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To compare the short-term outcomes of robotic single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC) with single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CMLC), focusing on postoperative pain outcomes.This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients with benign gallbladder disease who underwent cholecystectomy by a single surgeon between June 2019 and December 2021. Exclusion criteria were acute cholecystitis (AC) and other combined surgeries. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed between the RSSC and SILC or CMLC.Of the 157 patients included, 39 (24.8%) underwent RSSC, 32 (20.4%) underwent SILC, and 86 (54.8%) underwent CMLC. In a propensity score-matched cohort between RSSC and SILC (32 patients in each group), the number of additional analgesic injections was significantly lower in the RSSC group than in the SILC group (0.7 vs. 1.3, p = 0.002), and postoperative pain scores were also significantly lower at 6 h (2.8 vs. 3.6, p = 0.004) and 24 h (2.6 vs. 3.3, p = 0.021) after surgery in the RSSC group than in the SILC group. In a propensity score-matched cohort between RSSC and CMLC (23 patients in each group), the number of additional analgesic injections was significantly lower in the RSSC group than in the CMLC group (0.7 vs. 1.3, p = 0.005), and postoperative pain scores were also significantly lower at 6 h after surgery (2.9 vs. 3.7, p = 0.025) in the RSSC group than in the CMLC group.This study demonstrated that RSSC is helpful in reducing postoperative pain and the use of additional analgesics compared to both SILC and CMLC.

The optimal indications for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) have not yet been established.This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent SILC between April 2010 and June 2020. Difficult surgery (DS) (conversion to multiport or open cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury, operation time of ≥90 minutes, or estimated blood loss of ≥100 mL) and poor postoperative outcome (PPO) (postoperative hospital stay ≥ 7 days or Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II postoperative complications) were defined to comprehensively evaluate surgical difficulty and postoperative outcomes, respectively.Of 1,405 patients (mean age, 51.2 years; 802 female [57.1%]), 427 (grade I, n = 358; grade II/III, n = 69) underwent SILC for acute cholecystitis (AC), 34 (2.4%) needed conversion to multiport (n = 33) or open cholecystectomy (n = 1), 7 (0.5%) had adjacent organ injury during surgery, and 49 (3.5%) developed postoperative complications. Of the patients, 89 and 52 had DS and PPO, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, grade I AC, grade II/III AC, and body mass index of ≥30 kg/mSILC is not recommended in patients with grade II/III AC and should be carefully performed by experienced and well-trained surgeons.

Background and aims: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) have been recommended after liver transplantation to prevent recurrence of hepatitis B virus infection. Despite its proven efficacy, the renal safety of TDF has not been established in liver transplant recipients. We aimed to compare the effects of TDF and ETV on renal function in liver transplant recipients and to evaluate risk factors for renal dysfunction after liver transplantation. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational multicenter study of data from the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry. We included adults who underwent liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus-related complications from April 2014 to December 2017 and received TDF or ETV post-transplantation. Renal dysfunction was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate decline by at least 20% from baseline (1 month post-transplantation). Median duration of follow-up was 29 months (interquartile range 19–42).Results: A total of 804 liver transplant patients were included. The cumulative probability of renal dysfunction was significantly higher in the TDF group than in the ETV group. Multivariable analysis confirmed that TDF was independently associated with an increased risk of renal dysfunction (hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.92; P = 0.005). Independent risk factors for renal dysfunction included older age, worse baseline renal function, and low body mass index. Renal dysfunction after liver transplantation was independently associated with increased mortality.Conclusions: In this nationwide study, use of TDF was associated with an increased risk of renal dysfunction, when compared with ETV.

This study was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of one-stage laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) plus laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with those of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) plus LC for concomitant gallbladder (GB) and common bile duct (CBD) stones in elderly patients.This single-center retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients aged80 years who were diagnosed with concomitant GB and CBD stones between January 2010 and December 2020.Of the 137 patients included in this study, 46 underwent one-stage LCBDE + LC and 91 underwent two-stage EST + LC. The frequency of previous gastrectomy (23.9% vs. 5.5%,One-stage LCBDE + LC is a safe and effective treatment for concomitant GB and CBD stones, even in elderly patients, and may be considered as the first treatment option in elderly patients with previous gastrectomy, multiple large (≥ 15 mm) CBD stones, or inability to cooperate with endoscopic procedures.

