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Subcutaneous emphysema (SE), a complication of robotic gastrectomy (RG), occurs when the gas used to establish pneumoperitoneum escapes and enters the soft tissue. SE typically does not result in major clinical problems, but massive SE can have life-threatening consequences. Hence, developing adequate preventive methods against postoperative SE is essential. We aimed to determine whether an existing protective device, the LAP PROTECTOR™ (LP), can be used to reduce the incidence of SE after RG. We analyzed the data of 194 patients who underwent RG at our hospital between August 2016 and December 2022. Since September 2021 (the 102nd patient), we have used the LP (FF0504; Hakko Medical, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan) at the trocar site, as this was expected to reduce the incidence of SE. The primary endpoint of this study was the efficacy of the LP in reducing the incidence of clinically relevant SE (defined as SE extending into the cervical area) a day after RG. Univariate analysis revealed that sex, body mass index (BMI), and LP usage differed significantly between patients with and without postoperative SE. Logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15–0.72, P

Pleural metastasis in rectal cancer is often due to secondary invasion or dissemination from intrapulmonary metastases. To date, there are no reports on solitary pleural metastasis. Here, we report a rare case of lower rectal cancer that recurred as pleural metastasis 4 years after surgical resection of the primary tumor. He was a 65-year-old man who visited our department with an abnormal shadow on his chest X-ray. He had a history of lower rectal cancer and had undergone laparoscopic low anterior resection of the rectum and bilateral lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological ypT3N1M0 stage IIIA tumor was diagnosed, and adjuvant chemotherapy was administered. According to the computed tomography scan, a pleural tumor or pulmonary metastasis was suspected. Thoracoscopic partial resection of the lung and a partial pleurectomy were performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Histopathological examination revealed a highly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, consistent with metastatic rectal cancer. The nodule arose from the visceral pleura and invaded the parietal pleura with few malignant cells in the lung parenchyma. The lesion was surgically resected. However, 3 months after the second surgery, tumor recurrence with pleural dissemination was observed, and chemotherapy was initiated.

Background Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and surgical resection remains the sole curative treatment for gastric cancer. Minimally invasive gastrectomy including laparoscopic and robotic approaches has been increasingly used in a few decades. Thus far, only a few reports have investigated the oncological outcomes following minimally invasive gastrectomy. Aim To determine the 5-year survival following minimally invasive gastrectomy for gastric cancer and identify prognostic predictors. Methods This retrospective cohort study identified 939 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer during the study period. After excluding 125 patients with non-curative surgery (n = 77), other synchronous cancer (n = 2), remnant gastric cancer (n = 25), insufficient physical function (n = 13), and open gastrectomy (n = 8), a total of 814 consecutive patients with primary gastric cancer who underwent minimally invasive R0 gastrectomy at our institution between 2009 and 2014 were retrospectively examined. Accordingly, 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test and Cox regression analyses, while factors associated with survival were determined using multivariate analysis. Results Our analysis showed that age > 65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 3, total or proximal gastrectomy, and pathological T4 and N positive status were independent predictors of both 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival. Accordingly, the included patients had a 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival of 80.3% and 78.2%, respectively. Among the 814 patients, 157 (19.3%) underwent robotic gastrectomy, while 308 (37.2%) were diagnosed with pathological stage II or III disease. Notably, our findings showed that robotic gastrectomy was an independent positive predictor for recurrence-free survival in patients with pathological stage II/III [hazard ratio: 0.56 (0.33-0.96), P = 0.035]. Comparison of recurrence-free survival between the robotic and laparoscopic approach using propensity score matching analysis verified that the robotic group had less morbidity (P = 0.005). Conclusion Age, ASA status, gastrectomy type, and pathological T and N status were prognostic factors of minimally invasive gastrectomy, with the robot approach possibly improving long-term outcomes of advanced gastric cancer.

Background Robotic gastrectomy (RG) for gastric cancer (GC) has gradually gained nationwide prominence following 2011 guidelines from the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (JSES), including the surgeons' criteria and the proctor system. In this retrospective study, we examined the short-term outcomes of the initial series of RGs performed by second-generation operating surgeons trained within our institute. Methods Between January 2017 and April 2020, five surgeons each performed RG in 20 patients with clinical stage III or lower GC in accordance with the JSES guidelines. We evaluated both the rate of Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher morbidities and the console time required to reach the learning plateau via cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis. Results We observed no mortality and 3% of morbidity following RG. Both the operative time (430 vs 387.5 min, P = 0.019) and console time (380 vs . 331.5 min, P = 0.009) were significantly shorter in the second 10 cases than in the initial 10 cases. We observed a remarkable trend in cases of distal gastrectomy (DG), in which the total operative time and console time were significantly shorter in the later cases. Our CUSUM analysis revealed that seven cases were required to achieve a learning plateau in RG when confined to DG. Conclusions Non-expert RG surgeons meeting the operating surgeon's criteria from the JSES who had trained under an expert RG surgeon safely performed RG in an initial 20 cases.

