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This survey of bile replacement (BR) was conducted on patients with external biliary drainage to assess the current status of indication and implementation protocol of BR with special reference to infection control.A 12-item questionnaire regarding the performance of perioperative BR was sent to 124 institutions in Japan.BR was performed in 29 institutions, and the indication protocol was introduced in 19. BR was performed preoperatively in 11 institutions, pre- and postoperatively in 12, and postoperatively in 6. The methods used for BR administration included oral intake (n = 10), nasogastric tube (n = 1), enteral nutrition tube (n = 3), oral intake and enteral nutrition tube (n = 6), oral intake or nasogastric tube (n = 2), nasogastric tube and enteral nutrition tube (n = 2), and oral intake or nasogastric tube and enteral nutrition tube (n = 5). In 10 of 29 institutions, isolation of multidrug-resistant organisms and a high bacterial load were considered contraindications for the use of BR. Seven institutions experienced environmental contamination.Given the different implementation of BR among institutions, the appropriate indication and protocols for BR should be established for infection control.

MINI: In the present study, we systemically and comprehensively evaluated the prognostic significance of a combination of inflammatory factors using preoperative blood examination, and focused on the potential feasibility of our newly developed lymphocyte-CRP ratio (LCR) as a prognostic biomarker in CRC patients. We have firstly identified that a combination of lymphocytic counts along with CRP levels, which we defined as LCR, is a more reliable indicator of poor prognosis compared with other combinations of inflammatory markers, in CRC patients. Furthermore, preoperative LCR could also identify CRC patients who are at higher risk for postoperative infectious complications. Background Systemic inflammation via host-tumor interactions is currently recognized as a hallmark of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of various combinations of inflammatory factors using preoperative blood, and to assess the clinical significance of our newly developed inflammatory score in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Method In total 477 CRC patients from the discovery and validation cohorts were enrolled in this study. We assessed the predictive impact for recurrence using a combination of nine inflammatory markers in the discovery set, and focused on lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) to elucidate its prognostic and predictive value for peri-operative risk in both cohorts. Results A combination of lymphocytic count along with C-reactive protein levels demonstrated the highest correlation with recurrence compared with other parameters in CRC patients. Lower levels of preoperative LCR significantly correlated with undifferentiated histology, advanced T stage, presence of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and advanced stage classification. Decreased preoperative LCR (using an optimal cut-off threshold of 6000) was an independent prognostic factor for both disease-free survival and overall survival, and emerged as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications and surgical-site infections in CRC patients. Finally, we assessed the clinical feasibility of LCR in an independent validation cohort, and confirmed that decreased preoperative LCR was an independent prognostic factor for both disease-free survival and overall survival, and was an independent predictor for postoperative complications and surgical-site infections in CRC patients. Conclusion Preoperative LCR is a useful marker for perioperative and postoperative management of CRC patients.

Surgical gloves are used to prevent the transmission of microorganisms from the surgeon’s hands to the patient and vice versa. Little is known on the optimal frequency of glove changing. Therefore, we aimed to examine the optimal frequency of glove change during surgery by assessing the glove perforation rate in gastrointestinal surgery. In this observational prospective cohort study, we investigated the incidence of perforation of 5,267 gloves during gastrointestinal surgeries. The overall glove perforation rate was 10.1%. There was no significant difference between single gloving (10.2%) and double gloving (10.0%; p = 0.8491). However, the perforation rate of the inner glove (5.7%) was found to be significantly lower than that of the outer glove (11.6%) (p

Summary Background Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is a well-known risk factor for anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery, but the association between perioperative albumin level and anastomotic leakage has not been fully investigated in curative colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods In total, 200 CRC patients (Stage I–III) undergoing curative laparoscopic surgery between January 2004 and December 2013 were enrolled in this study. We collected data on surgical factors, perioperative levels of serum albumin and inflammatory markers, and perioperative factors affecting hypoalbuminemia from 196 CRC patients to assess the relation to anastomotic leakage. Results Anastomotic leakage occurred in 11 cases (5.6%) and the frequency was higher in rectal cancer patients ( p = 0.0044). There was no significant difference of preoperative serum albumin level between the anastomotic leakage group (AL) and the nonanastomotic leakage group (NAL). Postoperative serum albumin levels in AL were significantly lower than in NAL [postoperative day (POD) 0, p = 0.0004; POD1, p = 0.0001; POD3, p = 0.0004; and POD7, p = 0.0021]. On multivariate analysis, lower average level of serum albumin on POD1 and POD3 {odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 7.53 (1.60–55.80), p = 0.0095}, higher average level of serum white blood cells on POD1 and POD3 [OR (95% CI) = 7.24 (1.40–59.25), p = 0.0165], and surgery for rectal cancer [OR (95% CI) = 15.18 (3.26–93.99), p = 0.0004] were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage. Conclusion Lower early postoperative serum albumin levels are a potentially valuable indicator of anastomotic leakage in CRC patients undergoing curative surgery.

