Search

A 43-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis was referred for evaluation of chest pain and an enlarging pleural effusion. Computed tomography revealed a bilateral pleural effusion and longitudinal multilocular pancreatic pseudocysts extending to the posterior mediastinum along the esophagus. He was diagnosed with a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst rupturing into the pleural cavity and was initially treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided trans-gastric drainage. After 4 months of stable disease, dysphagia and a severe cough developed due to an esophageal stricture and main bronchial fistula. Considering the inadequate drainage, the trans-gastric drainage stent was surgically exchanged for a percutaneous external drain and the bronchial fistula was repaired using an intercostal muscle flap. After improvement of the mediastinal abscess and the symptoms, he was discharged on post-operative day 72. Two years post-operatively, he is in good health with no recurrence. We herein report a rare case of a bronchial fistula and esophageal stricture after endoscopic trans-gastric drainage of a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst. Endoscopic trans-gastric drainage is an effective treatment for mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts, but it is important to provide appropriate alternative treatment depending on the course of treatment.

Background This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the relationships between short-term outcomes following total pelvic exenteration combined with sacral resection (TPES) and operative techniques in patients with rectal cancer. Methods Data regarding sex, age, body mass index, neoadjuvant therapy, location of sacral resection (“Upper” or “Lower” relative to the level between the 3rd and 4th sacral segment), operative time, bleeding, and curability (R0/R1) were collected and compared to determine their association with complications exhibiting a Clavien–Dindo grade higher than III. Results The complication rate was significantly higher for recurrent cancers than for primary cancers (p = 0.007), and for “Upper” resection than for “Lower” resection (p = 0.078). Significant differences were observed when complication rates for “Upper” and “Lower” resection were compared between primary and recurrent cancers (p = 0.007). Conclusion In patients with recurrent rectal cancer, “Upper” sacral resection during TPES is associated with a high complication rate, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Purpose Type 4 gastric cancer (GC) has a very poor prognosis even after curative resection, and the survival benefit of splenectomy for splenic hilar lymph node (LN; #10) dissection in type 4 GC remains equivocal. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of splenectomy for #10 dissection in patients with type 4 GC. Materials and Methods The data of a total of 56 patients with type 4 GC who underwent total gastrectomy with splenectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative morbidity, state of LN metastasis, survival outcomes, and therapeutic value index (TVI) of each LN station were evaluated. TVI was calculated by multiplying the incidence of LN metastasis at each nodal station and the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients who had metastasis to each node. Results Overall, the postoperative morbidity rate was 28.6%, and the incidence of #10 metastasis in the patients was 28.6%. The 5-year OS rate for all patients was 29.9%, and most patients developed peritoneal recurrence. Moreover, the 5-year OS rates with and without #10 metastasis were 6.7% and 39.1% (median survival time, 20.4 vs. 46.0 months; P=0.006). The TVI of #10 was as low as 1.92. Conclusions The clinical significance of splenectomy in the dissection of #10 for type 4 GC is limited and splenectomy for splenic hilar dissection alone should be omitted.

We describe a case of repair of the antegrade anastomosis between the "ileal segment" and amputated ureter for recurrent rectal cancer, in which some postoperative complications occurred but eventually resolved. If the length of the ureter is inadequate for end-to-end anastomosis, an ileal segment can be used as a conduit. This surgical technique is not difficult because an ileal conduit is typically created during total pelvic exenteration of rectal cancers. Therefore, anastomosing the ureter to an "ileal segment" is easy and feasible. Hence, we consider that knowledge of this technique would be beneficial for surgical oncologists who perform colorectal surgeries.

Background Metastatic lateral pelvic nodes represent an important cause of pelvic recurrence in low rectal cancer patients even after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic benefit of an upfront lateral pelvic nodes dissection strategy. Methods A total of 175 consecutive patients with stage II/III low rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent mesorectal excision with lateral pelvic nodes dissection between 1998 and 2013 were identified. Regional lateral pelvic nodes were categorized as LD2 nodes (internal iliac, hypogastric and obturator) and LD3 nodes (external iliac, common iliac, lateral sacral, presacral and sacral promontory) according to the current Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum classification. Results Five-year cumulative risks of local recurrence and recurrence-free survival were 4.8% and 78.1% for stage II patients, and 11.8% and 61.7% for stage III patients, respectively. Among stage III patients, no differences were observed in cumulative risks of local recurrence (5 years: 9.3% vs 14.7%, P= 0.463) and recurrence-free survival (5 years: 65.1 vs 61.2%, P = 0.890) between lateral pelvic nodes (−) and LD2 (+) patients. In multivariate analyses, metastatic lateral pelvic nodes had no impact on cumulative risks of local recurrence (hazard ratioadj: 1.389; 95% confidence interval: 0.409–4.716) and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratioadj: 0.884; 95% confidence interval: 0.425–1.837). Conclusions Metastatic lateral pelvic nodes had no impact on cumulative risks of local recurrence and recurrence-free survival based on an upfront lateral pelvic nodes strategy. Lateral pelvic nodes can improve recurrence and survival outcomes in locally advanced low rectal cancer patients with metastatic lateral pelvic nodes.