Objective Complete gastrectomy for gastric stump cancer (GSC) can be challenging due to severe adhesions; therefore, advanced techniques are required when being performed by laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy (LCTG) for the treatment of GSC. Methods Patient records from January 2010 to October 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were classified into 2 groups depending on whether they underwent open or laparoscopic gastrectomy. We compared patient characteristics; operative, clinical, and pathological data between the groups. Results Twenty open and 17 LCTGs were performed. Laparoscopic gastrectomy resulted in a significantly longer operation time (230 versus 182.5 min; P = 0.026), lower blood loss (14 versus 105 mL; P < 0.001), and shorter period to the first flatus passage (2 versus 3 days; P < 0.001) than open gastrectomy. No significant differences in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, duration of hospital stay, complication rate, and postoperative analgesic usage between the 2 groups were observed. No patients required conversion to open surgery in the laparoscopic-treatment group. Pathologic findings revealed that the laparoscopic group had a smaller tumor size (not pathologic T category) and fewer metastatic lymph nodes than the open group, leading to an earlier distribution of the pathologic stage in the laparoscopic group. Conclusions LCTG for the treatment of GSC was safely conducted with fewer complications and mortalities than previously reported results. Advanced technologies and sophistication of laparoscopic skills may further yield minimal invasiveness with better short-term outcome.

This prospective multicenter non-randomized phase III study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome of sentinel node navigation surgery for early gastric cancer compared with conventional distal or total gastrectomy. Clinically diagnosed primary T1N0M0 gastric cancer patients with a single lesion (≤40 mm) and without previous endoscopic treatment will be enrolled in this study. Sentinel nodes are identified by dye and radioisotope tracers and are subjected to intraoperative rapid pathology. For patients with negative sentinel node metastasis, individualized surgery consisting of limited stomach resection and sentinel node basin dissection is performed, while standard gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is employed for the positive sentinel node patients. A total of 225 patients will be accrued from 13 hospitals that have experience in sentinel node mapping. The primary endpoint is 5-year relapse-free survival. The secondary endpoints are overall survival, sentinel node detection rate, diagnostic accuracy for sentinel node, distribution of sentinel nodes and metastatic sentinel node/non-sentinel node, and postoperative quality of life.

Omentectomy is conducted for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients as radical surgery without an adequate discussion of the effect. This study was conducted to reveal the impact of omentum-preserving gastrectomy on postoperative outcomes. AGC patients with cT3 and 4 disease who underwent total or distal gastrectomy with R0 resection were identified retrospectively. They were divided into the omentum-preserved group (OPG) and the omentum-resected group (ORG) and matched with propensity score matching with multiple imputation for missing values. Three-year overall survival (OS) and 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) were compared, and the first recurrence site and complications were analysed. The numbers of eligible patients were 94 in the OPG and 144 in the ORG, and after matching, the number was 73 in each group. No significant difference was found in the 3-year OS rate (OPG: 78.9 vs. ORG: 78.9, P = 0.54) or the 3-year RFS rate (OPG: 77.8 vs. ORG: 68.2, P = 0.24). The proportions of peritoneal carcinomatosis and peritoneal dissemination as the first recurrence site and the rate and severity of complications were similar in the two groups. Omentectomy is not required for radical gastrectomy for AGC.

Highlights • Small bowel mesenteric lymphangiomas in adults are rare. • A huge lymphangioma infiltrated the pancreas and duodenum. • A pancreaticoduodenectomy was required to remove it completely., Introduction A lymphangioma is a benign congenital malformation of the lymphatic system that generally appears in the head, neck, and axillary regions. Small bowel mesenteric lymphangiomas have been described in less than 1% of lymphangiomas. Presentation of case We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed a large (22 cm in diameter) multi-cystic lesion inferior to the processus uncinatus of the pancreas. As the presumptive diagnosis was a lymphangioma of the jejunal mesentery, we decided to perform a laparotomy. Intraoperatively, the peritoneal cavity was found to be fully occupied by a multi-cystic lesion that arose from the root of the jejunal mesentery and the processus uncinatus of the pancreas. It was adherent to the duodenum and inseparable from the duodenum and the processus uncinatus. A subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as a lymphangioma of the jejunal mesentery after histopathological analysis. Discussion Although lymphangioma is benign, complete resection, including resection of the involved organs, is necessary. Incomplete resection has a 10% postoperative recurrence rate and may also be associated with complications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a mesenteric lymphangioma treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy. Conclusion Although the lymphangioma was pathologically benign, a pancreaticoduodenectomy was required to remove it completely. When a tumor’s location and size cause impingement on surrounding structures, surgeons should consider performing a pancreaticoduodenectomy to treat similar cases.