Background/Aims: Pouchitis is one of the main complications after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of colonic histological criteria can predict the development of pouchitis. Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed 147 patients' clinical data and performed a histological evaluation of the resected total colon using Tanaka's criteria, which comprise the following 6 factors: ulceration (H1), crypt abscesses (H2), degree of mononuclear cell infiltration (MNCI) (H3), segmental distribution of MNCI (H4), eosinophil infiltration (H5), and extent of disease of resected colon (H6). Results: The development of pouchitis and chronic pouchitis within 3 years after restoration of gastrointestinal continuity was recognized in 52 (35.4%) and 26 (17.7%) of the 147 patients, respectively. Using various combinations of each score, the H3 + H4 - H5 scores of patients with pouchitis or chronic pouchitis were significantly higher than those of patients without. A H3 + H4 - H5 score of >0.4 was a statistically significant risk factor for the development of both pouchitis and chronic pouchitis. Conclusions: The combination of the degree of MNCI, segmental distribution of MNCI, and eosinophil infiltration from histological criteria has utility in predicting the future development of pouchitis, especially chronic pouchitis.

Aim To identify predictors of poor prognosis of patients with colon cancer (CC) who underwent surgery with curative intent, we investigated the association between the albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) with clinicopathological findings such as overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival. Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective study of clinicopathological findings, including preoperative laboratory data, for 248 patients with stage I-III CC. Results Patients with low AGR had shorter DFS and OS compared to those with high AGR. Multivariate analyses identified low AGR as an independent variable independently associated with recurrence and poor prognosis of patients with CC who underwent surgery with curative intent regardless of lymphnode metastasis. Conclusion The preoperative AGR was an independent predictor of recurrence and poor prognosis of patients with CC who underwent surgery with curative intent. The AGR indicates that these patients may benefit from intensive adjuvant therapy.

Although patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) are often unable to undergo treatment after resection of primary tumors, identifying such patients before surgery is not easy. In this study, we evaluated the association among clinicopathological findings, survival outcomes, and ability to undergo multimodal therapy after primary tumor resection in patients with Stage IV CRC. We collected clinicopathological findings and preoperative laboratory data, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and systemic inflammatory response markers for 92 patients who were treated for Stage IV CRC between 2005 and 2014. We used multivariate analysis on factors that affect prognosis and ability to undergo postoperative treatment. Postoperative multimodal therapy improved overall survival (OS) significantly. Among serum markers, elevated CEA, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and modified Glasgow prognosis score (mGPS) were significant indicators of shorter OS. In multivariate analysis, low performance status (P = 0.003), undifferentiated histology type (P = 0.019), and elevated mGPS (P = 0.042) were independent predictors of worse prognosis; and older age (P = 0.016), right-sided colon cancer (P = 0.043), and elevated mGPS (P = 0.031) were independent risk factors for difficulty of introducing postoperative multimodal therapy. Preoperative mGPS is a useful objective indicator for CRC patients with multiple metastases who are able to undergo primary site resection followed by postoperative multimodal therapy.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a potentially morbid and costly complication of surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine preoperative and operative predictors of SSIs after gastric resection with lymphadenectomy in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Data on clinicopathologic factors, including operative and preoperative laboratory factors, for 384 patients with GC who had undergone curative surgery were analyzed in this retrospective study to assess their associations with SSIs. Superficial/deep incisional SSIs (iSSIs) and organ/space SSIs (o/sSSIs) occurred in 18 (4.6%), and 27 (7.0%), respectively. The o/sSSIs were significantly associated with surgery-related factors such as duration of operation, blood loss, and extent of tumor. Additionally, high levels of preoperative indicators of systemic inflammation, including neutrophil counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein concentrations, were significantly associated with o/sSSIs. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that preoperative neutrophil counts and duration of surgery were independent predictors for o/sSSIs, whereas only preoperative serum albumin concentration was predicted for iSSIs. In patients with GC undergoing curative surgery, preoperative neutrophil count and operation time are potentially valuable predictors of o/sSSIs, whereas only preoperative serum albumin predicts iSSIs.