BACKGROUND To date, a surgical method for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has not been standardized. Therefore, this study aimed to introduce a standardized surgical method for SILC, in addition to reporting our experience over 10 years. METHODS Patients who underwent SILC at a single institution between April 2010 and December 2019 were included in this study. We analyzed the patient demographics and surgical outcomes according to the surgical method used: phase 1 (Konyang standard method, KSM) comprising initial 3-channel SILC, phase 2 (modified KSM, mKSM) comprising 4-channel SILC with a snake retractor, and phase 3 (commercial mKSM, C-mKSM) using a commercial 4-channel port. RESULTS Of 1372 patients (mean age, 51.3 years; 781 [56.9%] women), 418 (30.5%) surgeries were performed for acute cholecystitis (AC), 33 (2.4%) were converted to multiport or open cholecystectomy, and 49 (3.6%) developed postoperative complications. The mean operation time (OT) and length of postoperative hospital stay (LOS) were 51.9 min and 2.6 days, respectively. Overall, 325 patients underwent SILC with the KSM, 660 with the mKSM, and 387 with the C-mKSM. In the C-mKSM group, the number of patients with AC was the lowest (26.8% vs. 38.2% vs. 20.4%, p

Background/Aims: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of outcomes after liver transplantation (LT) in the Korean population. Methods: This study analyzed data from the liver cohort of Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) who had LT between May 2014 and December 2017. Study measures included the incidence of post-LT outcomes in recipients of living donor LT (LDLT) and deceased donor LT (DDLT). Cox multivariate proportional hazards model was used to determine the potential risk factors predicting the outcomes. Results: A total of 2,563 adult recipients with LT (LDLT, n=1,956; DDLT, n=607) were included, with mean±standard deviation age of 53.9±8.9 years, and 72.2% were male. The post-LT outcomes observed in each LDLT and DDLT recipients were death (4.0% and 14.7%), graft loss (5.0% and 16.1%), rejection (7.0% and 12.0%), renal failure (2.7% and 13.8%), new onset of diabetes (12.5% and 15.4%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence (both 6.7%). In both LDLT and DDLT recipients, the most common post-LT complications were renal dysfunction (33.6% and 51.4%), infection (26.7% and 48.4%), and surgical complication (22.5% and 23.9%). Incidence of these outcomes were generally higher among recipients of DDLT than LDLT. Multivariate analysis indicated recipient age and DDLT as significant risk factors associated with death and graft loss. DDLT and ABO incompatible transplant were prognostic factors for rejection, and HCC beyond Milan criteria at pre-transplant was a strong predictor of HCC recurrence. Conclusions: This study is a good indicator of the post-LT prognosis in the Korean population and suggests a significant burden of post-LT complications. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:451-462)

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using both a radioactive isotope (RI) and blue dye is considered highly effective; however, there were limitations with the use of both agents in some hospitals, and blue dye has been shown to have some adverse effects. Additionally, preoperative prediction of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) can help avoid unnecessary axillary dissection or SLNB. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy and oncologic safety of SLNB using an RI alone in terms of long-term outcomes and determined the association between SLN metastasis and SUVmax of the primary tumor.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Konyang University Hospital between March 2011 and May 2018. Overall, 142 patients with breast cancer who underwent SLNB using an RI alone were enrolled. Data on identification and false-negative rates were collected. The SUVmax of primary tumors on PET-CT were analyzed for their association with SLN metastasis.Results: The identification and false-negative rates were 98.6% and 0%, respectively. There was no axillary local recurrence in patients with negative SLN findings. The correlation between the SUVmax of the primary tumor and SLN status was significant (r=0.249, P=0.005); the cutoff value for negative SLN metastasis was

It is unclear whether cholecystectomy is beneficial after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). This single-center, retrospective study included 202 patients aged >80 years with AC without common bile duct (CBD) stones who underwent PTGBD between January 2010 and December 2019. One hundred and forty-two patients underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC), and 60 underwent conservative treatment, specifically PTGBD removal (PTGBD-R) in 36 patients and PTGBD maintained (PTGBD-M) in 24 patients. The postoperative major complication (POMC) rate in the ELC group was 8.5%. The cumulative incidence for recurrence of biliary events (BE) in the PTGBD-R group was 22.2%. The cumulative incidence for PTGBD-related complication in the PTGBD-M group was 70.8%. Mortality after initial treatment was not significantly different between the three groups (2.8% vs. 2.8% vs. 8.3%, p=0.381). In multivariate analysis, a Charlson age comorbidity index ≥6 and body mass index ≤19 were significant risk factors for POMC after ELC, and a closed cystic duct was a significant risk factor for recurrent BE after PTGBD-R. ELC is recommended in AC after PTGBD for selected patients aged >80 years without CBD stones due to the high recurrence rate of BE after PTGBD-R and the difficulty associated with PTGBD-M.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical complication of liver transplants, of which non-renal risk factors are not fully understood yet. This study aimed to reveal pre- and post-transplant risk factors for CKD (

