Development of an ultralow-latency communication system using shared internet access: promoting the implementation of telemedicine.

Telemedicine is becoming increasingly important to address the shortage of gastrointestinal surgeons and disparities in domestic and international treatment outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer. The development of a low-latency communication system using existing communication infrastructure (shared internet access: SIA) is necessary to promote the use of telemedicine. The aim of this study was to develop a low-latency communication system using SIA. We conducted an experiment between Sapporo and Tokyo using an ultralow-latency communication system for remote medical education (TELEPRO®). The latency was measured using 2000 annotations from a monitor in Sapporo, which confirmed a median latency of 27.5 ms. A low-latency communication system based on SIA with latency lower than the maximum allowable latency for telemedicine was developed successfully.

[A Case of Conversion Surgery after Long-Term Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis].

A 66-year-old woman was referred to the gastroenterology division of our hospital due to elevation of serum CEA level. Contrast-enhanced CT showed a hypovascular tumor at the body of pancreas. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by EUS-FNA. By laparotomy, we found white nodules on mesentery and abdominal wall, which were diagnosed as peritoneal metastasis. After systemic chemotherapy with 9 courses of gemcitabine(GEM)plus nab-paclitaxel(PTX)and 30 courses of mFOLFIRINOX, the tumor had shrunk and serum CA19-9 level were remarkably decreased. Distal pancreatectomy was performed as conversion surgery. Pathological analysis revealed no remnant cancer cells in the primary tumor or the lymph nodes, confirming a pCR. S-1 was started as adjuvant chemotherapy, and she remains alive without recurrence 8 months after surgery.

[A Case of Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule after Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer].

An umbilical metastasis from an internal malignancy is called Sister Mary Joseph's nodule(SMJN)and has a poor prognosis. Herein, we report a case of umbilical metastasis of cervical cancer. A woman in her eighties underwent radiation therapy for cervical cancer(cT3bN0M0, cStage ⅢB). Primary tumor shrank after treatment, suggesting that radiation therapy induced complete response. Two years and 9 months after treatment, the patient presented with umbilical pain. A CT scan showed an umbilical mass near the umbilical hernia. PET-CT demonstrated high accumulation of FDG at the mass, which led to suspicion of umbilical metastasis(SMJN). Although she underwent radical surgery, she died from cancer 8 months after surgery.

DENEB: Development of new criteria for curability after local excision of pathological T1 colorectal cancer using liquid biopsy.

According to the current international guidelines, high-risk patients diagnosed with pathological T1 (pT1) colorectal cancer (CRC) who underwent complete local resection but may have risk of developing lymph node metastasis (LNM) are recommended additional intestinal resection with lymph node dissection. However, around 90% of the patients without LNM are exposed to the risk of being overtreated due to the insufficient pathological criteria for risk stratification of LNM. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a noninvasive biomarker for molecular residual disease and relapse detection after treatments including surgical and endoscopic resection of solid tumors. The CIRCULATE-Japan project includes a large-scale patient-screening registry of the GALAXY study to track ctDNA status of patients with stage II to IV or recurrent CRC that can be completely resected. Based on the CIRCULATE-Japan platform, we launched DENEB, a new prospective study, within the GALAXY study for patients with pT1 CRC who underwent complete local resection and were scheduled for additional intestinal resection with lymph node dissection based on the standard pathologic risk stratification criteria for LNM. The aim of this study is to explore the ability of predicting LNM using ctDNA analysis compared with the standard pathological criteria. The ctDNA assay will build new evidence to establish a noninvasive personalized diagnosis in patients, which will facilitate tailored/optimal treatment strategies for CRC patients.

Postoperative pain management after concomitant sacrectomy for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess pain management in patients post-sacrectomy, focusing on opioid use, and to identify the factors associated with postoperative pain. METHODS: Patients who underwent resection of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) with concomitant sacrectomy at one of two hospitals between 2007 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. We examined the use of opioids preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients were classified into high and low sacrectomy groups based on the sacral bone resection level passing through the S3 vertebra. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled. Opioid use was significantly higher in the high sacrectomy group than in the low sacrectomy group at all times assessed: on postoperative days 7, 14, 30, 90, 180, and 365. Opioid use 3 months after locally recurrent rectal cancer surgery was significantly higher in patients with local re-recurrence of the tumor than in those without re-recurrence (p < 0.05), and the median morphine-equivalent opioid use 3 months postoperatively was significantly higher in the high sacrectomy group (30 vs. 0 mg/day; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Opioid use after concomitant sacrectomy for LRRC was higher in the high sacrectomy group. Prolonged postoperative pain or increasing pain was associated with local recurrence.