We report a patient who experienced colonic necrosis after laparoscopic high anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer, and review the literature to evaluate the clinical features of colonic necrosis following surgery for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer. A 76-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer underwent laparoscopic high anterior resection. The operation included high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery and end-to-end anastomosis using circular staples. Pathology findings revealed a pT4N2M0 lesion. Beginning on postoperative day (POD) 1, the patient experienced a high, spiking fever, and gradually developed leukocytosis and high inflammatory condition. The patient complained of abdominal distention, but had no signs of peritonitis. Abdominal computed tomography on POD4 showed wall thickness of the proximal colon from the anastomosis site and ascites with free air. An anastomotic leakage was suspected. Emergency laparotomy revealed a disrupted anastomosis without feces in the abdomen and a gangrenous 15 cm segment of the colon proximal to the anastomosis. The affected area of the colon was excised and Hartmann's procedure was performed. His postoperative period was uneventful. Our review of the literature demonstrates that elderly male patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary complications undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery with high ligation have high risk of postoperative colonic necrosis. We experienced colonic necrosis following laparoscopic high anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer and required immediate resection. Elderly male patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary complications undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery with high ligation should be carefully monitored for postoperative colonic necrosis.

This pilot study aimed to develop a new technique, complete laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) with an intersphincteric resection (ISR) and coloplasty pouch anal anastomosis to avoid any further abdominal incision other than laparoscopic port sites, and to assess the impact on short-quality of life and oncological outcomes of this technique. After laparoscopic TME, large bowel was dissected at the level of the promontory. Then, laparoscopic construction of the coloplasty pouch was performed. Simultaneously, a rectal specimen with ISR was excised using the transanal approach. Coloplasty pouch was gently pulled from pelvic thorough anal and a hand-sewn coloplasty pouch anal anastomosis was created. We had performed 8 surgeries using the new technique. Though one patient developed pelvic infections, but intestinal continuity could be maintained and no local and distant recurrence was recognized in other patients. We foresee this novel approach to have significant clinical potential for lower rectal cancer patients with ISR.

To assess the relationship of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) to outcomes and surgical site infection (SSI) in gastric cancer (GC) treated with curative intent, we retrospectively assessed 384 patients with GC for CAR, SSIs, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and other factors. We found SSIs in 42 patients (10.9%). Pathological T-stage, TNM classification, body mass index, duration of surgery, blood loss and preoperative CAR were significantly associated with SSIs; in multivariate analyses, CAR [hazard ratio (HR)=2.98, p=0.003] and duration of surgery (HR=2.34, p=0.029) independently predicted SSI. Age, sex, T-and N-stages, tumor size and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were associated with high CAR, and high CAR, CEA and CA19-9 combined was associated with shorter OS (p=0.0001) and DFS (p=0.0001). Multivariate analyses also linked high CAR to early recurrence (HR=2.21, p=0.011) and poor prognosis (HR=1.82, p=0.038). We show, for the first time to our knowledge, that a high CAR predicts SSI, early recurrence and poor prognosis in patients with GC treated with curative intent.

We defined small bowel obstruction occurring around the limbs of the ileostomy as stoma-related obstruction (SRO) and investigated the clinical characteristics and predictive factors of SRO. From January 2002 to March 2016, 309 consecutive patients who underwent ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis were enrolled. Two-stage IPAA with diverting ileostomy was analyzed. We assessed the possible associations between SRO and clinical factors. A total of 205 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-three (25.8%) patients with SRO before ileostomy closure were identified for review. All patients with SRO were at least transiently resolved by intubation though orifice of ileostomy (98.1%) or nasally (3.7%). In 18 (33.9%) patients, the ileostomy was taken down ahead of schedule and the small bowel obstruction improved in all cases. Multivariate analysis revealed that age at surgery

The coexistence of sarcopenia is associated with postoperative complications, including infection after abdominal surgery. We evaluated the association between sarcopenia and surgical site infection (SSI) after surgery for ulcerative colitis. The subjects of this retrospective study were 69 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy with perioperative abdominal computed tomography (CT). Sarcopenia was diagnosed by measuring the cross-sectional area of the right and left psoas muscles as the total psoas muscle area on CT images. We assessed whether sarcopenia was associated with SSI and clinical factors, including nutritional and inflammatory markers. The lowest quartiles defined as sarcopenia in men and women were 567.4 and 355.8 mm2/m2, respectively. According to this classification, 12 men and 6 women had sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia had a lower body mass index (p = 0.0004) and a higher C-reactive protein concentration (p = 0.05) than those without sarcopenia. SSIs were identified in 12 patients (17.3 %) and included six pelvic abscesses and seven wound infections. According to multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for SSI (odds ratio = 4.91, 95 % confidence interval 1.09–23.5, p = 0.03). Sarcopenia is predictive of SSI after pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis.

Afferent limb syndrome (ALS) is caused by an obstruction of the afferent intestinal limb after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Here, we describe the first case of ALS to be successfully treated by a laparoscopic approach. A 27-year-old man underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. He was subsequently diagnosed with ALS and underwent ileopexy with laparotomy at 33 years old. Then, 21 months after the first ileopexy, he underwent laparoscopic ileopexy for ALS recurrence. The operative findings revealed a shortened fixed portion of the afferent limb adhering to the right pelvic retroperitoneum, which was regarded as the cause of the acute angulation. The portion of the afferent limb fixed to the abdominal wall was extended under laparoscopic visualization by suturing above the level of the iliac crest. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient remained free of symptoms of obstruction. Laparoscopic ileopexy should be the procedure of choice for patients with ALS.

