A comparison between two methods for tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare two methods of tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: From March 2014 to November 2014, patients in whom TLDG had been engaged for middle third gastric cancer enrolled in this study. The patients were allocated to either the radiography or endoscopy group based on the type of tumor localization technique. Clinicopathologic outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The accrual was suspended in November 2014 when 39 patients had been enrolled because a failed localization happened in the radiography group. The radiography and endoscopy groups included 17 (43.6 %) and 22 patients (56.4 %), respectively. Mean length of the proximal resection margin did not differ between the radiography and endoscopy groups (4.0 ± 2.6 and 2.8 ± 1.2 cm, respectively; P = 0.077). Mean localization time was longer in the radiography group than in the endoscopy group (22.7 ± 11.4 and 6.9 ± 1.8 minutes, respectively, P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of severe complications between the 2 groups (5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, P = 0.851). CONCLUSION: As an intraoperative tumor localization for TLDG, radiologic method was unsafe even though other comparable parameters were not different from that of endoscopy group. Moreover, intraoperative endoscopic localization may be advantageous because it is highly accurate and contributes to reducing operation time.

A comparison between two methods for tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare two methods of tumor localization during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: From March 2014 to November 2014, patients in whom TLDG had been engaged for middle third gastric cancer enrolled in this study. The patients were allocated to either the radiography or endoscopy group based on the type of tumor localization technique. Clinicopathologic outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The accrual was suspended in November 2014 when 39 patients had been enrolled because a failed localization happened in the radiography group. The radiography and endoscopy groups included 17 (43.6 %) and 22 patients (56.4 %), respectively. Mean length of the proximal resection margin did not differ between the radiography and endoscopy groups (4.0 ± 2.6 and 2.8 ± 1.2 cm, respectively; P = 0.077). Mean localization time was longer in the radiography group than in the endoscopy group (22.7 ± 11.4 and 6.9 ± 1.8 minutes, respectively, P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of severe complications between the 2 groups (5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, P = 0.851). CONCLUSION: As an intraoperative tumor localization for TLDG, radiologic method was unsafe even though other comparable parameters were not different from that of endoscopy group. Moreover, intraoperative endoscopic localization may be advantageous because it is highly accurate and contributes to reducing operation time.

High Occupational Stress and Low Career Satisfaction of Korean Surgeons

Surgery is a demanding and stressful field in Korea. Occupational stress can adversely affect the quality of care, decrease job satisfaction, and potentially increase medical errors. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational stress and career satisfaction of Korean surgeons. We have conducted an electronic survey of 621 Korean surgeons for the occupational stress. Sixty-five questions were used to assess practical and personal characteristics and occupational stress using the Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS). The mean KOSS score was 49.31, which was higher than the average of Korean occupational stress (45.86) or that of other specialized professions (46.03). Young age, female gender, long working hours, and frequent night duties were significantly related to the higher KOSS score. Having spouse, having hobby and regular exercise decreased the KOSS score. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that long working hours and regular exercise were the independent factors associated with the KOSS score. Less than 50% of surgeons answered that they would become a surgeon again. Most surgeons (82.5%) did not want to recommend their child follow their career. Korean Surgeons have high occupational stress and low level of career satisfaction.

High Occupational Stress and Low Career Satisfaction of Korean Surgeons

Surgery is a demanding and stressful field in Korea. Occupational stress can adversely affect the quality of care, decrease job satisfaction, and potentially increase medical errors. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational stress and career satisfaction of Korean surgeons. We have conducted an electronic survey of 621 Korean surgeons for the occupational stress. Sixty-five questions were used to assess practical and personal characteristics and occupational stress using the Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS). The mean KOSS score was 49.31, which was higher than the average of Korean occupational stress (45.86) or that of other specialized professions (46.03). Young age, female gender, long working hours, and frequent night duties were significantly related to the higher KOSS score. Having spouse, having hobby and regular exercise decreased the KOSS score. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that long working hours and regular exercise were the independent factors associated with the KOSS score. Less than 50% of surgeons answered that they would become a surgeon again. Most surgeons (82.5%) did not want to recommend their child follow their career. Korean Surgeons have high occupational stress and low level of career satisfaction.