Highlights • An esophageal diverticulum is a rare condition. • Laparoscopic diverticulectomy with myotomy and fundoplication for an esophageal diverticulum is the common approach. • Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for the patient who need esophagectomy could be an effective and noninvasive candidate procedure., Introduction An esophageal diverticulum is a rare condition, and surgery is indicated if symptomatic. We successfully performed mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for a giant esophageal diverticulum with stenosis. Presentation of case A 63-year-old man visited our hospital because of dysphagia. He had been pointed out an esophageal diverticulum at a local hospital 13 years before visiting our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an esophageal diverticulum at the lower thoracic esophagus and the structural stenosis in the anal side of the diverticulum. Computed tomography showed a 54 mm esophageal diverticulum at the lower thoracic esophagus. Esophagectomy was required because of the structural stenosis. His medical history included chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. So, we chose the mediastinal approach to avoid a respiratory complication. We performed mediastinoscopic esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy via the retrosternal route. The postoperative course was good. At 9 months postoperation, there were no symptoms. Discussion Recently, laparoscopic diverticulectomy with myotomy and fundoplication has been considered the best approach in most cases. In the case with the structural stenosis, esophagectomy may be required. Conclusion Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy for the patient with poor respiratory function and who need esophagectomy could be an effective and noninvasive candidate procedure.

Highlights • Cavitary lung metastases are rare. • This is the third report of lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity. • Total biopsy is one of the procedures to be considered if difficulty in diagnosing in cavitary lung disease., Introduction and importance Cavitary lung metastases are rare. We experienced lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity, which is extremely rare. Case presentation A 69-year-old female diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent radical esophagectomy. Pathological diagnosis was T3N0M0-pStageII. Cavitary lesion appeared in the lower lobe of the right lung 12 months after surgery. We suspected an inflammatory change and followed up strictly. On Computed tomography (CT) image 18 months after surgery, the cavitary lesion slightly increased in size, showing wall thickening and fluid inside. Fluid collection disappeared after antibiotic treatment. The patient was followed for 4 weeks without antibiotics and fluid collection reappeared. Cavitary lesion resection for the purpose of diagnosis was planned because malignancy could not be excluded, although the readministration of antibiotics was also considered. Thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lower lobe of the lung was performed. Histopathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma which was similar in morphology to esophageal cancer. The final diagnosis was lung metastasis of esophageal cancer. Clinical discussion Metastatic lung cancer with a cavity is rare, accounting for approximately 4% of all cases. Moreover, Lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity is extremely rare. Conclusions The specimen collection, including total biopsy, should be aggressively performed when diagnosing cavitary lung disease in patients with a history of neoplastic disease.

Introduction Reestablishing continuity after the Hartmann procedure, the Hartmann reversal has been recognized as a complex procedure with a high morbidity rate. Laparoscopic reversal of the Hartmann procedure (LHR) is technically challenging, although good short-term results have been reported. We formulated this technique in 2013 and have been gradually devising and standardizing it. Material and surgical technique Ten patients who had undergone the Hartmann procedure from January 2013 to December 2019 and subsequently LHR were retrospectively examined. During the procedure, a circular incision was made at the original site of the colostomy to safely reach the abdominal cavity, and pneumoperitoneum was performed using the glove technique. Next, pelvic adhesions and the descending colon were dissected. If the rectal stump was difficult to identify, an intraoperative endoscope was used. Finally, either a Gambee or stapled anastomosis without tension was performed. The median surgical time was 265 minutes (range, 160-435 minutes), and the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 10-700 mL). The median postoperative hospital stay was 11 days (range, 8-14 days). In one case, laparotomy was performed because of severe intra-abdominal adhesion. Discussion No major complication was observed during or after surgery. Therefore, LHR can be performed safely. Standardizing this procedure could render it minimally invasive, although a high level of evidence is needed.

Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly applied for early gastric cancer. ESD is a less invasive procedure and could be a radical treatment. However, in some cases, ESD cannot be completed owing to patient or technical factors. In such cases, which could have the potential for curative resection with ESD, standard gastrectomy is excessively invasive. Through closed laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), gastric tumor can be precisely resected without exposing tumor cells to the abdominal cavity. Compared with standard gastrectomy, closed LECS is less invasive for the treatment of early gastric cancer. Case presentation We performed closed LECS for three cases of early gastric cancer after failed ESD. In all three cases, ESD was interrupted owing to technical and patient factors, including perforation, respiratory failure, and carbon dioxide narcosis. All three cases successfully underwent closed LECS with complete tumor resection and showed an uneventful postoperative course. All three patients remain alive and have experienced no complications or recurrence, with a median follow up of 30 (14–30) months. Conclusions Closed LECS is less invasive and useful procedure for the treatment of early gastric cancer, particularly in cases with difficulty in ESD.

BackgroundComplete gastrectomy for gastric stump cancer can be challenging due to severe adhesions; therefore, advanced techniques are required to perform laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric stump cancer.MethodsPatient records from January 2010 to October 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they underwent open or laparoscopic gastrectomy. We compared patient characteristics; operative, clinical, and pathological data; survival rates; and prognosis between the groups.ResultsTwenty open and 17 laparoscopic completion total gastrectomies were performed. No significant differences in the distribution of the clinical T and N categories, clinical stage, and reconstruction methods of the initial gastrectomy between the two groups were observed. Laparoscopic gastrectomy resulted in a significantly longer operation time (230 vs. 182.5 min; p = 0.026), lower blood loss (14 vs. 105 mL; p = 0.0000179), and shorter period to the first flatus passage (2 vs. 3 days; p = 0.0000401) than open gastrectomy. No significant differences in the number of retrieved lymph nodes, duration of hospital stay, complication rate, and postoperative analgesic usage between the two groups were observed. No patients required conversion to open surgery in the laparoscopic-treatment group. Pathological findings revealed that the laparoscopic group had a smaller tumor size (not pathological T category) and less metastatic lymph nodes than the open group; this led to an earlier distribution of the pathological stage and better overall or disease-free survivals in the laparoscopic group.ConclusionsLaparoscopic completion total gastrectomy was safely conducted without complications and mortality implicating the oncological validity for the treatment of gastric stump cancer. With sophistication of laparoscopic skills and advanced technologies, laparoscopic completion total gastrectomy may be the best way to perform less invasive surgery in terms of decreased blood loss and earlier recovery of intestinal peristalsis.

A 43-year-old man underwent a low anterior resection of the rectum due to upper rectal cancer. The pathological Stage was Ⅳ with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Postoperative chemotherapy with CapeOX was initiated, but para-aortic lymph node metastasis was discovered 4months after the surgery. Chemoradiation therapy with Cape and Bev, and 70 Gy/28 Fr led to the disappearance of the metastasized lesions. At 13months after the surgery, FDG accumulation was observed in the Virchow's lymph node, and chemotherapy with IRIS and Bev was initially administered. Subsequently, chemoradiation therapy with S-1 and Bev, and 66 Gy/33Fr was administered, followed by chemotherapy with S-1 and Bev, S-1. These therapies led to complete response(CR). However, 35 months after the surgery, the Virchow's lymph node had enlarged again, and chemoradiation therapy with S-1 and 60 Gy/30Fr was administered. Although no FDG accumulation was detected in the lymph node at 40 months after the surgery, metastasis was found in the mediastinal lymph nodes. Panitumumab therapy achieved CR, and no metastasis had been identified at 60 months after the final therapy. Chemoradiation therapy is a treatment option to improve the prognosis of patients with metastasis only in the Virchow's lymph node.

Radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity, especially with pulmonary complications. Mediastinoscopic esophagectomy via a small left neck incision combined with the esophageal hiatus, without using transthoracic approach, has been reported to reduce pulmonary complication; however, from technical point of view, this approach using non-articulating, straight, long forceps is extremely challenging, especially in the middle mediastinal area. Its technical difficulties may be attenuated using da Vinci Surgical System. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy. Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was performed in six patients between October 2016 and May 2017. Robotic esophageal mobilization with upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed via the three da Vinci Xi (Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA) trocars placed on the 5-cm left cervical incision. Thereafter, the remaining part of radical esophagectomy was completed via a transhiatal approach. Upper and middle mediastinal lymphadenectomy was robotically completed via the transcervical approach in all cases without conversion to transthoracic approach. No postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo classification grade ≥ III) were observed. Robot-assisted mediastinoscopic esophagectomy was technically feasible and safe. Use of da Vinci Surgical System may help attenuate technical difficulties in transcervical middle mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Based on our experience of suprapancreatic nodal dissection in laparoscopic gastrectomy, we developed an outermost layer-oriented medial approach for infrapyloric nodal dissection. The objective of this single-institution retrospective study was to determine the feasibility, safety, and reproducibility of this novel and unique dissection procedure. This approach can be performed in the same manner as suprapancreatic nodal dissection but by replacing the left gastric artery with the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA), the common hepatic artery with the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA), and the splenic artery with the gastroduodenal artery. It comprises five steps: (1) mobilization of the transverse mesocolon along the prepancreatic membrane, (2) medial dissection along the dissectable layer between the pancreatic head and the dorsal side of the right gastroepiploic vein (RGEV), (3) division of the RGEV and determination of the lateral and cranial borders, (4) dissection along the outermost layer of the RGEA and ASPDA and transection of the infrapyloric artery and RGEA, and (5) transection of the duodenal bulb. This novel method was applied in 112 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy from 2014 to 2015. The anatomical landmarks that we determined to appropriately identify the outermost layer were highly reproducible, and our novel procedure based on these landmarks was successfully completed in all cases, without any intraoperative complications. Furthermore, in all cases, no. 6 lymph nodes were fully and adequately dissected within the infrapyloric area anatomically defined in the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma ver. 14. Pancreatic fistula occurred only in 1.8% cases. This novel outermost layer-oriented medial approach is a robust procedure that may help laparoscopic surgeons in performing safe and reproducible infrapyloric nodal dissection.

Highlights • The subvesical bile ducts are important from the potential risk for bile leakage. • It is difficult to identify the subvesical bile ducts intraoperatively. • Fluorescent cholangiography visualized the subvesical bile ducts clearly., Introduction The subvesical bile ducts are located in the peri-hepatic connective tissue of the gallbladder fossa. Injury of the subvesical bile ducts provokes the severe complication of bile leak. Until now, fluorescent cholangiography has been employed during hepatobiliary surgery. Herein, we report the detection of subvesical bile ducts by fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Presentation of case A 63-year-old female was admitted to our department for surgery for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The subvesical bile ducts were not observed on drip-infusion cholangiography with computed tomography. Immediately following induction of anesthesia, 2.5 mg of indocyanine green was intravenously injected. Fluorescent cholangiography demonstrated two thin aberrant bile ducts during dissection of Calot’s triangle. We considered them to be subvesical bile ducts. We ligated them with clips, divided them, and then performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a standard procedure. The patient had a good post-operative recovery without bile leakage. Postoperative laboratory test results were all within normal limits. Computed tomography revealed no dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. Discussion Injury to the subvesical bile ducts is one of the most common causes of bile leakage associated with cholecystectomy. Fluorescent cholangiography enabled real-time identification of the thin subvesical bile ducts, which were undetectable by drip-infusion cholangiography with computed tomography. Conclusion Fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be useful for preventing postoperative bile leakage.

More than 4000 da Vinci Surgical Systems have been installed worldwide. Robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System has been increasingly performed in the last decade, especially in urology and gynecology. The da Vinci Surgical System has not become standard in surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract because of a lack of clear benefits in comparison with conventional minimally invasive surgery. We initiated robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy for patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer in 2009, and we have demonstrated the potential advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System in reducing postoperative local complications after gastrectomy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after esophagectomy. However, robotic surgery has the disadvantages of a longer operative time and higher costs than the conventional approach. In this review article, we present the current status of robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer, as well as future perspectives on this approach, based on our experience and a review of the literature.

This case involved a 69-year-old female patient with peritoneal dissemination of an advanced gastric cancer. She underwent chemotherapy comprisingintravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1. After 20 courses, a staging laparoscopy was performed, and pathological analysis of the peritoneal dissemination and cytologic analysis of ascites fluid yielded negative results. A radical robot-assisted total gastrectomy was successfully performed. The pathological stage was determined to be ypT4aN2M0, ypStage ⅢB. We continued to administer the same chemotherapy regimen for 15 courses (total: 35 courses)after surgery. No recurrence has been detected during the 1-year period after surgery.

A 60-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on account of a duodenal submucosal tumor on the opposite side of Vater's papilla identified on a screening gastroduodenoscopy. The tumor was diagnosed as a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)due to positive c-kit and DOG1tests. Gastroduodenography and enhanced computed tomography showed a 50mm tumor widely invadingthe descendingportion of the duodenum close to the papilla of Vater and indicated the need for extended resection includingpancreaticoduodenectomy to achieve curation. Preoperative chemotherapy was initiated with imatinib mesylate(imatinib)to preserve the pancreas. A 16 month course of imatinib shrunk the tumor up to 21mm and laparoscopic partial duodenectomy was performed as a curative resection. So far, no local tumor recurrence has been seen for 26 months after the surgery. Herein, we report this case with a review of the literature.