Afferent limb syndrome (ALS) is a type of small bowel obstruction (SBO) caused by obstruction of the afferent intestinal limb after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). The aim of this study was to reveal the clinical features and management of ALS. Of 320 patients undergoing IPAA for ulcerative colitis, we analyzed data from patients presenting with SBO. Six of 19 patients with SBO were diagnosed with ALS. All patients with ALS presented with recurrent intermittent obstructive symptoms before admission, whereas 15 % of patients without ALS presented with these symptoms (P

Afferent limb obstruction can be a persistent complication after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. We present a case of afferent limb obstruction complicated by a long efferent limb of the ileal pouch that we successfully treated with side-to-side anastomosis of the afferent and efferent limbs. The procedure involved using a transanal endoscopic stapling device assisted by transanal endoscopy with a thin intestinal video endoscope. This allowed reliable, safe visualization of the lesion from the tight pouch-anal anastomosis and facilitated repair with an endoscopic stapling device. Because the technique was performed without enterotomy, it reduced the risks of contamination and leakage from transabdominal small bowel anastomosis. Laparotomy view also prevented of injury to the pouch itself and entrapment of the mesentery of the afferent and efferent limbs of the pouch between the stapler anvils.

A 41-year-old man experienced a swollen scrotum three days after a motorcycle accident and presented to our hospital. He had had a primary suture repair for anoperineal trauma in an outside hospital at the time of the injury. He presented to us with general fatigue, low grade fevers, and perineal pain. Abdominal computed tomography showed subcutaneous emphysema from the scrotum to the left chest. The sutured wound had foul-smelling discharge and white exudate. We made the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis and immediately opened the sutured wound and performed initial debridement and lavage with copious irrigation. We continued antibiotics and lavage of the wound until the infection was controlled. Fortunately, the necrotizing fasciitis did not worsen and he was discharged after 15 days. Our experience indicates that anoperineal injuries should not be closed without careful and intensive follow-up due to the potential of developing necrotizing fasciitis.

Background/aim This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of the C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Patients and methods This retrospective study evaluated the correlation between CAR and prognosis in 115 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. We also carried out subgroup analyses limited to patients with low modified Glasgow prognosis score (mGPS) (score 0) or pathological TNM stage I-II [ypN(-)]. Results CAR exhibited significant relationships with sex, tumor invasion, recurrence, serum carcinoembryonic antigen, and mGPS. Elevated CAR was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among all patients. Elevated CAR also predicted poor OS and DFS in patients with pathological TNM stage I-II [ypN(-)] and low mGPS score. Conclusion CAR is a promising predictor of survival and recurrence in patients with rectal cancer treated by CRT.

A 41-year-old man presented to our hospital with lower abdominal pain and a high-grade fever. Physical examination revealed rebound tenderness and guarding in the lower abdomen. Abdominal X-ray examination showed a radiopaque object in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated that the object had a strong artifact with over 10,000 Hounsfield units, as well as ascites around the terminal ileum. We diagnosed acute peritonitis with a suspicion of the perforation due to unknown foreign body and performed an emergency laparotomy. Operative findings showed a contained perforation of a phlegmonous appendicitis, and appendectomy was performed. The resected specimen demonstrated that the appendix contained a fecalith, and histopathological examination showed the crystal structure of barium sulfate in the lumen of the appendix. Unfortunately, we did not obtain the history of screening for gastric cancer using a barium examination one month prior to our appendectomy. Our experience demonstrates the importance of establishing a history of barium examinations of the gastrointestinal tract in a patient with a radiopaque object in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen for early diagnosis of barium appendicitis. Additionally, early diagnosis of barium appendicitis may affect the selection of surgical procedures.

The aims of this study were to reveal how using the antibiotics recommended by the 2010 Surgical Infection Society (SIS) and Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines can affect the therapeutic outcomes. We reviewed the cases of 53 patients with a postoperative intra-abdominal abscess without anastomotic leakage after gastrointestinal surgery who underwent image-guided percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) and concomitant antibiotic therapy. The type of antibiotic initially administered was determined based on the surgeon’s judgment. A persistent abscess was defined as one or more PAD procedures resulting in complete resolution after 21 or more days. The recommended antibiotics were defined according to 2010 SIS/IDSA guidelines. All 53 patients had complete resolution without the need for surgery. The results of a multivariable analysis revealed that a C-reactive protein level ≥12 mg/dL and non-recommended antibiotics were significant risk factors for a persistent abscess (P = 0.042 and 0.013, respectively). With regard to a fever lasting more than 48 h, there was a significant difference between the recommended (45.1 %) and non-recommended (72.7 %) antibiotic groups (P = 0.046). Using the recommended antibiotics may shorten the time to defervescence and reduce the risk of a persistent abscess in patients undergoing PAD for a postoperative abscess after gastrointestinal surgery.