This study was performed to investigate the effect of drain placement on complicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy (cLC) for acute cholecystitis (AC).This single-center retrospective study reviewed patients with AC who underwent cLC between January 2010 and December 2020. cLC was defined as open conversion, subtotal cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury during surgery, operation time of ≥90 minutes, or estimated blood loss of ≥100 mL. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed to compare the surgical outcomes between patients with and without drain on cLC.A total of 216 patients (mean age, 65.8 years; 75 female patients [34.7%]) underwent cLC, and 126 (58.3%) underwent intraoperative abdominal drainage. In the propensity score-matched cohort (61 patients in each group), early drain removal (≤postoperative day 3) was performed in 42 patients (68.9%). The overall rate of surgical site infection (SSI) was 10.7%. Late drain removal demonstrated significantly worse surgical outcomes than no drain placement and early drain removal for overall complications (13.1% vs. 21.4% vs. 47.4%,This study demonstrated that drain placement is not routinely recommended, even after cLC for AC. When placing a drain, early drain removal is recommended because late drain removal is associated with a higher risk of organ space SSI.

The optimal timing of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) according to the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) has not been established yet.This single-center, retrospective study included 695 patients with grade I or II AC without common bile duct stones who underwent PTGBD and subsequent LC between January 2010 and December 2019. Difficult surgery (DS) (open conversion, subtotal cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury, transfusion, operation time ≥ 90 minutes, or estimated blood loss ≥ 100 mL) and poor postoperative outcome (PPO) (postoperative hospital stay ≥ 7 days or Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II postoperative complication) were defined to comprehensively evaluate intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, respectively.Of 695 patients, 403 had grade I AC and 292 had grade II AC. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariate logistic regression analyses, an interval from symptom onset to PTGBD of3.5 days and an interval from PTGBD to LC of7.5 days were significant predictors of DS and PPO, respectively, in grade I AC. In grade II AC, the timing of PTGBD and subsequent LC were not statistically related to DS or PPO.In grade I AC, performing PTGBD within 3.5 days after symptom onset can reduce surgical difficulties and subsequently performing LC within 7.5 days after PTGBD can improve postoperative outcomes. In grade II AC, early PTGBD cannot improve the surgical difficulty. In addition, the timing of subsequent LC is not correlated with surgical difficulties or postoperative outcomes.

The optimal treatment for concomitant gallbladder (GB) stones with common bile duct (CBD) stones and predictors for recurrence of CBD stones are not established.This single-center, retrospective study reviewed 466 patients diagnosed with a first event of concomitant GB stones with CBD stones from January 2010 to December 2018.92 patients underwent single-stage laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (group1), 108 underwent LCBDE + LC after endoscopic stone extraction (ESE) failure (group2), and 266 underwent ESE + LC (group3). Clearance (95.7 vs. 99.1 vs. 97.0%, p = 0.324) and recurrence rates (5.4 vs. 13.0 vs. 7.9%, p = 0.138) did not differ between groups. Group1 had fewer procedures (p 0.001), lower post-treatment complication rates (7.6 vs. 18.5 vs. 13.9%, p = 0.082), and shorter hospital stay after the first procedure (5.7 vs 13.0 vs 9.8 days, p 0.001). 40 patients (8.6%) had recurrence of CBD stones at mean follow-up of 17.1 months, of which 29 (72.5%) occurred within 24 months. In multivariate analysis, a CBD diameter 8 mm, combined type-1 periampullary diverticulum, and age 70 years were significant predictors of recurrence.Single-stage LCBDE + LC is a safe and effective treatment for concomitant GB stones with CBD stones compared to ESE + LC. LCBDE should be considered in patients with a high risk of ESE failure. Careful follow-up is recommended for patients at high risk of recurrence of CBD stones, especially within 24 months after surgical or endoscopic treatment.

In colorectal cancer surgery, it is important to have accurate resection margins. However, it is challenging to localize lesions during laparoscopy. Therefore, to reduce surgical errors, many preoperative localizing methods have been introduced. In this study, we aimed to assess the preoperative feasibility and safety of autologous blood tattooing.A total of 11 patients underwent preoperative colonoscopic autologous blood tattooing from August 2017 to February 2020. At the start of the surgery, the surgeon assessed the patients for the precision of visibility and other complications such as abscess or spillage. The patients' characteristics, outcomes, and complications were collected retrospectively.The study comprised 8 men and 3 women, with an average age of 63 years. Ten patients showed precise visibility, and no localization errors were observed during surgery. No complication was observed in all patients.Preoperative autologous blood tattooing is a very useful and safe technique because it has high visibility with no complications. This method does not require additional agents or facilities. A large-scale study will be required to develop standard guidelines.

