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Background: Although various devices have been clinically used for laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), the best device for liver parenchymal transection remains unknown. Olympus Corp (Tokyo, Japan) developed a laparoscopic hybrid pencil (LHP) device, which is the first electric knife to combine ultrasound and electric energy with a monopolar output. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the LHP device and to compare it with the laparoscopic monopolar pencil (LMP) and laparoscopic ultrasonic shears (LUS) devices for LLR in a porcine model.Methods: Nine male piglets underwent laparoscopic liver lobe transections using each device. The operative parameters were evaluated in the 3 groups (n = 24 lobes) during the acute study period. The imaging findings from contrast-enhanced computed tomography and histopathological findings of autopsy on postoperative day 7 were compared among groups (n = 6 piglets) during the long-term study.Results: The transection time was shorter ( P = .001); there was less blood loss ( P = .018); and tip cleaning ( P < .001) and instrument changes were less often required ( P < .001) in the LHP group than in the LMP group. The LHP group had fewer instances of bleeding ( P < .001) and coagulator usage ( P < .001) than did the LUS group. In the long-term study, no postoperative adverse events occurred in the 3 groups. The thermal spread and depth of the LHP device were equivalent to those of the LMP and LUS devices (vs LMP: P = .226 and .159; vs LUS: P = 1.000 and .574).Conclusions: The LHP device may be an efficient device for LLR if it can be applied to human surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis is mainly associated with esophagectomy, and it may result in not only other morbidities, such as aspiration pneumonia, but also in long-term issues. Therefore, an approach to prevent RLN paralysis is necessary. The present study was designed to determine the technical usability of the new hybrid pencil type energy (NP) device developed by Olympus Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) and compare it with a conventional electrosurgical knife (EK) for resection around the RLN lymph nodes.Methods: This nonsurvival (acute) study included 10 pigs (20 RLNs) and investigated the threshold for thermal RLN damage with the NP device and a conventional EK. To obtain basic information for our study, a preliminary experiment for heat spread was performed.Results: When using the EK device, the amplitude value disappeared at a distance of 1 mm from the RLN, but when using the NP device, the amplitude value was maintained up to a distance of 0.5 mm. There were significant differences at distances of 0 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1 mm between the NP and EK devices. Furthermore, heat spread was lower with the NP device than with the EK device.Conclusions: The new energy device developed by Olympus Corporation was found to be technically safe for resection of the RLN lymph nodes in a porcine model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the potential advantages of using this new energy device in a clinical aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Anastomotic leakage remains a devastating complication following low anterior resection of the rectum. Our aim was to retrospectively assess the efficacy of transanal drainage. Methods Twenty-five patients with anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic low anterior resection (using the double-stapling technique) were reviewed. Transanal drainage was performed when an abscess was localized within the pelvic cavity, and any leakage was detected through radiological study and digital examination. In each patient, the fistula was dilated with a forefinger, and the abscess was drained into the rectum. A suction drain tube was indwelled transanally when the abscess cavity was large or unstable. Clinical outcomes of patients after transanal drainage were then analyzed. Results Nine of the 25 patients required an emergency operation. The remaining 16 cases with localized disease were treated conservatively as an initial treatment. This included 12 patients treated by transanal drainage, 10 of whom were successfully cured. Two eventually required a defunctioning ileostomy because of fistula formation with other organs (treatment success rate: 83.3%). The median duration of drain placement, fasting and postoperative hospitalization were 10, 10 and 45 days, respectively. Conclusions Transanal drainage may be a viable option for the treatment of anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection of the rectum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymph node dissection is a crucial procedure for curative resection of gastric cancer [1]. To avoid portal vein injury during laparoscopic extended lymph node dissection for gastric cancer, taping of the common hepatic artery and subsequent confirmation of the portal vein have been recommended [2, 3]. This taping method, however, makes laparoscopic nodal dissection technically complicated. This study introduces a novel procedure for safe and simple laparoscopic suprapancreatic nodal dissection without taping of the common hepatic artery.Methods: The authors' novel, simplified method consists of four steps: (1) dissection along the cranial edge of the pancreas from right to left, (2) dissection along the splenic artery with exposure of the left renal fascia, (3) dissection along the left gastric and the common hepatic arteries, and (4) retraction of the lymph nodes surrounding the common and proper hepatic arteries and their complete dissection from the portal vein. This procedure is reversely directed compared with conventional open gastrectomy (i.e., the nodal dissection is from left to right). For this study, the lymph node stations and groups were defined according to the 13th edition of the Japanese Classification for Gastric Carcinoma. The described procedures were performed for 58 consecutive patients with gastric cancer. The indication for this operation is primary T1/T2 gastric cancer without clinical nodal metastasis.Results: In all cases, safely extended suprapancreatic lymph node dissection was successfully accomplished using the described technique. A total of 43.5 +/- 18 lymph nodes were retrieved, including 14.4 +/- 6.3 second-tier lymph nodes. The overall number of retrieved lymph nodes in this study was similar to that reported previously [4]. Postoperative morbidity occurred at a rate of 22.3%, and the mortality rate was 0%. There was no conversion to open surgery. The mean blood loss was 127 ml (range, 0-490 ml), and the mean operative time was 289 min (range, 104-416 min) in the last 20 consecutive cases. To date, no tumor recurrence has been observed. The median postoperative observation period was 1.4 years (range, 0.4-2.4 years).Conclusion: The described novel procedure would be sufficient and convenient for dissection of the suprapancreatic lymph nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: Laparoscopic resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors has become wide-spread as a minimally invasive surgical method. However, the limitations of laparoscopic surgery for GISTs are well recognized., Methodology: We developed a local resection by pure robotic surgical procedure to treat intraluminally growing GISTs located in sites that are unsuitable for laparoscopic surgery. Using articulated robotic arms, the GIST is completely excised with a safe margin while employing a unique technique to provide a good operative view and to prevent the intra-abdominal dissemination of the tumor from the cut edge created by robotic excision. The defect created after excision of the tumor is closed using robotic sewing., Results: Four patients were successfully treated with pure robotic surgery without conversion to laparoscopic or open surgery or changing in the method of gastrectomy., Conclusions: Using robotic surgery, intraluminally growing GISTs located in sites unsuitable for conventional laparoscopic surgery can be treated with minimally invasive procedures.