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis and is often undetected until it is significantly enlarged. While surgical resection remains the primary treatment, there is little research on its benefits, especially that concerning the reoperation of recurrent disease. This study investigated the impact of surgical procedures, especially reoperation of recurrent RPS, on prognosis. This retrospective study included 51 patients who underwent radical resection surgery (R0 status) for primary or recurrent RPS without distant metastasis. Patient outcomes and prognosis were defined in terms of the clinicopathologic factors and surgical techniques performed. In all cases, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 28.2%, 5-year overall survival rate was 89.9%, and 5-year no residual liposarcoma rate was 54.3% after operation and re-reoperation. There was a statistically significant difference between the 5-year DFS rate and 5-year no residual liposarcoma rate due to frequent re-reoperation (p = 0.011). On univariate analysis of primary and recurrent lesions, the histological type and the number of organs involved were identified as statistically significant prognostic factors. Patients with well-differentiated liposarcomas had a statistically better prognosis than those with other cancer types (primary RPS, p = 0.028; recurrence, p = 0.024). Aggressive and frequent resection of recurrent RPS with combined resection of adjacent organs contributes to long-term survival. The establishment of a surgical strategy for RPS will require a prospective study.

Background Postoperative bleeding originating from pseudoaneurysms after radical gastrectomy is not common, but it can be fatal. In particular, delayed bleeding that occurs after the seventh postoperative day is rare. Case presentation A 54-year-old man underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, D2 lymph node dissection, and Roux en-Y reconstruction for duodenal neuroendocrine tumors. Drainage was performed for a postoperative pancreatic fistula and abdominal abscess. On the 28th postoperative day, he passed a large amount of bloody stool; therefore, emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and angiography were performed. However, neither examination demonstrated any bleeding foci or pseudoaneurysm. He was conservatively observed and discharged on the 50th postoperative day. Approximately 1 year after the surgery, he passed a bloody stool and experienced hemorrhagic shock. An EGD revealed exposed blood vessels at the duodenal blind end. His condition was diagnosed as a pseudoaneurysm arising from gastroduodenal artery, which ruptured into the duodenum, based on abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings. Emergency angiography was performed, and the pseudoaneurysm and artery were successfully embolized. Conclusions This case illustrates that there is a possibility of delayed bleeding even 1 year after gastrectomy. Such cases may be serious and require immediate and careful management.

Herein, we describe the operative procedure for combined resection of re-recurrent lateral lymph nodes and the external iliac vein. There is no consensus on the clinical implications of resection of locally re-recurrent colorectal tumors, as the operative procedure is extremely difficult. We present the case of a 52-year-old woman who underwent abdominoperineal resection. About one year later, we excised a recurrent lymph node in the left lateral obturator area through an extraperitoneal approach. About 18 months later, lymph node re-recurrence in the left external iliac area was observed. Re-recurrent lymph nodes directly invade the left external iliac vein. We removed the re-recurrent lymph node with combined, radical segmental resection of the left external iliac vein, left obturator artery and vein, and left obturator nerve. J. Med. Invest. 65:136-138, February, 2018.

Background/aim The reported incidence of rectovaginal fistula is very low. Although some case reports have described surgical procedures, no systematic approach to the treatment of rectovaginal fistula according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings has been proposed. We present a comprehensive surgical strategy for rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings. Patients and methods This retrospective study included 11 patients who developed rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis. Rectovaginal fistula was classified into 4 types according to contrast enema images and colonoscopy findings, i.e., "Alone type", "Dead space type", "Anastomotic stricture type", and "Dead space and Anastomotic stricture type". The surgical strategies were "Diversion (Stoma)", "Percutaneous drainage", "Anastomotic stricture type", "Endoscopic balloon dilation", "Curettage of foreign bodies", "Simple full-thickness closure", "Split-thickness closure", "Pedicled flaps packing", and "Reanastomosis". The surgical strategy appropriate for each rectovaginal fistula type was investigated. Results Among "Alone type" cases, 5 (71.4%) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)". "Alone type" cases (n=11) and all other cases (n=4) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)" (n=5) or any other method (n=6) (p=0.022). Conclusion For treatment of rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis, less invasive treatment approaches should be attempted first.

This study aimed to clarify the prognosis of patients after resection of stage IV colorectal cancer and synchronous peritoneal metastasis (no residual disease: R0 status) based on histopathologic findings. The subjects of this study were 26 patients who underwent radical resection of synchronous peritoneal metastases of stage IV colorectal cancer. Only patients with one synchronous peritoneal metastasis were included in this study. The peritoneal lesions were initially classified into two categories based on the presence or absence of adenocarcinoma on their surface: RM-negative or RM-positive. The lesions were subsequently classified as being of massive or diffuse type and of small (