Obturator hernia is a difficult disease to diagnose. If a surgical treatment is delayed in obturator hernia, a bowel resection may be required due to strangulation. The surgical treatment of this disease is to use a classical laparotomy. Recently, the laparoscopic approach has been reported and reviewed for efficiency. We checked the indicators that determine the most appropriate surgical method according to the patient's condition.In the study, a single-institution, retrospective analysis of surgical patients undergoing an obturator hernia surgery between 2003 and 2018 was performed. The patients were divided into a laparoscopic group (5 patients underwent laparoscopic repair; no intestinal resection) and an open group (13 patients who underwent open repair; 10 with and 3 without intestinal resection). The outcomes were compared between the groups. We analyzed the relevant factors that could predict the proper method of surgery.A total 18 patients were included in the study. All patients were female, with body mass index (BMI) of under 21 kg/mObturator hernia can be treated with a laparoscopic surgery. The choice of surgical treatment can be considered in advance through the review of the patient's WBC count or CRP count.

Purpose Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is increasingly performed worldwide. Accordingly, the Konyang Standard Method (KSM) for SILC has been developed over the past 6 years. We report the outcomes of our procedures. Methods Between April 2010 and December 2016, 1,005 patients underwent SILC at Konyang University Hospital. Initially 3-channel SILC with KSM was changed to 4-channel SILC using a modified technique with a snake retractor for exposure of Calot triangle; we called this a modified KSM (mKSM). Recently, we have used a commercial 4-channel (Glove) port for simplicity. Results SILC was performed in 323 patients with the KSM, in 645 with the mKSM, and in 37 with the commercial 4-channel port. Age was not significantly different between the 3 groups (P = 0.942). The postoperative hospital days (P = 0.051), operative time (P < 0.001) and intraoperative bleeding volume (P < 0.001) were significantly improved in the 3 groups. Drain insertion (P = 0.214), additional port insertion (P = 0.639), and postoperative complications (P = 0.608) were not significantly different in all groups. Postoperative complications were evaluated with the Clavien-Dindo classification. There were 3 cases (0.9%) over grade IIIb (bile duct injury, incisional hernia, duodenal perforation, or small bowel injury) with KSM and 3 (0.5%) with mKSM. Conclusion We evaluated the evolution of the KSM for SILC. The use of the mKSM with a commercial 4-channel port may be the safest and most effective method for SILC.

Introduction Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) of multiple colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is challenging but has become more practical recently due to progression in operative technique. We aimed to present laparoscopic detection of multiple CRLM using intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUSG) and LLR for scattered CRLM. Methods A 65-year-old male was admitted with multiple liver metastases during follow-up for mid-rectal cancer. The patient had already undergone laparoscopic lower anterior resection 6 months ago and had completed the sixth adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine. Magnetic resonance imaging presented metastatic tumor about 5 cm in size in segment 6 of liver and multiple small metastases in segment 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of liver. The surgery was performed in supine position and five trocars were inserted. After detection of tumors using IOUSG to mark the site of the tumors, we performed bisegmentectomy about tumors of segment 5 and 6, and 3 tumorectomy of liver about tumors of segment 3, 4, and 7 + 8. Immediately after surgery, all specimens were cut to check whether the tumors were included and whether the resection margin was sufficient. Results The operative time was 350 minutes and estimated blood loss was 80 mL. Pringle maneuver was performed 5 times in 15 minutes. All tumor resection margin were grossly confirmed as negative. There were no immediate postoperative complications. The patient was discharged on the day 7 of postoperative hospital stay. Conclusions LLR is safe and feasible technique even for bilobar multiple CRLM.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to recommend an optimal indication of single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the 1,405 consecutive patients who underwent SILC at a single institution between April 2010 and June 2020. We defined difficult surgery (DS; conversion to multiport or open, adjacent organ injury, operation time ≥ 90 minutes, or estimated blood loss ≥ 100 milliliters) and poor postoperative outcomes (PPO; postoperative hospital stays ≥ 5 days, or postoperative complication ≥ grade II Clavien-Dindo classification). Subgroup analysis of acute cholecystitis (AC) was conducted according to the Tokyo guideline 18. Results Of the 1,405 patients, 338 were for gallbladder (GB) stone, 121 were for GB polyp, 478 were for chronic cholecystitis, and 423 were for AC. The conversion and postoperative complication rate were 2.4% and 3.5%, the mean operation time and length of postoperative hospital stay were 51.8 minutes and 2.5 days. 89 and 94 patients were included in DS group and PPO group, respectively. In multivariable analysis, both grade I or grade II/III AC, and body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 were statistically significant predictors of DS. Grade II/III AC and age ≥ 70 years were statistically significant predictors of PPO. In subgroup analysis of AC, grade II/III AC group had longer operation time (57.2 vs. 67.4 minutes, p < 0.001), postoperative hospital stays (2.7 vs. 3.7 days, p = 0.001), higher complication rate (4.2 vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001), and conversion rate (3.9 vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001) than grade I AC group. Conclusions SILC should be avoided in patients with grade II/III AC for better surgical outcomes.

