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We herein describe the rare case of a patient with a gastric duplication cyst who underwent laparoscopic resection. A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an intra-abdominal lesion incidentally diagnosed on abdominal computed tomography. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed normal esophageal and gastric mucosa without any lesions. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed an 18 mm well-defined mass adjacent to the lesser curvature side of the esophagogastric junction. Following clinical diagnosis as an intra-abdominal mass, the patient underwent laparoscopic surgery in a five-port setting. The lesion originated from the stomach, near the muscular layer. The stomach muscle layer was partially resected; however, no communication between the mass and gastric mucosa was identified. Macroscopically, the resected specimen was 19 × 18 mm with a smooth surface and distinct margins. Microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a gastric duplication cyst. The inner surface was covered with gastric gland pit-type columnar epithelial cells without atypia or neoplastic changes. The cyst wall presented layers of mucosa, muscularis mucosae, submucosa, muscularis propria, and subserosa. The patient's course after the procedure was uneventful, and he was discharged 8 days postoperatively. Gastric duplication cysts are rare and mostly asymptomatic, and their laparoscopic partial resection is safe and effective., (© 2024. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

The placement of a jejunostomy catheter during esophagectomy may cause postoperative bowel obstruction. The proximity of the jejunostomy site to the midline might be associated with bowel obstruction, and we have introduced laparoscopic jejunostomy (Lap-J) to reduce jejunostomy's left lateral gap. We evaluated 92 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between February 2013 and August 2022 to clarify the benefits of Lap-J compared to other methods. The patients were classified into two groups according to the method of feeding catheter insertion: jejunostomy via small laparotomy (J group, n = 75), and laparoscopic jejunostomy (Lap-J group, n = 17). Surgery for bowel obstruction associated with the feeding jejunostomy catheter (BOFJ) was performed on 11 in the J group. Comparing the J and Lap-J groups, the distance between the jejunostomy and midline was significantly longer in the Lap-J group (50 mm vs. 102 mm; P < 0.001). Regarding surgery for BOFJ, the distance between the jejunostomy and midline was significantly shorter in the surgery group than in the non-surgery group (43 mm vs. 52 mm; P = 0.049). During esophagectomy, Lap-J can prevent BOFJ by placing the jejunostomy site at the left lateral position to the midline and reducing the left lateral gap of the jejunostomy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Herein, we report the case of a patient with splenic hemangioma after distal gastrectomy who was treated with laparoscopic partial splenectomy. A 64-year-old woman previously underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with regional lymph-node dissection for a gastric neuroendocrine tumor (G3) with venous infiltration and no lymph-node metastases. Periodic follow-up abdominal computed tomography revealed a well-defined, heterogeneous mass in the lower pole of the spleen 5 years after the operation, which grew from 12 to 19 mm 1 year later. A laparoscopic partial splenectomy was planned. During surgery, a smooth-surfaced mass with a lighter color than that of the surrounding area was observed at the lower pole of the spleen. The inferior polar branch of the splenic artery was transected, and the ischemic area of the lower pole of the spleen, where the tumor was present, was confirmed. First, the line used to perform splenic transection was determined using soft coagulation. The splenic parenchyma was then gradually transected using a vessel-sealing device system, and partial splenectomy was possible with almost no bleeding. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8 without any complications. Pathological examination revealed a hemangioma without any malignant findings. Laparoscopic partial splenectomy is a safe and useful procedure that can be performed, considering the tumor size and location., (© 2023. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Background/aim: Despite the widespread use of laparoscopic surgery, intracorporeal anastomosis remains a complicated procedure that often prolongs the operation time. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel staple line reinforcement (SLR) during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer., Patients and Methods: The study included 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Kochi Medical School between November 2021 and May 2022. A review of these patients was conducted, and perioperative outcomes were compared according to the use of SLR., Results: The reconstruction time using SLR was significantly shorter compared to when SLR was not used (20.5 min vs. 32.0 min, p=0.048). The incidence of hemostasis during anastomosis was significantly lower in the SLR group than in the non-SLR group (0 vs. 3 times, p=0.041). There were no significant differences in the operating time and estimated blood loss after surgery between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications or nutritional status between the two groups., Conclusion: The usefulness of SLR in reducing the time for intracorporeal reconstruction and archiving the best interaction between device and tissue during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer, was herein demonstrated., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