D2 total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy or pancreaticosplenectomy reportedly increases morbidity and mortality. Totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains controversial because of its technical difficulties and lack of long-term results. We determined the feasibility and safety of TLTG for AGC. A single-institution retrospective study was conducted. Ninety-two consecutive AGC patients who underwent radical TLTG were enrolled. The primary end point was morbidity. The patients were observed for 3 years following TLTG. We assessed short-term surgical and long-term outcomes, including 3-year overall survival rates (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS). Early and late morbidities (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3) were 26.1 and 6.5 %, respectively. Operative time, estimated blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes, and postoperative hospital stay were 444 (278–694) min, 100 (0–2267) g, 48 (16–89), and 23 (9–136) days, respectively, and 3yOS and 3yRFS rates were 70.7 and 60.9 %, respectively. Factors associated with postoperative complications and 3yOS were operative time [OR 1.011 (1.006–1.017), p

PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intracorporeal anastomosis with Billroth I, Billroth II, or Roux-en-Y reconstructions in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single-institution, retrospective, cohort study including 553 patients was conducted. Intracorporeal isosceles right triangle-shaped anastomosis without slack and torsion was created using linear staplers. Billroth I was primarily used. Surgical outcomes and perioperative nutritional status were assessed. RESULTS Morbidity was 11.5%. Postoperative early complications related to anastomosis occurred in 13 patients (2.4%). Operative time and reconstruction type (Billroth I vs. others) were the only significant independent risk factors determining postoperative early and late complications, respectively. No difference was observed in postoperative changes in nutritional status across the groups, although Billroth II increased reflux esophagitis requiring medication. CONCLUSIONS Intracorporeal isosceles right triangle-shaped anastomosis using linear staplers in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, in combination with our selection algorithm for type of reconstruction, is feasible and safe.

More than 4000 da Vinci Surgical Systems have been installed worldwide. Robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System has been increasingly performed in the last decade, especially in urology and gynecology. The da Vinci Surgical System has not become standard in surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract because of a lack of clear benefits in comparison with conventional minimally invasive surgery. We initiated robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy for patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer in 2009, and we have demonstrated the potential advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System in reducing postoperative local complications after gastrectomy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after esophagectomy. However, robotic surgery has the disadvantages of a longer operative time and higher costs than the conventional approach. In this review article, we present the current status of robotic surgery for gastric and esophageal cancer, as well as future perspectives on this approach, based on our experience and a review of the literature.

Aim: To examine the feasibility and usefulness of a novel region-based pathway: the Regional Referral Clinical Pathway for Home-Based Palliative Care. Method: This was a feasibility study to evaluate the frequency of variances and the perceived usefulness of pathway using in-depth interviews. All patients with cancer referred to the palliative care team between 2011 and 2013 and received home care services were enrolled. Result: A total of 44 patients were analyzed, and pathway was completed in all the patients. The target outcome was achieved in 61.4% while some variances occurred in 54.5%. Nine categories were identified as the usefulness of the pathway, such as reviewing and sharing information and promoting communication, education, motivation, and relationships. Conclusion: This novel pathway is feasible and seems to be useful.

The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) performed by one operating and advising surgeon in patients with gastric cancer over a period of 10 years. We examined the choice of anastomosis techniques, and compared the duration of surgery, blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes and intraoperative complications for LADG and open distal gastrectomy (ODG). We studied 254 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy and 36 patients who underwent ODG. 169 of 254 patients received LADG. Duration of surgery was significantly longer for LADG than that for ODG, blood loss was significantly smaller, and numbers of dissected lymph nodes were similar. With LADG, there was anastomotic leakage in 2 patients and postoperative obstruction in 2 patients. No recurrence of disease and no deaths have been reported to date. Though previous clinical trials have shown that LADG is less invasive, our study of LADG in the real world did not show superiority, but rather equivalence to ODG in terms of other outcomes. This study could be advantageous to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of LADG without having to take into account multiple surgeons’ technical levels and the background differences between the facilities.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) has become one of the standard surgical procedures for gastric cancer in Japan and Korea. However, LADG is currently listed as being in the clinical research phase under the Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines. The aim of this study is to report surgeons’ opinions of what is needed if LADG is to become a standard procedure. We conducted questionnaire survey with open questions in hospitals that either applied or did not apply LADG and compared the answers. We labeled and categorized the collected data using content analysis. The number of hospitals which applied LADG more than doubled from 5 to 12 hospitals over 3 years. Overall, hospitals reported that the necessary elements for LADG to become a standard procedure are: clinical trials of LADG (n = 5, 22.7%), surgeons’ practical experience in performing LADG (n = 4, 18.2%), stability of radical treatment (n = 4, 18.2%), and a shorter operative duration (n = 3, 13.6%) for the procedure. Surgeons’ practical experience was chosen as the most important requirement in the hospitals which applied LADG while clinical trials (n = 2, 40.0%) and stability of radical treatment (n = 2, 40.0%) were the most common answers in the hospitals which did not apply LADG. Hospitals and surgeons’ practical experience, stabilizing radical cure, and the large scale of clinical trials are for LADG to become a standard procedure and to gain equivalent importance as open distal gastrectomy in treating gastric cancer.