Introduction Optimal timing of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) according to the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) is not established. Methods Total 739 patients with AC without common bile duct stone who underwent PTGBD and subsequent LC from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. We defined difficult surgery (DS; open conversion, subtotal cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury, transfusion, operative time ≥ 90 minutes, or estimated blood loss ≥ 100 milliliters) and poor postoperative outcomes (PPO; postoperative hospital stays ≥ 7 days, or postoperative complication ≥ grade II). The receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed for evaluating appropriate duration from onset of symptom to PTGBD (duration A) and from PTGBD to LC (duration B). Results Of the 739 patients, 458 were for grade I AC, and 281 were for grade II/III AC. In grade I AC, the cut-off value for the relationship between duration A and PIO was 4.5 days. The cut-off value for the relationship between duration B and PPO was 7.5 days. In multivariate analysis, duration A ≥ 5 days and duration B ≥ 8 days were statistically significant predictors for DS and PPO, respectively. In grade II/III AC, the cut-off value for the relationship between duration A and PPO was 2.5 days. In multivariate analysis, duration A ≤ 2 days was statistically significant predictor for PPO. Conclusions Optimal timing of PTGBD and LC is for duration from onset of symptom to PTGBD ≤ 4 days with duration from PTGBD to LC ≤ 7 days in grade I AC, and for duration from onset of symptom to PTGBD > 2 days.

Introduction There are controversies to whether cholecystectomy should be performed after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). Methods 202 patients with AC over 80 years old without common bile duct stone (CBD) stones, who received PTGBD from January 2010 to December 2019 in a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Results 142 underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC), and 60 underwent conservative treatment. Of 60 patients, 36 had PTGBD removed (PTGBD-R), and 24 maintained PTGBD (PTGBD-M). Postoperative major complication (POMC) rate in ELC group was 8.5%. Recurrence rate of biliary event after PTGBD removal in PTGBD-R group was 22.2%. PTGBD related problem rate after discharge in PTGBD-M group was 70.8%. Biliary event related mortality after index treatment were no significant differences (ELC 2.8% vs. PTGBD-R 2.8% vs. PTGBD-M 8.3%, p = 0.381). In multivariate analysis, CACI ≥6 and BMI ≤19 were significant risk factor for POMC after ELC, and closed cystic duct was significant risk factor for recurrent biliary event after PTGBD removal. Conclusions ELC is recommended for patients with AC over 80 years old without CBD stones after PTGBD, due to the high recurrence rate of biliary event after PTGBD removal and difficulty of maintaining of PTGBD. Conservative treatment may be an alternative option in patients with high risk of postoperative major complication.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for conversion to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) in single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) along with the proposal for procedure selection guidelines in treating patients with benign gallbladder (GB) diseases. Methods SILC was performed in 697 cases between April 2010 and July 2014. Seventeen cases (2.4%) underwent conversion to conventional LC. We compared these 2 groups and analyzed the risk factors for conversion to CLC. Results In univariate analysis, American Society of Anesthesiologist score > 3, preoperative percutaneous transhepatic GB drainage status and pathology (acute cholecystitis or GB empyema) were significant risk factors for conversion (P = 0.010, P = 0.019 and P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, pathology (acute cholecystitis or GB empyema) was significant risk factors for conversion to CLC in SILC (P < 0.001). Conclusion Although SILC is a feasible method for most patients with benign GB disease, CLC has to be considered in patients with acute cholecystitis or GB empyema because it is likely to result in inadequate visualization of the Calot's triangle and greater bleeding risk.

Backgrounds/Aims This study was conducted to verify and compare the safety and feasibility of single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). Methods A total of 2,080 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a single center, Konyang University Hospital, between 2010 and 2016. We retrospectively compared the demographics, perioperative outcome, and postoperative complication results between the CLC and SILC groups. Results Among the 2,080 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 1,080 had CLC and 1,000 had SILC. When retrospectively reviewed, the SILC group had significantly higher percentages of patients who were aged under 80 years, who were women, and had the American Society of Anesthesiologist score of lower than 3 points compared to those of the CLC group. Furthermore, the CLC group had a higher percentage of patients with acute cholecystitis or empyema, whereas the SILC group had a higher percentage of patients with chronic cholecystitis. Preoperative percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage insertion or H-vac insertion was more frequently conducted, bleeding loss was more common, and hospital stay was longer in the CLC group. Postoperative complications such as wound infection, biloma, bile duct injury, and duodenal perforation were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions In conclusion, if performed after preoperative patient selection such as in younger and female patients with no abdominal operation history at the time of benign gallbladder surgery, SILC can be considered feasible and safe without additional complications when compared with CLC.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes between anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and basiliximab induction in deceased donor kidney transplantation (DDKT). Methods: Between May 2006 and February 2015, 40 patients underwent DDKT at our institution. Three cases (7.5%) of them were lost during the following-up schedule. In this study, ATG induction criteria were donor age >50 years old or donor creatinine level >1.3 mg/dL except hepatitis B virus positive and hepatitis C virus positive recipients. Recipients were divided into two groups: the ATG group (n=20) and the basiliximab group (n=17). Results: The 1-year patient survival in the ATG group was 89.4% compared to 93.8% in the basiliximab group (P=0.989). Graft survival for a 1 year in the ATG and the basiliximab group was 89.1% and 93.8%, respectively (P=0.967). Incidences of acute rejection episodes were more prevalent in the basiliximab group (15.0% vs. 29.4%, P=0.428). The glomerular filtration rate level by period of recipients was not different in both group (12th month, 64.60±16.17 mg/dL vs. 68.51±18.60 mg/dL, P=0.544). The overall complications during the follow-up were not significantly different in both groups (90.0% vs. 76.5%, P=0.383). Conclusions: The results showed that there was no difference in the patient survival and graft survival between induction of ATG and basiliximab of the DDKT were not different. Therefore, use of both induction agents led to a good patient and graft survival and ATG might be a safe and preferable agent for relatively poor renal function of donor in kidney transplantation.