We report a case of solitary port-site recurrence after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. A 66-year-old man had previously undergone laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy with regional lymph-node dissection for advanced gastric cancer, which was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma invading the subserosal layer with lymphatic infiltration and no lymph-node metastases. He experienced dull pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen 42 months after the surgery. On physical examination, erythematous induration of the skin around the scar of the port insertion was observed in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a subcutaneous lesion with a well-defined mass measuring 3.0 cm in diameter located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. A skin biopsy revealed a metastatic adenocarcinoma from gastric cancer. Since there was no evidence of further metastatic lesions in other organs, the patient underwent surgical resection of the metastatic tumor arising at the port site. The abdominal wall tumor was resected with a leaf-skin incision and an adequate safety margin, and the inferior border of the tumor reached the muscular layer, which was resected with the tumor. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the subcutaneous tissue with invasion of the muscle layer at the port site. The postoperative course was uneventful; chemotherapy using oxaliplatin plus S-1 was administered, and the patient was in good health with no evidence of the disease for 3 months postoperatively. Although port-site metastasis after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer is a rare recurrence form, we should be aware of this issue, and further studies and assessments of additional cases are needed to establish a treatment strategy., (© 2021. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

We report a rare case of cystic lymphangioma of the greater omentum, which was treated by laparoscopic resection. A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of a perigastric cystic lesion. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed neither a mucosal lesion nor a submucosal tumor in the stomach. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging showed a cystic lesion in the ventral side of the lower part of the stomach and no mass lesions in the liver. The patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the cystic lesion. The intraoperative observation confirmed that a well-defined cystic lesion was present wrapped in the greater omentum and located predominantly in the right side. Although the cystic lesion was located directly beside the right gastroepiploic artery and vein, excision of the cystic lesion along with the cuff of the omentum was performed without sacrificing the vessels. Macroscopic examination of the resected specimen showed an ovoid, cystic mass measuring 7.5 × 4.3 cm within the omentum. The pathological diagnosis was "cystic lymphangioma without malignant signs." Following surgery, the patient remained symptom-free without evidence of recurrence for 6 months. The laparoscopic approach, being minimally invasive, can be considered the most feasible approach for the resection of an abdominal cystic lymphangioma., (© 2021. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Background: Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital condition in which the thoracic and abdominal organs are inverted like a mirror image., Case Report: We present a case of synchronous gastric cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) associated with SIT in a 74-year-old man who was admitted to our department to treat gastric cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a depressed lesion and a submucosal tumor (SMT) in the middle-third of the stomach. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed complete inversion of the internal organs, and the common hepatic artery branched from the superior mesenteric artery. The patient underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with regional lymph node dissection and Billroth I reconstruction. The macroscopic observation of the resected specimen revealed a depressed lesion measuring 2.0×1.5 cm in diameter and an SMT measuring 2.2×1.8 cm., Conclusion: Careful preoperative anatomic evaluation is important in SIT because the situs anomalies may be accompanied by major vascular anomalies., (Copyright© 2021, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

New diagnostic techniques based on photodynamic medicine, such as near-infrared fluorescence using indocyanine green (NIR-ICG) and 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic diagnosis (ALA-PDD), are aiding navigation tasks across various fields of surgery. Specifically, NIR-ICG is being used for the intraoperative identification of sentinel lymph nodes or blood vessels in organ resection and for blood flow evaluation in surgery. These ICG-fluorescent imaging techniques could provide an additional and potentially valuable way to identify vascular and lymphatic structures in surrounding tissue. 5-Aminolevulinic acid is a precursor of a photosensitizing substance with affinity for tumors; thus, diagnostic laparoscopy using ALA-PDD in combination should improve the accuracy of detecting peritoneal dissemination in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The ability to overlay fluorescent imaging with conventional color images in real time using ALA-PDD and NIR with ICG would be of immense benefit to surgeons, providing good visualization and detection of target lesions not seen with the naked eye. A multi-center clinical study examining the safety and efficacy of ALA-PDD during laparoscopic examination for patients with advanced gastric cancer is currently underway in the form of doctor-initiated trials, and further verification studies will be conducted. Such imaging capability could have broad potential across cancer and vascular surgery.