Elderly patients are regarded as being at increased risk during major abdominal surgery because of a lack of functional reserve and an increased number of comorbidities. The aim of this study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy between elderly and young gastric cancer patients. Two-hundred ten patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer at our institution between January 2001 and December 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two age groups (younger than 70 years and older than 70 years) and were evaluated with respect to postoperative morbidity, quality of life (QOL), and survival. Postoperative morbidity was similar in elderly and young groups (18.3 vs. 21.6 %; P = 0.718). Overall survival of the elderly group was significantly worse than that of the young group (P

Background Central venous catheterization is recognized as a lifeline that is important for chemotherapy or nutritional support in pediatric patients with malignant disease and intestinal failure. This study analyzed the risk of infection with Broviac line use among these patients at a single Japanese center. Methods Two hundred and four Broviac lines were inserted in patients in the pediatric ward from January 2003 to October 2011. We analyzed the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) using clinical characteristics including underlying disease, sepsis history, inserted situation, drug use, and laboratory data at the time of Broviac insertion or before CR-BSI. Results During the study period, data from a total of 15 lines were excluded because of missing blood culture data. In the remaining 189 Broviac lines, 52 lines developed CR-BSI. On univariate analysis, leukemia, infantile Crohn's disease, sepsis history before Broviac insertion, existence of a stoma opening, and immunosuppressant use before CR-BSI were risk factors for CR-BSI. On multivariate logistic regression analysis infantile Crohn's disease, sepsis history before Broviac insertion, and immunosuppressant use before CR-BSI were independently associated with CR-BSI (P = 0.015, P = 0.045, and P = 0.043, respectively). Conclusions Infantile Crohn's disease carries a high risk for CR-BSI because of its pathological condition, the therapeutic drugs required, and surgical intervention.

Our aim was to examine the association between postoperative infection and preoperative systemic inflammation in patients undergoing resection of gastrointestinal cancer. We studied 862 patients who underwent elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery at six institutions. The levels of C-reactive protein and albumin were included as parameters of preoperative systemic inflammation measured using the Glasgow prognostic score. The Glasgow prognostic score was calculated based on the admission data as follows: patients with an elevated level of C-reactive protein (>1.0 mg/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (

Purpose To improve the selection of patients for percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) to treat postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after gastrointestinal surgery, we investigated the factors predictive of outcome. Methods Of 143 consecutive patients with symptomatic postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after a gastrointestinal tract resection, 104 who underwent image-guided PAD as the initial treatment were reviewed. We assessed the possible associations between successful PAD and patient-, abscess-, surgical-, and drainage-related variables, and investigated the success rates of PAD for patients with vs. those without the factors related to successful outcome. Results Based on monitoring for 1 year after PAD, the success rate of this procedure was 85.6 % (89/104). Multivariate analysis revealed that the interval between surgery and the onset of abscess (p = 0.0234) and a single abscess (p = 0.0038) were independently associated with a successful outcome. Single late-onset abscess resolved completely within 10 weeks in 91.4 % of these patients. Conclusions Despite new strategies aimed at preventing surgical site infection, PAD remains an important factor in the postoperative management of gastrointestinal surgery in Japan. Initial recognition of the day of onset and the number of abscesses are important prognostic factors.

Background Lower albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) is associated with increased mortality in several cancers. However, no studies have evaluated the relationship between the AGR and prognostic outcome in esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Methods To identify indicators of early recurrence and poor prognosis, we assessed the clinicopathological findings and preoperative laboratory data (carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], squamous cell carcinoma antigen, total protein, and albumin) of 112 EC patients who underwent surgery. The AGR was calculated as albumin/(total protein–albumin). Results A lower AGR was significantly associated with tumor progression. The CEA level was an independent predictor for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The AGR and CEA combination was identified as a feasible indicator of poor prognosis and early recurrence. Among EC patients without lymph node metastasis, those with lower AGR had poorer DFS and OS than those with higher AGR. Conclusion AGR was identified as a significant predictor of OS and DFS in EC patients. Among EC patients without lymph node metastasis, AGR may help identify candidates who might benefit from more intensive adjuvant therapy.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis, but pouch failure or pelvic sepsis still occurs in some patients. We conducted this study to investigate the cause of pouch failure and evaluate defecatory function after pelvic sepsis. A total of 234 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy were enrolled. We analyzed the cause of pouch failure, as well as defecatory function and manometric outcomes, with and without the complication of pelvic sepsis. Pelvic sepsis developed in 29 (12.3%) of the 234 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy (pelvic sepsis group). The pelvic sepsis led to pouch failure in two of these patients (as a vaginal fistula in one and ileo-anal anastomotic leakage in one). Of the remaining majority of patients who did not suffer pelvic sepsis (control group), nine suffered pouch failure (as vaginal fistula in four, perianal abscess in two, pouch-spinal marrow fistula in one, and chronic pouchitis in two). There were no significant differences in defecatory function or manometric outcomes between the two groups. In the pelvic sepsis group, stool frequency was significantly correlated with white blood cell count (P = 0.01) and the duration until onset of pelvic sepsis (P