Potential diseased donors manifest altered physiological changes associated with pulmonary edema, profound hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities. These derangements may be more significant after apnea tests which result in severe hypoxemia and cardiovascular complications. Nitric oxide (NO) inhalation therapy can be applied following apnea tests in the brain-dead donor whose ventilator support has been maintained with high positive end-expiratory pressure. Inhalation of NO gas causes selective dilation of blood vessels in only those lung segments that are actively participating in gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide) at the alveolar capillary level. In other words, this increases the blood flow to areas of the lung where oxygen is being provided and thus improves oxygen levels in the body. We report on the case of a 14-year-old organ donor with inhaled NO therapy after apnea testing. The duration of NO inhalation therapy was 14 hours. This deceased donor, who suffered with severe hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability after apnea tests, improved after NO gas therapy and adequate vasoactive drugs. NO gas therapy will be helpful for improving oxygen delivery to pulmonary vessels. Two kidneys and one liver were successfully retrieved from donors. These recipients had well preserved function of allografts. Therefore, NO inhalation can be help¬ful in improvement of hypoxemia and increasing organ availability in deceased organ donors.

Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery which has been widely used in abdominal surgery, such as appendectomy and cholecystectomy. There were several strong points in single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC). However, no definite study comparing SILC with three port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (TPLC) has been reported. Therefore, this study focused on feasibility and safety of SILC in comparison with conventional TPLC. Methods: This study included 86 cases of SILC and 230 cases of TPLC from April, 2010 to February, 2011. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical procedure, group 1 was SILC and group 2 was TPLC. All operations were performed by a single surgeon, and the retrograde approach was the fundamental surgical procedure used in both groups. Results: Eighty five patients in group 1 underwent SILC and 229 patients in group 2 underwent TPLC. In comparison of preoperative data, statistical significance regarding age, gender, and preoperative PTGBD insertion was observed between the two groups. In comparison of intraoperative data, the average operation time and average hospital day did not show any statistical significance. Intraoperative multiple port conversion was performed in group 1 to TPLC due to cystic artery bleeding, and in group 2, TPLC was changed into a four port operation due to the same reason. Conclusion: In this study, no significant difference in operation result, time, and acute complication was observed between SILC and conventional TPLC. Besides the cancers, SILC could definitely be applied without exclusion criteria mentioned above if improvement of instruments and accumulation of surgeon’s experience were satisfied.

To evaluate the effects of intermittent hepatic inflow occlusion (IHIO) during donor hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in recipients and donors, we performed a single-center, open-label, prospective, parallel, randomized controlled study. Adult donor-recipient pairs undergoing LDLT with right hemiliver grafts were randomized into IHIO and control groups (1:1). In the IHIO group, IHIO was performed during donor hepatectomy. The primary endpoint was the peak serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration in the recipients within 5 days after the operation. Blood samples for measurements of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were taken from the donors and the recipients during the operation and postoperatively. Biopsy samples for measurements of caspase-3 and malondialdehyde (MDA) were taken from the donors and the recipients. In all, 50 donor-recipient pairs (ie, 25 pairs in each group) completed this study. The mean peak serum ALT levels within 5 days after the operation did not differ in the recipients between the 2 groups (P = 0.32) but were higher in the donors of the IHIO group (P = 0.002). There were no differences in the prothrombin times or total bilirubin levels in the recipients or donors between the 2 groups. The amount of blood loss during donor hepatectomy was significantly lower in the IHIO group versus the control group (P = 0.02). The mean hospital stay for donors was 19.3 ± 7.2 days in the control group and 15.8 ± 4.6 days in the IHIO group (P = 0.046). There were no in-hospital deaths within 1 month and no cases of primary nonfunction or initially poor function in the 2 groups. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and HGF did not differ between the 2 groups, nor did the concentrations of caspase-3 and MDA. In conclusion, although we found differences in postoperative peak serum ALT levels in donors, donor hepatectomy with IHIO for LDLT using a right hemiliver graft with a graft-to-recipient body weight ratio > 0.9% and