Higher morbidity in total gastrectomy than in distal gastrectomy has been reported, but laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy (LsTG) has been reported to be safe and feasible in early gastric cancer (GC). We determined the surgical, nutritional and oncological outcomes of LsTG for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Of the 816 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2008 and 2012, 253 who underwent curative laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for AGC were enrolled. LsTG was indicated for patients with upper stomach third tumors, who hoped to avoid total gastrectomy

Valvuloplastic esophagogastrostomy by double flap technique (VEG-DFT) is a promising procedure to prevent reflux after proximal gastrectomy (PG), and is achieved by the burial of the abdominal esophagus into the gastric submucosa; however, laparoscopic VEG-DFT is technically demanding due to complicated suturing and ligation maneuvers. The present study was designed to determine the feasibility and safety of robotic VEG-DFT. After robotic PG, seromuscular flaps were extracorporeally created at the anterior wall of the remnant stomach through a small umbilical incision. Then, using a robot, the posterior wall of the esophagus was fixed to the cranial end of the mucosal window, and layer-to-layer sutures were placed between the anterior aspects of esophagus and the remnant stomach. Finally, the anastomosis was covered by seromuscular flaps. Short-term outcomes of 12 consecutive patients who underwent VEG-DFT between January 2014 and December 2015 were assessed. Operations were successfully completed using robotic assistance in all patients. Median operative, surgeon console, and anastomosis times were 406 (324–613 min), 267 (214–483), and 104 (76–186) min, respectively, and median estimated blood loss was 31 (5–130) ml. The first six cases were required to reach a learning plateau. Both mortality and morbidity rates within 30 days after surgery were 0%. Postoperative hospital stay was 10 (9–30) days. No postoperative reflux esophagitis was observed, whereas anastomotic stenosis, which required endoscopic balloon dilation, developed in three patients (25%) in postoperative month 2. There was a significant association between the total number of stitches used for VEG-DFT and anastomotic stenosis (p < 0.001). Robotic assistance may be useful for VEG-DFT with a short learning curve. Attention is required to prevent postoperative anastomotic stenosis possibly caused by an excessive number of stitches for esophagogastrostomy.

Robotic gastrectomy (RG) for gastric cancer (GC) has been increasingly performed over the last decade. The technical feasibility and safety of RG for GC, predominantly early GC, have previously been reported; however, few studies have evaluated the oncological outcomes. This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of RG for GC compared with those of conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). Of the 521 consecutive patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy at our institution between 2009 and 2012, 84 consecutive patients who underwent RG and 437 patients who received LG were enrolled in this study. Long-term outcomes including the 3-year overall survival (3yOS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (3yRFS) were examined retrospectively. In the RG group, the 3yOS rates stratified by pathological stage according to the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma (IA, IB, II, and III) were 94.7, 90.9, 89.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. No differences in 3yOS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 88.8 %; p = 0.636) or 3yRFS (RG, 86.9 % vs. LG, 86.3 %; p = 0.905) were observed between the groups. 3yOS was strongly associated with cancer recurrence within 3 years (p

Pleomorphic carcinoma is a rare lesion and the literature contains few reports of pleomorphic carcinoma of the gallbladder. The present study reports a rare case of primary pleomorphic carcinoma of the gallbladder for which we were able to perform curative surgery. A 77-year-old woman with dementia developed nausea and anorexia, and computed tomography demonstrated irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall. Drip infusion cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed no stenosis of the common and intrahepatic bile ducts. We suspected carcinoma of the gallbladder without lymph node metastasis and invasion to the common bile duct. We guessed it to be resectable and performed open laparotomy. At operation, the fundus of the gallbladder was adherent to the transverse colon, but no lymph node and distant metastases were detected. Therefore, we performed curative cholecystectomy with partial colectomy. Histopathology and immunostaining showed coexistence of an adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and sarcomatous tumor of spindle-shaped cell, as well as transition zones between these tumors. We diagnosed stage I pleomorphic carcinoma of the gallbladder. No recurrence has been observed for one and a half years. The biological behavior of pleomorphic carcinoma of the gallbladder remains unknown. It will be necessary to accumulate more case reports of this tumor in order to define diagnostic criteria.

