n = 1) and were successfully treated by endoscopic management. A gallbladder remnant was not delineated by postoperative imaging in any of the cases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LSC with CDOS is a promising approach that can avoid dissection of Calot's triangle and achieve the complete removal of the gallbladder cavity in patients with severe cholecystitis.

Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia into the pericardium after esophagectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia (IPDH), defined as prolapse of the abdominal viscera into the pericardium, is a rare clinical condition. This case illustrates the possibility of IPDH after esophagectomy with antethoracic alimentary reconstruction, although such hernias are extremely rare. IPDH often presents with symptoms of bowel obstruction such as abdominal discomfort or vomiting. If not properly treated, life-threatening necrosis and/or perforation of the herniated contents may occur. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old Japanese man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for treatment of esophageal cancer. Completion gastrectomy with perigastric lymph node dissection was also performed because the patient had previously undergone distal partial gastrectomy for treatment of gastric cancer. The alimentary continuity was reconstructed using the pedicled jejunal limb through the antethoracic route. When we separated the diaphragm from the esophagus and removed xiphoid surgically to prevent a pedicled jejunal limb injury, the pericardium was opened. The patient was readmitted to our hospital because of abdominal discomfort and vomiting 6 months after the esophagectomy. A diagnosis of IPDH after esophagectomy was made. The patient was treated by primary closure of the diaphragmatic defect using vertical mattress sutures and additional reinforcement of the closing defect using a graft harvested from the rectus abdominis posterior sheath. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the seventh day after hernia repair. CONCLUSIONS: This patient's clinical course provides two important clinical suggestions. First, we must be aware of the possibility of iatrogenic IPHD after esophagectomy with antethoracic alimentary reconstruction. Second, a graft from the rectus abdominis posterior sheath is beneficial in the treatment of IPDH.