Right-side rotation of the graft is an uncommon event after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with a left-sided graft. However, graft rotation might lead to gradual portal vein (PV) stretching and late portal vein complications (PVCs). The goal of this study was to quantify the degree of graft rotation (R) by computed tomography (CT) and to determine the effect of graft rotation on the development of late PVCs. One hundred ten patients underwent LDLT with left-sided grafts between 1996 and 2009; CT images were available and were reviewed for 66 of these patients. To quantify R, the following variables were measured with CT: the longest distance between the midline and the extrahepatic PV at the level of the hepatic hilum (A), the distance between the midline and the center of the superior mesenteric vein at the level of the confluence of the splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein (B), and the inner transverse diameter of the body cavity at the level at which A was measured (C). R was calculated as (A - B)/C. In patients with a patent PV (n = 59) and in patients with late PVCs (n = 7), the median R values were 0.16 (range = 0.03-0.38) and 0.25 (range = 0.13-0.39), respectively; there was a significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that R ≥ 0.2 was the only independent risk factor for the development of late PVCs (P = 0.021). In conclusion, the gradual stretching of the PV after right-side rotation of left-sided grafts might play an important role in the development of late PVCs. PV patency should be closely monitored when graft rotation is noted during clinical follow-up.

Background and objectives Little data is currently available on the usefulness of peak-standardized uptake value (P-SUV) by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in gastric cancer. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the value of PET-CT for the preoperative evaluation of patients with gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of between primary tumor P-SUV, as determined by preoperative PET-CT, and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. Methods From December 2007 to March 2010, we analyzed the PET-CT of 147 patients that underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. P-SUV in PET-CT were measured by single nuclear medicine physician. Statistical analysis was performed to determine relations between clinicopathologic parameters including P-SUV and lymph node metastasis using the chi-square test, the independent t-test, and using logistic regression analysis. Results Age, tumor depth, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were found to be associated with primary tumor P-SUV by PET-CT (P = 0.009

Purpose: T-tube is a major procedure that prevents complication by biliary decompression, but which is accompanied by complications. Therefore, several procedures such as ENBD, PTBD, and antegrade biliary stent have been attempted, but with controversies as to which procedure is superior. Also, there are no standard procedures after laparoscopic CBD exploration. We performed this study to ascertain the most appropriate biliary drainage procedure after laparoscopic CBD exploration. Methods: From March 2001 to December 2009, 121 patients who underwent Laparoscopic CBD exploration in Gunyang University were included for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided to 4 groups according to type of procedure, and we compared clinical parameters including age and gender, operation time, hospital stay, start of post-operative diet, and complications. Results: There was no difference in age, gender, mean operation time, postoperative diet between the 4 groups. Hospital stay in the Stent group was shorter than T-tube group. There were 10 (7%) complications that occurred. Two 2 occurred in the T-tube, 3 in PTBD, and 5 in the Antegrade stent group. There were more complications in Stent group but no significant statistical difference. In 5 cases with remnant CBD stone, a total of 4 (3 PTBD, 1 Stent) was performed by endoscopic CBD stone removal. One T-tube case was removed easily by choledochoscopy through the T-tube. Three migrated and the impacted stents were removed by additional endoscopy. Perioperative biliary leakage (1) and peritonitis (1) post t-tube removal were resolved by conservative treatment Conclusion: T-tube appears to be an appropriate method to patients who are suspected to have remnant CBD stones. Multiple procedures may be performed on a case by case basis such as performing PTBD first in a suspected cholangitis patient.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections contracted after liver transplantation put patients at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We analyzed the effects of CMV infection by time of onset, mortality, and graft failure risk factors in liver recipients who were CMV donor-positive/recipient-positive (D+/R+). We reviewed 618 medical records for consecutive adult liver transplant cases. CMV pp65 antigenemia assays to determine patient CMV status were administered monthly. The incidences of CMV infection and disease were 55.7% (344 of 618 records) and 5.5% (34 of 618 records), respectively. The differences in patient survival and graft failure rates for CMV-infected and CMV-uninfected patients were not significant (P = 0.707 and P = 0.973), but the rates were lower in patients with CMV disease than in CMV-uninfected patients (P = 0.005 and P = 0.030, respectively). The recurrence of hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic dysfunction, infection, numerous pp65-staining cells, and CMV disease were found to be the risk factors for mortality and graft failure in CMV D+/R+ adult liver transplant patients. In conclusion, the occurrence of CMV disease, and not asymptomatic CMV infection, was a risk factor for mortality and graft failure in adult liver transplant recipients with CMV D+/R+.