症例は60歳代, 女性. 胃がん術後のSchnitzler転移と診断され, 人工肛門造設となった. この後, 抗がん剤治療を行ったが, 嘔気および下腹部痛が増悪したため入院となった. がん性腹膜炎の増悪と考え, 酢酸オクトレオチドの持続皮下投与を開始したところ, 著効を示した. 食欲不振STASは最大スコア4から, 1週間後にはスコア1にまで改善した. 患者・家族の意向をふまえ在宅ホスピスケアへ移行した. その後, 酢酸オクトレオチド投与によって在宅においても良好なQOLが保持された. 酢酸オクトレオチドはがん性腹膜炎に伴う嘔気・嘔吐や腹部膨満症状の緩和に有効な薬剤であるが, 入院においての使用には制約が発生する. 在宅ホスピスケアにおいて患者のQOLの保持・向上のために酢酸オクトレオチド投与は症状改善においても, また経営面においても有用であり, 今後の在宅ホスピスケアの重要なツールとなりうると思われる. Palliat Care Res 2009; 4(2): 321-329

悪性線維性組織球腫は成人の四肢軟部組織に好発する非上皮性悪性腫瘍であり, 腸間膜に原発することはまれである. 今回, 腸間膜原発の悪性線維性組織球腫の1例を経験したので報告する. 症例は71歳の女性. 右下腹部腫瘤を主訴に, 婦人科受診し, 腹部MRI検査にて右下腹部から骨盤腔にかけて嚢胞性腫瘍を認めた. 右卵巣腫瘍と診断され, 開腹術を施行されたが, 卵巣には異常を認めず, 腫瘍は回盲部から発生したものと考えられた. 当科転科後, 腹部CT検査, 血管造影検査が行われた. 血管造影検査では腫瘍を栄養する血管は回結腸動脈から分枝していた. 回盲部の非上皮性腫瘍を疑い, 再開腹し回盲部切除術を施行した. 病理組織標本にて回腸の腸間膜原発の粘液型MFHと診断し, 現在外来にて経過観察中であるが, 再発は認めていない.

We enrolled 62 elderly patients( ≥70 years of age) with colorectal cancer who had undergone surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy at our department and analyzed the overall surviva(l OS) and disease-free surviva(l DFS) to identify the patients who responded to treatment. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was performed with oral anticancer agents, including doxifluridine( 5'-DFUR), uracil/tegafur( UFT), and UFT/Leucovorin( LV); all patients also received polysaccharide K( PSK), an immunomodulator, in combination with chemotherapy. The 3-year OS and DFS rates for all patients were 83.4% and 78.6%, respectively, with no significant differences in these rates based on the chemotherapeutic agents used. The patients were assigned to low and high groups on the basis of the median cut-off values of each clinical laboratory parameter and the data obtained were subjected to univariate analysis. The results of the univariate analysis suggested that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels were significant prognostic factors. Further multivariate analysis using Cox regression analysis identified the preoperative CEA level alone as an independent factor. When stratification analysis was performed using a preoperative CEA level of 4.0 ng/mL as the cut-off value, the results indicated that the outcome of patients with a high preoperative CEA level may be 8-fold worse than that of patients with a low preoperative CEA level. For these patients, the use of chemotherapeutic drugs that elicit a more potent antitumor effect should be considered.

We experienced a case in which zoledronate was effective for alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms arising from urinary bladder cancer-associated hypercalcemia, and long-term palliative home care was feasible by continuation of the administration. A female in her eighties was found to have bladder cancer. After transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, part of it was left unresected. Since dizziness, appetite loss, and general fatigue became severer, blood tests were carried out and hypercalcemia was observed. Then, zoledronate was administered and clinical symptoms quickly improved. After discussion with her and her family, palliative home care was selected. Home care was possible for about six months by continuation of zoledronate administration. In conclusion, it was suggested that careful continuous administration of zoledronate was also useful for symptom control in the palliative home care, and that it would potentially be a key drug for promotion of palliative home care.