Purpose: Intraoperative identification of the cancer location is often difficult to conduct during laparoscopic surgery, especially in early-stage cancers. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel endoscopic clip resin-conjugated fluorescent indocyanine green during laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal cancer., Methods: Preoperative placement of endoscopic marking clips equipped with resin-conjugated fluorescent indocyanine green was performed to determine the resection margin in eight patients with gastrointestinal cancer. During laparoscopic surgery, a dedicated laparoscopic system with a xenon light source was used to detect fluorescence. The evaluation determined whether the fluorescent from the clips was visualized during laparoscopic surgery., Results: Fluorescent signal emitted from ICG in the resin of the clips was detected in six patients from the outer layer of the serosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract, and the clips aided in accurate resection line of the organ. There were no significant differences of age, gender, and BMI between the patients in whom we could and could not detect ICG fluorescence., Conclusions: The results demonstrated the usefulness of a novel clip-equipped fluorescent resin, which is a promising diagnostic tool to detect accurate tumor location during laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of thoracoscopic esophagectomy performed in the prone position (TSE-PP) followed by laparoscopic gastric mobilization (LGM) compared with open thoracotomy and LGM, for esophageal cancers., Methods: We reviewed the records of 105 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy with LGM for esophageal cancer at Kochi Medical School. Among the study patients, 60 patients underwent TSE-PP, while 45 underwent open thoracotomy (OPEN group). The perioperative outcomes of the two groups were compared., Results: Compared to the OPEN group, the TSE-PP group had lower blood loss (TSE-PP, 150 mL; OPEN, 430 mL; P < 0.001), longer operative time (TSE-PP, 609 min; OPEN, 570 min; P = 0.012), more lymph nodes dissected around the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (TSE-PP, 6; OPEN, 2; P < 0.001), and a shorter length of hospital stay (TSE-PP, 16.5 days; OPEN, 35 days; P < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications was similar in the two groups. Though the recurrence rate and overall survival were not significantly different in the two groups, the TSE-PP group had better overall survival rates than the OPEN group (P = 0.122)., Conclusions: Patients who underwent TSE-PP with LGM for esophageal cancers recovered earlier after surgery compared to those who underwent open thoracotomy with LGM.

Herein we report on a case of two adenocarcinomas arising from an upside-down stomach in an elderly patient. An 83-year-old man was referred to our hospital with gastric cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed two superficial depressed lesions in the stomach that were confirmed on biopsy as constituting a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. CT and an upper gastrointestinal barium study revealed that the entire stomach and parts of the duodenum were located in the mediastinum. The patient underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy and regional lymph node dissection with Billroth I reconstruction, followed by reduction of the migrated stomach. The hiatal defect was closed by primary suturing of the right and left crura at the anterior space of the esophagus. The patient's postoperative course was good, and follow-up after discharge was uneventful. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of multiple adenocarcinomas in an upside-down stomach treated by laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy., (© 2016 Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery, Asia Endosurgery Task Force and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Less invasive esophagectomy using laparoscopic or thoracoscopic surgery has been reported to have the advantages in short-term recovery over the conventional open thoraco-abdominal approach. However, few reports directly compare laparoscopic gastric mobilization (LGM) and thoracotomy with laparotomy and thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to prove the clinical efficacy of LGM compared with open thoraco-abdominal esophagectomy (OE) in treating thoracic esophageal cancer., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 92 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy by OE (n=47) or LGM (n=45) between 1999 and 2009 at Kochi Medical School (Kochi, Japan) to analyze the surgical outcomes., Results: Patients who underwent LGM had significantly lower operative blood loss (430 versus 1060 mL; P<.001), lower rate of postoperative infections (POIs) (33.3 versus 55.3%; P=.034), shorter length of intensive care unit stay (1 versus 3 days; P<.001), and hospital stay (35 versus 46 days; P=.003)., Conclusions: LGM has clinical benefits compared with OE in reduced POIs and faster recovery for patients with esophageal cancer.

Background and Aims: The operative mortality and morbidity associated with esophageal surgery has been decreasing with advances in surgical techniques and equipment, however, postoperative complication remains a major cause of a potentially fatal outcome. We herein describe a new technique for esophagectomy by total laparoscopic gastric mobilization technique as a minimally invasive surgery., Patients and Methods: Between April 2003 and August 2007, 36 patients who were suffering from esophageal cancer were surgically resected at Kochi Medical School. Operation-related parameters, mortality, postoperative complication, intubation time, and length of surgical intensive care unit in patients with total laparoscopic gastric mobilization for esophagectomy (the TLGM group, n = 16) were evaluated, compared to patients with ordinary thoraco-abdominal esophagectomy (the OPEN group, n = 20)., Results: There was no mortality in the TLGM group and one hospital death in the OPEN group. Operation time of the OPEN group (506 +/- 64 min) was significant shorter than that of the TLGM group (558 +/- 67 min). The estimated intraoperative blood loss volume in patients of the TLGM group (496 +/- 259 mL) was much smaller than those of the OPEN group (1,067 +/- 566 mL). The intubation time and the intensive care unit stay in the TLGM group were much shorter than that in the OPEN group., Conclusions: Esophagectomy with regional lymphadenectomy combined with total laparoscopic gastric mobilization is a safe and beneficial opportunity for patients who underwent surgical procedure for esophageal cancer.