[A Case of Palliative Abdominoperineal Resection and Perineal Reconstruction by Gluteus Maximus Flap following Regrowth of Primary Anal Canal Cancer with the Perianal Skin Infiltration after CRT].

An 85-year-old woman who visited the hospital with sores on the perianal skin was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal(cT3N1aM0, cStage ⅢC). She received chemoradiotherapy(radiation total 54 Gy/30 Fr, mitomycin C/capecitabine). The tumor initially shrank, but regrowth of the primary lesion, extensive perianal skin infiltration, and the appearance of para aortic lymph node metastases was observed 6 months later. Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was performed to mitigate strong local symptoms. The perineal defect was repaired with bilateral gluteus maximus flap(V- Y flap). The operation prevented anal pain and improved ADL. The patient is currently undergoing chemotherapy 7 months after surgery. We report the case with a review of the literature in which ADL was improved by salvage surgery for tumor regrowth with severe local symptoms and distant metastases after chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

Long-term survival differences between sevoflurane and propofol use in general anesthesia for gynecologic cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of anesthetic management with propofol or sevoflurane on the prognosis of patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent gynecologic cancer (cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer) surgery between 2006 and 2018 at the National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital. Patients were grouped according to anesthesia type for maintenance of anesthesia: propofol or sevoflurane. After propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed for overall survival, cancer-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival. Univariate and multivariate cox regression models were used to compare hazard ratios for recurrence-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 193 patients with propofol and 94 with sevoflurane anesthesia were eligible for analysis. After propensity score matching, 94 patients remained in each group. The sevoflurane group showed significantly lower survival rates than the propofol group with respect to 10-year overall survival (89.3% vs. 71.6%; p = 0.007), 10-year cancer-specific survival (91.0% vs 80.2%; p = 0.039), and 10-year recurrence-free survival (85.6% vs. 67.7%; p = 0.008). Sevoflurane anesthesia was identified as an independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, distant recurrence was significantly more frequent in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery, sevoflurane anesthesia was associated with worse overall, cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survival than propofol anesthesia.

Protocol of the QUATTRO-II study: a multicenter randomized phase II study comparing CAPOXIRI plus bevacizumab with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: First-line treatment with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (BEV) is highly effective and regarded as one of the standards-of-care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), despite the high incidence of neutropenia and diarrhea as side effects. AXEPT, an Asian phase III study, showed that modified CAPIRI+BEV [capecitabine (CAP: 1600 mg/m2), irinotecan (IRI: 200 mg/m2), and BEV (7.5 mg/m2)] was non-inferior to FOLFIRI+BEV as a second-line therapy for mCRC patients and was associated with a lower incidence of hematologic toxicities. Thus, a reduced dose of the CAP and IRI regimen in combination with oxaliplatin (OX) and BEV (CAPOXIRI+BEV) may be more feasible than FOLFOXIRI+BEV, without compromising efficacy. METHODS: QUATTRO-II is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II study. In Step 1, the recommended doses of OX and IRI will be investigated as a safety lead-in. In Step 2, patients will be randomized to the recommended dose of either CAPOXIRI+BEV or FOLFOXIRI+BEV. Induction triplet chemotherapy plus BEV treatments will be administered for up to 4 months followed by fluoropyrimidine plus BEV maintenance. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). The similarity in PFS between the two arms will be evaluated by observing whether the point estimate of hazard ratio (HR) for PFS falls between 0.80 and 1.25. Ensuring a 70% probability that the observed HR will be "0.8 < HR < 1.25" under the assumption of the true HR of 1.0, and 100 patients will be evaluated during the 3-year study period. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, overall response rate, safety, and patient reported outcome (PRO) (FACT/GOG-Ntx4). DISCUSSION: Considering the lower incidence of hematologic toxicities with modified CAPIRI+BEV than with FOLFIRI+BEV, CAPOXIRI+BEV may be a promising treatment option if sufficient efficacy and lower hematologic toxicities are indicated in this study. Additionally, a lower incidence of peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) reported following CAPEOX treatment compared to that after FOLFOX in ACHIEVE, an adjuvant phase III trial, suggest that CAPOXIRI+BEV can mitigate OX-induced PSN. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04097444 . Registered September 20, 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04097444 / Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs041190072. Registered October 9, 2019.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Umbilical Metastasis, Pyloric Stenosis, and Peritoneal Dissemination Underwent Palliative Surgery after Chemotherapy].