The problem of graft size is one of the critical factors limiting the expansion of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We compared the outcome of LDLT recipients who received grafts with a graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) < 0.8% or a GRWR ≥ 0.8%, and we analyzed the risk factors affecting graft survival after small-for-size grafts (SFSGs) were used. Between June 1997 and April 2008, 427 patients underwent LDLT with right lobe grafts at the Department of Surgery of Samsung Medical Center. Recipients were divided into 2 groups: group A with a GRWR < 0.8% (n = 35) and group B with a GRWR ≥ 0.8% (n = 392). We retrospectively evaluated the recipient factors, donor factors, and operative factors through the medical records. Small-for-size dysfunction (SFSD) occurred in 2 of 35 patients (5.7%) in group A and in 14 of 392 patients (3.6%) in group B (P = 0.368). Graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were not different between the 2 groups (87.8%, 83.4%, and 74.1% versus 90.7%, 84.5%, and 79.4%, P = 0.852). However, when we analyzed risk factors within group A, donor age and middle hepatic vein tributary drainage were significant risk factors for graft survival according to univariate analysis (P = 0.042 and P = 0.038, respectively). Donor age was the only significant risk factor for poor graft survival according to multivariate analysis. The graft survival rates of recipients without SFSD tended to be higher than those of recipients with SFSD (85.3% versus 50.0%, P = 0.074). The graft survival rates of recipients with grafts from donors < 44 years old were significantly higher than those of recipients with grafts from donors ≥ 44 years old (92.2% versus 53.6%, P = 0.005). In conclusion, an SFSG (GRWR < 0.8%) can be used safely in adult-to-adult right lobe LDLT when a recipient is receiving the graft from a donor younger than 44 years. Liver Transpl 16:864–869, 2010. © 2010 AASLD.

Introduction The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors for delayed graft function (DGF) after deceased donor kidney transplantation and to compare the clinical outcomes of non-DGF versus DGF recipients. Patients and methods From January 2004 to June 2008, 75/154 kidneys were transplanted into 74 recipients. We classified the recipients into two groups: group 1 ( n = 61) without DGF and group 2 ( n = 13) with DGF. Results On univariate analysis, recipient age ( P = .048) cause of brain death (traumatic brain injury vs disease, P = .016), blood urea nitrogen ( P = .002), serum creatinine ( P = .001), arterial pH ( P = .019), and serum sodium level ( P = .012) just before organ procurement showed significant differences. On multivariate analysis, the cause of brain death ( P = .015, hazard ratio [HR]: 7.086), the terminal serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL before organ procurement ( P = .007, HR: 10.132), and recipient age over ≥50 years ( P = .021, HR: 7.767) were independent risk factors for the development of DGF. Graft failures occurred among 5/74 recipients with 5-year graft survivals between group 1 and group 2 of 91.7% and 84.6%, respectively. Patient death occurred in five cases, most by due to infection. The 5-year patient survival between groups 1 and 2 were 93.9% and 84.6%, respectively ( P = .106). Conclusion The independent risk factors for DGF were the cause of brain death, the terminal creatinine level, and the recipient age. In deceased donor kidney transplantation, DGF may have less effect on long-term patient and graft survivals.

Background: The influence of lymphocytotoxic cross-match results on acute cellular rejection in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has not been well examined. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the risk factors of acute rejection, including positive lymphocytotoxic cross-match results. Methods: Patients inquired in this study are adults who underwent their first LDLT between June 1997 and June 2007 (n=382). We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of donors and recipients, including medical history, surgical procedures, and progress, then analyzed the risk factors of acute rejection using Cox’s proportion hazard model. Results: Among the total subjects of 382, 32 recipients had positive lymphocytotoxic cross-match results. Median follow-up duration was 28.0 months (range, 1∼93). Fifty six recipients had suffered at least one or more acute rejection episodes. In univariate analysis, positive lymphocytotoxic cross-match results didn't turn out to be a significant risk factor of acute rejection (p=0.735), while recipient age (P=0.012), HCV-related (P=0.001), MELD score (P=0.042), gender mismatch (P=0.001) and no induction of anti-IL-2 receptor antibody (P=0.034) were revealed as risk factors for acute rejection. Recipient age (P=0.001, Hazard Ratio 0.937, 95% Confidence Interval 0.902∼0.973), gender mismatch (P=0.001, Hazard Ratio 2.970, 95% Confidence Interval 1.524∼5.788), HCV-related (P=0.001, Hazard Ratio 4.313, 95% Confidence Interval 1.786∼10.417) were considered as significant risk factors in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Positive lymphocytotoxic cross-match results may not be the risk factor for acute rejection. Therefore, it should not be considered as a determinant when matching donors with recipients in adult LDLT.