The patient was a 38-year-old woman who visited our hospital complaining of nausea and abdominal pain. A colonoscopy revealed an advanced cancer in the sigmoid colon. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed left hydronephrosis and lymph node metastasis to the left iliopsoas muscle and left ureter. No distant metastasis was found. Since the surgical margins were likely to be positive with a one-stage resection, 3 cycles of FOLFOX4 (folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin)were administered after creating a transverse loop colostomy. Although the tumor decreased in size, the surgical margins were still suspected to be positive. For further regional tumor control, radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/day for 25 days) to the medial region of the left iliac bone and oral UFT/LV (uracil and tegafur/Leucovorin)were administered. A partial response(PR)was determined in accordance with the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST). Sigmoidectomy with partial resection of the left ureter was performed by laparotomy. The histologic response was assessed as Grade 2 and all surgical margins were negative. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may be an effective therapeutic option for locally advanced colon cancer resistant to conventional preoperative chemotherapy.

A 70-year-old female patient underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater in March 2007. In April 2009, multiple lung metastases were detected by CT scanning. The patient was treated with S-1 (80mg/day, day 1-28, followed by 2-weeks withdrawal)from April 2009. The shrinkage of lung metastases was diagnosed as a complete response based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST). No severe toxicities were observed. S-1 is an effective and safe anti-cancer agent available for lung metastases of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

Purpose: Although technically demanding, laparoscopy may be advantageous in magnifying the anatomy of the pelvic autonomic nervous system when performing total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. We present our method for laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for men., Methods: We performed laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for 36 men with middle or low rectal cancer. The rectum was mobilized through a medial approach down to the pelvic floor without minilaparotomy or hand assist. Anteriorly, the dissection plane was in front of Denonvilliers fascia. Anterolaterally, to preserve the pelvic plexus and neurovascular bundle, Denonvilliers fascia must be cut at its lateral continuity. We found that the most important factor in obtaining a good surgical view is keeping adequate tension in the dissection plane by coordination between the surgeon and assistant. Dissection was performed by using only electrocautery without an ultrasonic dissector or vessel sealing device., Results: No case was converted to open surgery. The short-term feasibility was acceptable., Conclusions: Our method of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision is a feasible approach and may be beneficial for the standardization and popularization of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision. Long-term results, including survival data and urogenital function, are needed to evaluate the true efficacy of this procedure.

We have previously shown that expression of SIAH1 is frequently down-regulated in HCCs and associated with their advanced stages. It has been shown that SIAH1 functions in the phosphorylation-independent degradation of beta-catenin and induces apoptosis and growth arrest. To examine if the effects of SIAH1 overexpression depend on the altered beta-catenin signaling pathway, we transferred the SIAH1 gene into three hepatoma cell lines with different genetic backgrounds: HepG2 (mutant beta-catenin), SNU475 (mutant AXIN1), and Huh7 cells (wild type beta-catenin and AXIN1). SIAH1 significantly decreased aberrant beta-catenin signal in HepG2 and SNU475 cells and induced growth arrest and apoptosis. However, SIAH1 also induced apoptosis in Huh7 cells, which retained a normal membranous distribution pattern of beta-catenin. Immunoblotting study demonstrated that SIAH1 also reduces the amount of PEG10 protein, which is known to be frequently overexpressed in HCC and to promote cell proliferation. These data suggest that PEG10 is another target protein of SIAH1 to induce apoptosis in hepatoma cells. Our results should lead to a better understanding of the relationship between deregulation of beta-catenin signals and hepatocarcinogenesis. Further investigations into the mechanisms by which SIAH1 promotes apoptosis and suppresses cell growth should also allow for the discovery of new therapeutic strategies.