Background and Objectives Distant metastatic relapse occurs in approximately 20% of rectal cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. This study aimed to investigate mRNA level of 5-FU metabolizing enzymes in post-treatment specimens and to evaluate their predictive value of distant recurrence after CRT. Methods Forty patients with rectal cancer underwent 5-FU-based CRT followed by surgery. After microdissection, total RNA of residual cancer was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens. Thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRT) as 5-FU metabolizing enzyme were measured using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Patients (n = 6) who developed distant recurrence had a significantly higher TS (P = 0.01), DPD (P = 0.02), and TP (P = 0.01) levels, compared with those patients (n = 34) without recurrence. High TS, DPD, and positive lymph node metastasis (pN) were significantly poorer prognostic factors for DFS (TS: P

Antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) can reduce the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) in gastroenterological surgery; however, in Japan its use was not fully recognized before 2000. The first nationwide guideline was published in 2001, since when the use of AMP has improved gradually. We conducted this study to investigate the current implementation of AMP in colorectal surgery and adherence to recommended practices for preventing SSI in Japan. A questionnaire survey was sent to hospitals accredited by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery and the Japan Society for Surgical Infection (JSSI). The questionnaire focused on the AMP regimen used for colorectal surgery. Responses were received from 721 (58%) of the 1249 hospitals that were sent the survey. The initial AMP dose was administered within 1 h before incision at 94% of the responding institutions. AMP was discontinued within 24 h of surgery at only 10% of institutions. Second-generation cephalosporins were administered at 84% of the institutions. The appropriate use of AMP in colorectal surgery is incomplete in certified institutions in Japan. The fact that many institutions administer AMP for longer than recommended is a problem that needs to be addressed.

The aim of this study was to determine if the placement of prophylactic drains influences the incidence of postoperative adverse events in neonates.Neonatal patients undergoing laparotomy between April 2000 and December 2007 were prospectively assigned to aggressive peritoneal cavity lavage, without the placement of prophylactic drains, before abdominal closure (non-drainage group, n = 111). The historical control group consisted of neonates who underwent laparotomy with routine prophylactic drain placement between January 1993 and March 2000 (drainage group, n = 87). The incidence of postoperative adverse events was compared between the two groups.There were no significant differences in the incidence of overall complications (drainage, 48%; non-drainage, 36%: p = 0.08), infectious complications (drainage, 34%; non-drainage, 26%: p = 0.20) or surgical site infections (drainage, 20%; non-drainage, 14%: p = 0.25) between the two groups. In the subgroup analysis, the incidences of total postoperative complications and infectious complications were significantly higher in the drainage group compared with the non-drainage group for upper gastrointestinal tract operations (52 vs. 20%; 39 vs. 6.7%) (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).Prophylactic drainage did not reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, and the placement of drains may possibly increase the incidence of infectious complications.

Surgical site infection (SSI) prolongs hospital stay, increases medical costs, and occasionally leads to mortality. Our goal was to clarify the differences in SSI incidence between our own data and the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) data.From January 2003 to December 2006, we prospectively collected surveillance data from patients who were undergoing elective colorectal resection at the Mie University Graduate School of Medicine.Three hundred fifty-five elective colorectal resections (144 colon surgeries, 211 rectal surgeries) were included. The median patient age was 57.4 years. SSIs were identified in 60 patients. Cumulative SSI incidence was 16.9%. The average SSI onset was 8.7 days (range = 3-20 days) after operation. Nineteen patients (19/30:31.7%) developed SSI within 6 days of the operation. The incidence of SSI occurring within 6 days after the operation was 5.4%.Seventeen percent of SSIs occurred despite the use of perioperative management according to the CDC guidelines. We reported a much higher SSI incidence than that in the NNIS data. However, the SSI incidence within 6 days of surgery was similar to that of the NNIS data. The difference in SSI incidence between our data and that of the NNIS range may result from the different strict surveillance periods.