A 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with gastric cancer, Type 4, cT4b(LN, mesentery of transverse colon), N1 M1H0P1CY1, cStage ⅣB. S-1 and L-OHP(SOX)were administered for 4 courses and clinical response was SD. She interrupted the treatment because of practicing folk therapy. She had an emergency hospitalization due to pyloric stenosis, vomiting, and an umbilical tumor with pain. She was treated with 1 course of mFOLFOX6(5-FU, L-OHP, l-LV)followed by palliative surgery(laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y reconstruction, resection of umbilical tumor, and bypass for transverse colon stenosis due to dissemination). The pathological diagnosis was L, Circ, Type 4, 126×89 mm, por> sig, pT4b(SI, mesentery of transverse colon), pN3a(12/13), H0P1CY1, pStageⅣ, and metastatic umbilical tumor. Following surgery, oral administration of mFOLFOX6 is continued. Umbilical metastasis(Sister Mary Joseph's nodule)is associated with poor prognosis, however, appropriate management including symptom control by palliative surgery and continuation of chemotherapy may lead a better prognosis.

[Palliative Radiotherapy and Sequential Nivolumab Administration for Recurrent Gastric Cancer-A Case Report].

A 52-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. The postoperative diagnosis was por1>muc >por2>tub2, pT4a(SE)N3bM0H0P0CY0, pStage ⅢC. He underwent 6 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. Six months after the surgery, CT showed 2 recurrent lesions: a tumor behind the esophago-jejunal anastomosis and another in the mesentery around the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis. Endoscopy showed intrajejunal invasion. Second-line therapy with paclitaxel and ramucirumab were administered for 3 courses, resulting in rapid progression of the disease. Palliative radiotherapy(39.6 Gy/22 Fr)for both lesions was performed for local control. Sequential administration of nivolumab was started 9 days after terminating radiotherapy. After 6 courses, both tumors markedly reduced PR, and the oral intake of food improved. After 10 courses, there was hyper-progression of the tumor behind the esophago-jejunal anastomosis and shrinkage of the other tumor. Surgery (left upper abdominal exenteration and enucleation of the tumor in the mesentery)was performed to release the jejunal limb obstruction. The tumor behind the esophago-jejunal anastomosis was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and no viable cancer cells were seen in the tumor in the mesentery. Radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be effective for gastric cancers, although the mechanism of action should be elucidated.

Long-term Outcomes of Single-Site Laparoscopic Colectomy With Complete Mesocolic Excision for Colon Cancer: Comparison With Conventional Multiport Laparoscopic Colectomy Using Propensity Score Matching.

BACKGROUND: Complete mesocolic excision has been suggested to improve oncological outcomes for patients with colon cancer. However, the long-term outcomes of single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the long-term outcomes of single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision compared with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer, as well as the short-term outcomes. DESIGN: This is a single-center, retrospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at Osaka University Hospital in Japan. PATIENTS: A total of 971 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer between 2008 and 2014 were included. Of these patients, 517 were analyzed using propensity score matching (231 with single-site laparoscopic colectomy and 286 with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrence, survival, intraoperative morbidity, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Before propensity score matching, the single-site laparoscopic colectomy group had greater proportions of women and of patients with right-sided and early stage tumors compared with the conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy group. After matching, the 2 groups each included 200 patients and did not significantly differ in any patient characteristics. The median follow-up period was 41.4 months. The 2 groups showed similar rates of intraoperative morbidity (p = 0.22) and postoperative complications (p = 0.87). Rates of 3-year disease-free and overall survival in single-site laparoscopic colectomy and conventional, multiport, laparoscopic colectomy groups were 95.5% and 91.3% (p = 0.44) and 100.0% and 98.7% (p = 0.24). The 3-year disease-free and overall survival rates in each stage did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective nature. CONCLUSIONS: Single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer provided acceptable perioperative outcomes and oncological outcomes, similar to those achieved with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy. Evidence accumulation from randomized controlled trials will be necessary to promote the wide acceptance of single-site laparoscopic colectomy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A326.

Safety and Feasibility of Umbilical Diverting Loop Ileostomy for Patients with Rectal Tumor.

BACKGROUND: Fashioning an ileostomy in the umbilicus and combining the trauma from extraction of colorectum with that from ileostomy should be less invasive and lead to improved cosmetic outcomes. However, there are only a few reports regarding umbilical ileostomy. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data for 121 consecutive patients with rectal tumor who underwent elective laparoscopic rectal resection with diverting loop ileostomy between 2010 and 2015 at Osaka University Hospital, Japan. The safety and feasibility of umbilical diverting loop ileostomy and its influence on stoma care were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were included in this study; of these, 30 underwent umbilical diverting loop ileostomy and 53 underwent conventional diverting loop ileostomy, which was created in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The umbilical and conventional groups showed similar rates of postoperative and stoma-related complications (26.7 vs. 32.1%, p = 0.804 and 3.3 vs. 3.8%, p = 1.000, respectively). Level of parastomal dermatitis was evaluated by DET score at three time points (stoma self-management establishment, first outpatient review post-discharge, and just before stoma closure). DET scores at any time points did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical diverting loop ileostomy is comparable to conventional ileostomy with regard to safety and feasibility. Our methods for umbilical ileostomy using the umbilical skin flap were less invasive and did not have a negative impact on stoma care and parastomal dermatitis. Umbilical ileostomy may be a promising alternative to conventional ileostomy in selected cases.