Lessons Learned from a Comparative Analysis of Surgical Outcomes of and Learning Curves for Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy

PURPOSE: Before expanding our indications for laparoscopic gastrectomy to advanced gastric cancer and adopting reduced port laparoscopic gastrectomy, we analyzed and audited the outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for adenocarcinoma; this was done during the adoptive period at our institution through the comparative analysis of short-term surgical outcomes and learning curves (LCs) of two surgeons with different careers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed comparative analysis of the LCs and surgical outcomes was done for the respective first 95 and 111 LADGs performed by two surgeons between July, 2006 and June, 2011. The LCs were fitted by using the non-linear ordinary least squares estimation method. RESULTS: The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 14.6% and 0.0%, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the morbidity rates (12.6% vs. 16.2%, P=0.467). More than 25 lymph nodes were retrieved by each surgeon during LADG procedures. The LCs of both surgeons were distinct. In this study, a stable plateau of the LC was not achieved by both surgeons even after performing 90 LADGs. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the experience with gastrectomy or laparoscopic surgery for other organs, or the age of surgeon, the outcome was quite acceptable; the learning process differ according to the surgeon's experience and individual characteristics.

Occupational stress and related factors among surgical residents in Korea

PURPOSE: The application rate for surgical residents in Korea has continuously decreased over the past few years. The demanding workload and the occupational stress of surgical training are likely causes of this problem. The aim of this study was to investigate occupational stress and its related factors in Korean surgical residents. METHODS: With the support of the Korean Surgical Society, we conducted an electronic survey of Korean surgical residents related to occupational stress. We used the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) to measure occupational stress. We analyzed the data focused on the stress level and the factors associated with occupational stress. RESULTS: The mean KOSS score of the surgical residents was 55.39, which was significantly higher than that of practicing surgeons (48.16, P < 0.001) and the average score of specialized professionals (46.03, P < 0.001). Exercise was the only factor found to be significantly associated with KOSS score (P = 0.001) in univariate analysis. However, in multiple linear regression analysis, the mean number of assigned patients, resident occupation rate and exercise were all significantly associated with KOSS score. CONCLUSION: Surgical residents have high occupational stress compared to practicing surgeons and other professionals. Their mean number of assigned patients, resident recruitment rate and exercise were all significantly associated with occupational stress for surgical residents.

Primary Gastric Malignant Melanoma Mimicking Adenocarcinoma

We report a case of primary gastric malignant melanoma that was diagnosed after curative resection but initially misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma. A 68-year-old woman was referred to our department for surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma presenting as a polypoid lesion with central ulceration located in the upper body of the stomach. The preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. We performed laparoscopic total gastrectomy, and the final pathologic evaluation led to the diagnosis of primary gastric malignant melanoma without a primary lesion detected in the body. To the best of our knowledge, primary gastric malignant melanoma is extremely rare, and this is the first case reported in our country. According to the literature, it has aggressive biologic activity compared with adenocarcinoma, and curative resection is the only promising treatment strategy. In our case, the patient received an early diagnosis and underwent curative gastrectomy with radical lymphadenectomy, and no recurrence was noted for about two years.

Gastrectomy for the treatment of refractory gastric ulceration after radioembolization with 90Y microspheres

Transcatheter arterial radioembolization (TARE) with Yttrium-90 (90Y)-labeled microspheres has an emerging role in treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Although complication of TARE can be minimized by aggressive pre-evaluation angiography and preventive coiling of aberrant vessels, radioembolization-induced gastroduodenal ulcer can be irreversible and can be life-threatening. Treatment of radioembolization-induced gastric ulcer is challenging because there is a few reported cases and no consensus for management. We report a case of severe gastric ulceration with bleeding that eventually required surgery due to aberrant deposition of microspheres after TARE.

Erratum to: Clinical Outcomes of Gastrectomy after Incomplete EMR/ESD

No abstract available.

Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and E-Selectin in Gastric Cancer and Their Clinical Significance

PURPOSE: Among cell adhesion molecules, serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin are known to be correlated with the metastatic potential of gastric cancer. In the present study, the authors investigated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin in gastric cancer tissues and cultured gastric cancer cells, and examined their clinical value in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protein was extracted from gastric cancer tissues and cultured gastric cancer cells (MKN-28 and Kato-III) and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin was examined by western blotting. The clinical significance of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin was explored, using immunohistochemical staining of specimens from 157 gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: In western blot analysis, the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in gastric cancer tissues and cultured gastric cancer cells were increased, however, E-selectin in gastric cancer tissues and cells were not increased. Among 157 gastric cancer patients, 79 patients (50%) were intercellular adhesion molecule-1 positive and had larger tumor size, an increased depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion. The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 positive group showed a higher incidence of tumor recurrence (40.5%), and a poorer 3-year survival than the negative group (54.9 vs. 85.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues and cultured gastric cancer cells, whereas E-selectin is not overexpressed. Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in gastric cancer could be related to the aggressive nature of the tumor, and has a poor prognostic effect on gastric cancer.