Postoperative hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is recognized as a major risk associated with surgery. Although upper abdominal surgery is known to have the highest incidence of postoperative HAP, little is known about the risk factors that contribute to HAP after gastric cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for HAP after elective surgery for gastric cancer. We conducted prospective surveillance of all elective gastric resections by surgeons in ten affiliated hospitals, including ours, from May 2001 to May 2005. The outcome of interest was postoperative HAP. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictive significance of variables in gastric cancer surgery. A total of 529 patients undergoing elective operations for gastric cancer were admitted to the program. Postoperative HAP was identified in 20 patients (3.6%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that male gender and intra- and/or postoperative blood transfusion were independently predictive of postoperative HAP. Male gender and intra- and/or postoperative blood transfusion were independent risk factors for the development of HAP after elective resection of gastric cancer. Surgeons should keep these risk factors in mind when managing postoperative patients.

Background The optimum duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis in elective gastric cancer surgery is still open to question. This multicentre randomized clinical trial compared a single-dose with a multiple-dose regimen of antimicrobial prophylaxis for prevention of surgical-site infection. Methods Between May 2001 and December 2004, 501 patients undergoing elective surgery for gastric cancer in ten centres were allocated randomly to single- or multiple-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of surgical-site infection, analysed by intention to treat. Results Some 243 patients who received a single dose and 243 who received multiple doses of antibiotics were included in the final analysis. The surgical-site infection rate was 9·5 per cent (23 of 243) and 8·6 per cent (21 of 243) respectively (difference 0·9 (95 per cent confidence interval − 4·3 to 5·9) per cent). Antimicrobial prophylaxis had no major adverse effects. Conclusion The incidence of surgical-site infection in elective gastric cancer surgery was similar with both antibiotic prophylaxis regimens.

The use of preoperative oral antibiotics during preparation for elective colorectal surgery remains controversial. This was a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy of intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis alone with combined oral and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.Five hundred patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 491 were randomly assigned to receive either intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis or combined oral and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI within 6 weeks of elective colorectal surgery.The incidence of SSI was similar in the two treatment groups: intravenous alone, 10.7%; and oral and intravenous, 7.0% (difference 3.7%; 95% confidence interval -4.8% to 5.6%). No critical adverse events were reported.The addition of oral antibiotics to intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis showed no advantage in the prevention of SSI.

症例は71歳の男性で, 深達度T2の下部直腸癌に対し, 術前放射線化学療法を施行し, T1への腫瘍縮小を認めたことから, 十分なインフォームドコンセントのうえ, 局所切除術を施行した. 病理診断でpathological complete responseであった. 術後化学療法も併用し, 術後3年5か月無再発生存中である. 下部進行直腸癌に対する手術は, 補助療法の進歩に伴い, 機能温存ならびに縮小へと向かう傾向にあるが, 放射線化学療法を併用し, 局所切除術で対応することに十分なコンセンサスは得られておらず, 今回良好な経過を認めた1例を経験したので報告する.

Aim: The purse-string suture is the most important part of the procedure in stapled hemorrhoidopexy affecting resection of an ideal mucosal rectal ring. We designed a prospective, randomized study to evaluate the safety and clinical outcome of a 6-stitch purse-string suture compared with a more simple 3-stitch purse-string suture intended to achieve certain interruption of the hemorrhoidal artery. Methods: Ninety patients were randomly assigned to undergo stapled hemorrhoidopexy with either a 6-stitch (n = 45) or a 3-stitch (n = 45) purse-string suture. Operative data and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups. The ring of excised rectal mucosa was examined histologically. Anal physiology was also assessed. Results: Although there were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complication rates, histological analysis of the excised mucosa, or anorectal function between the 2 groups, the 3-stitch procedure was significantly superior to the 6-stitch procedure in terms of intraoperative hemostasis and operative time, especially in advanced surgery. Conclusion: Once the learning curve has been completed, a 3-stitch purse-string suture in stapled hemorrhoidopexy could be an alternative to the 6-stitch suture, with effective hemostasis and a shorter operative time.

In Japan, sterile water is used for rinsing in surgical handwashing, whereas in Western countries tap water is generally used. We conducted this study to examine the conditions and the equipment that affect bacterial contamination in tap water and to determine whether the tap water in our institute is suitable for surgical handwashing.First, we examined the water pipes and measured the free chlorine content in the tap water in the operating room. Next, we recruited 40 volunteers and conducted preliminary tests with sterile water. Thirty of these subjects participated in a handwashing test using tap water.The mean free chlorine levels in the tap water and the sterile water were 0.30 +/- 0.05 and 0.07 +/- 0.03 mg/l, respectively. The handwashing test using tap water showed immediate, persistent, and cumulative bacteria activity within the minimum limits set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The free chlorine levels in the tap water in our institute satisfied Japanese health regulations. Moreover, the handwashing test met the criteria of the FDA. Thus, we conclude that this tap water is safe to use for rinsing in surgical handwashing.