The influence of specific technical maneuvers utilized in the creation of diverting loop-ileostomies on stoma-related morbidity.

PURPOSE: The association between technical maneuvers in fashioning a diverting loop-ileostomy and stoma-related complications remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate their relevance to stoma-related morbidity. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study was designed to collect data from 37 institutions. We evaluated the perioperative outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent surgery to create a diverting loop-ileostomy in 2013. RESULTS: A total of 4137 patients with colorectal disease underwent colorectomy, 279 of whom received an ileostomy. The results of these 279 patients were analyzed. The most common complications were parastomal dermatitis (n = 132) followed by ileus (n = 36), mucocutaneous separation (n = 24), parastomal hernia (n = 16), stoma retraction (n = 15), and stoma prolapse (n = 9). The technical maneuvers used in the creation of ileostomies were heterogeneous and some had a great deal of relevance to the complications. A long distance from the ileocecal valve to the ileostomy was associated with a low risk of stoma retraction and a high risk of ileus. Additionally, the height of the distal limb of the ileostomy significantly affected the incidence of parastomal dermatitis and mucocutaneous separation. CONCLUSIONS: Specific technical maneuvers that are utilized in the creation of diverting loop-ileostomies had a significant influence on the incidence of stoma-related morbidities. Our findings emphasize the possibility of minimizing stoma-related complications with appropriate surgical techniques.

Single-incision laparoscopic rectopexy (Wells) with simultaneous sigmoidectomy in a case of complete rectal prolapse and a sigmoid tumor: report of a case.

Recently, the technique of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for colorectal disease has rapidly disseminated in association with improvements in instrumentation and procedures, offering a less invasive procedure and excellent cosmetic results. We herein present the case of a 74-year-old female who suffered complete rectal prolapse with a pedunculated polyp (20 mm) in the sigmoid colon; the stalk of the polyp was too thick to perform endoscopic mucosal resection, which is associated with a high risk of bleeding. The patient was successfully managed using single-incision laparoscopic rectopexy (Wells) with simultaneous sigmoidectomy, a procedure that has not been reported in the literature to date. There were no perioperative complications. The patient's constipation caused by the rectal prolapse improved, and no recurrence was observed for 2 months after the operation. This case emphasizes that complete rectal prolapse is a benign disease occurring in elderly patients that is well suited to treatment with minimally invasive single-incision laparoscopic surgery.

[A case of pathological complete response with neoadjuvant XELOX chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer].

A 70-year-old man presenting with melena was referred to our clinic. A clinical examination revealed a bulky tumor in the lower rectum. After ileostomy, 4 courses of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) therapy were administered as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed significant reduction of the tumor. Laparoscopic super-low anterior resection with lateral lymph node dissection was performed. The pathological examination revealed no residual cancer cells, and a diagnosis of pathological complete response was made. The patient has been disease-free for 1 year after the operation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX might be promising for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

[A case of solitary fibrous tumor from the greater omentum resected via laparoscopic surgery].

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) are relatively rare neoplasms that usually arise in the thoracic cavity in adults. Although many cases of extrathoracic SFT have been recently reported, SFT from the omentum is rare. A 32-year-old woman consulted a gynecologist complaining of irregular vaginal bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor in the omentum, and the patient was admitted to our department. The patient underwent laparoscopic tumorectomy. The tumor size was 48 × 35 × 30 mm, and grayish-white nodules were observed. Histological examination showed hyperplastic spindle-shaped tumor cells with a pattern-less arrangement. Immunohistochemical staining showed the tumor was positive for CD34 and bcl-2, slightly positive for alpha smooth muscle actin(a-SMA), and negative for S-100 and c-kit. Accordingly, a diagnosis of SFT was made. The patient has not shown any recurrence 12 months after surgery. Most SFTs are benign, although there are some reports of recurring tumors. There are no clear guidelines for the treatment of SFT because of its rarity. Therefore, close long-term follow-up should be performed.

Cylindrical abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer using the Hugo RAS system: The first ever case report for rectal cancer.

