Gasless single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Purpose: Single-port laparoscopic surgery is anticipated to become the future of minimally invasive surgery. We have devised an alternative approach for laparoscopic cholecystectomy by inserting a single port at the umbilicus and using the abdominal wall-lifting method, without establishing pneumoperitoneum. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 130 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done to compare the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) (n = 69) and the novel single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) using the abdominal wall-lifting method (n = 61). The surgical procedures were as follows. A 2- to 3-cm transumbilical incision was made, and a wound retractor was inserted into the abdomen without difficulty. Abdominal distension was obtained using a fan-shaped retractor without the use of carbon dioxide insufflations. A 5-mm flexible scope and modified curved graspers and dissectors were used to give the feeling of triangulation during dissection. Results: The SLC group consisted of 25 males and 36 females with a mean age of 58.1 ± 7.2 years and a mean body mass index of 23.1 ± 3.2 kg/m2. The two groups were comparable for mean age, sex, disease, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and comorbidity. Likewise, the duration of operation, postoperative hospital stays, complications, the number of use of analgesics, and conversion rate to open technique were not significantly different in the two groups. Conclusion: The impaired view in single-port laparoscopic surgery can be improved by using articulating instruments that can be rotated out of the field of view. This novel gasless method is cost-effective and produces minimal postoperative discomfort with no additional scars.

A long-term survival case of advanced biliary cancer with repeated resection due to recurrence in the pancreaticogastrostomy site after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

A 62-year-old man underwent endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer. The follow-up computed tomography revealed biliary dilatation. The tumor was located in the lower bile duct with biliary dilatation, and no evidence of metastasis in other organs was noted. The patient underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy and Billroth I anastomosis. At 13 months after the operation, gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a tumor lesion in the pancreaticogastrostomy site. Computed tomography revealed that the lesion was low enhanced in the pancreaticogastrostomy site and there was no evidence of other distant metastasis. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Pathological findings of the tumor in the stump of the pancreas revealed findings similar to that of primary biliary carcinoma. Apparently, the patient was diagnosed with recurrence of bile duct cancer via the pancreatic duct. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy for one year subsequent to partial pancreatectomy as the second operation. For 40 months after the second operation, there has been no evidence of recurrence of cancer.

Experimental study of the evaluation of liver function on the opposite side during portacaval anastomosis and ligation of the left portal branch.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is likely to accompany liver cirrhosis in which the portal pressure increases with portasystemic shunt. When portal tumor thrombus is present in the primary bifurcation, blood flow differs between the thrombolic lobe and the non-thrombolic lobe. In those cases, it is difficult to evaluate exactly residual liver function by conventional test. Therefore, the following studies were performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult mongrel dogs are divided into a control group (C group), group undergoing ligation of the left portal branch (PL group), group undergoing portacaval anastomosis (PCS group) and group undergoing both ligation of the left portal branch and portacaval anastomosis (PL+PCSgroup)(n=5). ICG-R15 and MEGX15 in peripheral venous blood and right hepatic venous blood were determined. Mitochondrial metabolic capacity (adenosine triphosphate level, energy charge) was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography using liver biopsied specimens. RESULTS: The MEGX ratio (right hepatic venous blood MEGX15/peripheral venous blood MEGX 15) positively correlated with energy charge in the right hepatic lobe. CONCLUSIONS: In evaluating liver function of the right hepatic lobe during portacaval shunt and the left portal branch ligation, the MEGX ratio may sensitively reflect the mitochondrial function.