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of Seprafilm in preventing abdominal adhesions after radical resection of rectal carcinoma, and to observe whether Seprafilm had any adverse effects in patients treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Methods. A total of 62 patients participated in this prospective randomized clinical study, which was conducted to compare the outcomes of patients operated on with Seprafilm (SEPRA+) with those operated on without Seprafilm (SEPRA-). All patients received preoperative radiotherapy, followed by a two-stage operation, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based systemic chemotherapy. The primary endpoint of severity and extent of adhesions were evaluated at the time of ileostomy closure. The secondary endpoint included the recurrence of tumors, late complications, and outcome. Results. Seprafilm significantly reduced the adhesions in both the midline incision area and peristomal area. This in turn reduced the operation time, blood loss, and extent of the incision at ileostomy closure. Seprafilm was not associated with any postoperative complications or chemoradiation-related toxicity, nor did it affect recurrence or survival rates. Conclusion. Seprafilm effectively reduced abdominal adhesions in chemoradiated patients, and had no adverse effects on the oncologic results of fully introduced adjuvant therapy. Thus, Seprafilm is a safe and effective tool for use in rectal carcinoma surgery.

Sentinel node (SN) biopsies might be useful for performing minimally invasive surgery without interrupting surgical curability. This study examined the cause of false negativity during laparoscopic lymphatic mapping and SN biopsies for early-stage gastric cancer. Thirty-seven patients with gastric cancer (preoperative stage T1-2 or N0) who underwent laparoscopic lymph node mapping and SN biopsies between March 2001 and June 2004 were enrolled in this study. The tracer, patent blue and technecium-99m-labeled tin colloid, was injected endoscopically. Blue-stained or radioactive nodes were defined as SNs. Gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed then the results of the SN biopsies were compared with the final diagnosis of the removed lymph nodes in permanent sections. Sentinel nodes were successfully identified in 35 patients (94.6%), and they were positive in 3 of 4 patients with metastatic lymph nodes; sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 100%. Sentinel node status could therefore be used to diagnose lymph node status with 97.1% accuracy. Of 6 SNs with metastasis, 5 showed radioactivity, and only 2 were blue stained. In the false negative case, a radioactive SN with metastasis in the right paracardial region was missed during laparoscopic mapping. An error in laparoscopic intracorporeal detection of the radioactive node with metastasis occurred because we could not eliminate the shine-through effect. We found that during laparoscopic SN mapping there is a high risk of false negativity with SNs located in the right paracardial region. To apply laparoscopic SN mapping to early-stage gastric cancer patients, the shine-through effect must be eliminated because radiotracers are essential for this method.

痔瘻癌は難治性痔瘻の経過中に発生するまれな疾患であるが, 長期経過中に発症するため, 確定診断は遅れがちとなる. 今回, 15年以上の慢性痔瘻経過中に発症した痔瘻癌の2例につき文献的考察を含め報告する. 症例1は62歳の男性で, 痔瘻根治術後17年目に再発を来し, 外科的治療にて改善せず, 粘液分泌と疼痛を伴う腫瘤を形成し紹介となった. 同部位の生検で痔瘻癌と診断し腹会陰式直腸切断術を施行した. 術後10年の現在無再発生存中である. 症例2は49歳の男性で, 約18年の慢性痔瘻の経過があり, 肛門狭窄のためS状結腸人工肛門造設術を施行後, 当院紹介となった. 瘻孔からの生検にて痔瘻癌と診断. 腹会陰式直腸切断術を施行した. 術後6年目に腹膜播種にて死亡した. 慢性難治性痔瘻においては, 痔瘻癌も念頭におき, 定期的な画像検査や生検を行い, 早期診断に努めることが重要であると考えられた.

Groin dissection remains the treatment of choice for malignant neoplasms of the skin in the lower extremities and perineum. We sought to quantify the hospital complications after groin dissection, and to identify the patient- and procedure-related factors affecting these complications. We reviewed 20 consecutive patients who underwent a collective 25 groin dissections for malignant neoplasms of the skin between 1996 and 2002 to determine the incidence and degree of morbidity, and to analyze the clinical factors associated with morbidity. An S-shaped incision was used for the first 8 procedures, whereas a straight incision was used for the next 17. The overall incidences of complications were 24% for wound infection, 52% for skin flap problems, 32% for seromas, 40% for edema, and 4% for hemorrhage, whereas the incidences of moderate to severe complications were 16% for wound infection, 16% for skin flap problems, 12% for seromas, 4% for edema, and 4% for hemorrhage. The incidence of wound infection tended to be higher after S-shaped incisions than after straight incisions (P = 0.059), and the incidence of leg edema was significantly higher after S-shaped incisions than after straight incisions (P = 0.028). S-shaped incisions more often resulted in lymphatic collection and stagnation, with a higher incidence of wound infections and leg edema than straight incisions. Therefore, we now perform straight incisions to minimize the risk of wound infections and leg edema.