In May 2023, the Hugo RAS system obtained pharmaceutical approval for use in gastroenterological surgery in Japan. It is expected to be particularly effective in rectal cancer surgery, which require the manipulation of the deep pelvic cavity and communication with surgeons operating from the intraperitoneal and anal approaches. A 68-year-old woman presented to our hospital with bloody stools and was diagnosed with cStage I (cT2N0M0) rectal cancer and underwent abdominoperineal resection employing the Hugo RAS system. Two arm carts were placed on the left and right lateral sides with an interleg space, and trocars were placed in a straight line between the right superior iliac spine and umbilicus. Herein, we report the first abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer using the Hugo RAS system.

A first report of right-hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer in Japan with the da Vinci SP surgical robot system.

BACKGROUND: The da Vinci SP robotic surgical system received regulatory approval for use in colorectal cancer surgery in Japan in April 2023. Given the advantages of the precision of a robot and the postoperative cosmesis of single-site surgery, the system is expected to be further utilized for minimally invasive surgeries, in addition to the curative and safety-assured laparoscopic technique. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man presented at our hospital with positive fecal occult blood. He was diagnosed with cT2N0M0 (Stage I) ascending colon cancer and underwent a right hemicolectomy, which was performed with the da Vinci SP system. The operation was performed safely, and the patient was discharged without complications. Pathology findings showed that complete mesocolic excision was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we report the first colorectal cancer surgery performed using the da Vinci SP system in Japan. The use of this robotic surgical system with access forms for right hemicolectomy is safe and oncologically appropriate.

CD8-positive T Cell Infiltration With Human Leukocyte Antigen Class 1 Expression Predicts Patients With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Survival.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The immune microenvironment in cancer correlates with cancer progression and patient prognosis. Cancer immune microenvironment evaluation, based on CD3+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration at the center and invasive margin of the tumor, is defined as the immunoscore. An international multicenter analysis revealed that the immunoscore can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) (stage I, II, and III). However, no markers are currently available to predict the prognosis in patients with stage IV CRC. We thus aimed to analyze the immune microenvironment in patients with stage IV CRC in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the immune microenvironment of patients with stage IV CRC using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. We evaluated the expressions of CD8 and the cases were divided into CD8 high (CD8Hi) and CD8 low (CD8Low) groups according to median CD8 expression. HLA class 1 (HLA1) expression was also evaluated using IHC staining and the cases were divided into HLA1Hi group and HLA1Low group according to 50% of HLA1 expression rate. CD8×HLA1 score was defined by the combination of CD8 and HLA1 expressions. RESULTS: CD8Hi and HLA1Hi cases were associated with better prognosis compared with CD8Low and HLA1Low cases according to a log-rank test, respectively. We defined a novel biomarker by combining CD8+ T-cell infiltration and HLA1 expression, referred to as the CD8×HLA1 score. We found that CD8×HLA1Hi cases predicted patient prognosis better than CD8×HLA1Int and CD8×HLA1Low according to a log-rank test. CONCLUSION: The combination of CD8+ T cell infiltration and HLA1 expression is crucial for cancer immune microenvironment evaluation in CRCs.

Tele-proctoring for minimally invasive surgery across Japan: An initial step toward a new approach to improving the disparity of surgical care and supporting surgical education.

Aim: The aim of this study was to verify the clinical feasibility of tele-proctoring using our ultra-low latency communication system with shared internet access. Methods: Connections between two multiple remote locations at various distances were established through the TELEPRO® tele-proctoring system. The server records the latency between the two locations for tele-proctoring using the annotations. Questionnaires were administered to the surgeons, assistants, and medical staff. Respondents rated the quickness and quality of communication in terms of latency and disturbances in the audio, video, and usefulness of the live telestrations with annotation. Results: Seven hospitals tele-proctored with Sapporo Medical University between January 2021 and September 2022. The median latency of annotation between the two locations ranged from 24.5 to 48.5 ms. No major technological problems occurred, such as streaming interruption, loss of video or audio, poor resolution. The video encoding time was 10 ms, and its decoding time was 0.8 ms. The total latency positively correlated with the distance between two locations (R = 0.55, p < 0.01). The quality of communication regarding latency, disturbance, and surgical education with intraoperative annotative instructions showed similar trends, with perfectly fine being the most common response. No significant differences in surgical quality, educational effect, or social impact were observed between the latency ≥30 and <30 ms groups for whether the size of latency affects surgical education. Conclusion: The feasibility of the tele-proctoring system is expected to be a sustainable approach to help education for young surgeons and surgical supports in rural areas, thereby reducing disparities in health care.