Aging over 70 Years Is Not a Decisively Dismal Prognostic Factor in Gastric Cancer Surgery

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate in Korea. Despite a growing older population and an increase in the number of older patients with gastric cancer, the older patients are not willing to undergo surgery due to their operative risks. Hence, to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of gastric cancer surgery for them, we investigate factors influencing the treatment decision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2005, a total of 1,519 patients were classified into two groups; the younger age group between 41 and 69 years of age, and the older age group of 70 years or older. The analysis conducted included patient characteristics, accompanying disorders, related American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, pathological characteristics and survival rate for each age group. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the ASA grade (P<0.001) and the number of accompanying disorders (P<0.001) between the two groups. The average length of hospital stay after surgery was 14.5 days in the younger age group, and 13.3 days in the older age group (P=0.065). The average survival time was 47.5 months in the younger age group, and 43.2 months in the older age group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that there was more number of accompanying disorders with a high surgical risk in the older age group. However, there was no significant difference between the older and younger age groups in terms of the incidence of complications, under the given disease conditions and if proper management was provided.

Erratum to: Clinical Outcomes of Gastrectomy after Incomplete EMR/ESD

No abstract available.

Clinical Significance of the Pattern of Lymph Node Metastasis Depending on the Location of Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: When performing a laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy, a function-preserving gastrectomy is performed depending on the location of the primary gastric cancer. This study examined the incidence of lymph node metastasis by the lymph node station number by tumor location to determine the optimal extent of the lymph node dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects consisted of 1,510 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy between 1996 and 2005. The patients were divided into three groups: upper, middle and lower third, depending on the location of the primary tumor. The lymph node metastasis patterns were analyzed in the total and early gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: In all patients, lymph node station numbers 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11 metastases were dominant in the cancer originating in the upper third, whereas station numbers 4, 5, 6 and 8 were dominant in the lower third. In early gastric cancer patients, the station number of lymph nodes with a metastasis did not show a significant difference in stage pT1a disease. On the other hand, a metastasis in lymph node station number 6 was dominant in stage pT1b disease that originated in the lower third of the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: When performing a laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, a limited lymphadenectomy is considered adequate during a function-preserving gastrectomy in mucosal (T1a) cancer. On the other hand, for submucosal (T1b) cancer, a number 6 node dissection should be performed when performing a pylorus preserving gastrectomy.

Clinical Outcomes of Gastrectomy after Incomplete EMR/ESD

PURPOSE: Endoscopic resection is widely accepted as standard treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) without lymph node metastasis. The procedure is minimally invasive, safe, and convenient. However, surgery is sometimes needed after endoscopic mucosal resection/endoscopic submucosal dissection endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)/endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) due to perforation, bleeding, or incomplete resection. We evaluated the role of surgery after incomplete resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 29 patients with gastric cancer who underwent a gastrectomy after incomplete EMR/ESD from 2006 to 2010 at Korea University Hospital. RESULTS: There were 13 incomplete resection cases, seven bleeding cases, three metachronous lesion cases, three recurrence cases, two perforation cases, and one lymphatic invasion case. Among the incomplete resection cases, a positive vertical margin was found in 10, a positive lateral margin in two, and a positive vertical and lateral margin in one case. Most cases (9/13) were diagnosed as mucosal tumors by endoscopic ultrasonography, but only three cases were confirmed as mucosal tumors on final pathology. The positive residual tumor rate was two of 13. The lymph node metastasis rate was three of 13. All lymph node metastasis cases were submucosal tumors with positive lymphatic invasion and no residual tumor in the gastrectomy specimen. No cases of recurrence were observed after curative resection. CONCLUSIONS: A gastrectomy is required for patients with incomplete resection following EMR/ESD due to the risk of residual tumor and lymph node metastasis.

Postoperative Complications of Laparoscopy-assisted Gastrectomy in Early Gastric Cancer: The Importance of Precise Preoperative Staging

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) has become a popular treatment option for early gastric cancer, information about postoperative complications is limited in the literature and their risk factors vary among investigators. We analyzed the complications and their risk factors of LAG. METHODS: We performed LAGs in 92 gastric cancer patients from July 2006 to December 2009. LAG indication was gastric cancer preoperatively diagnosed as cT1N0. Clinical and operative data and perioperative complications were retrospectively reviewed. According to the surgical experience, cases were divided into early (1~40) and late (41~92) groups because operative times stabilized after the 40th case. RESULTS: There were no open conversion or mortality cases. Complications occurred in 11 patients. Two of them were non-surgical complications: postoperative delirium and cerebral infarction. Surgical complications were ischemic necrosis of transverse colon, duodenal stump leakage, anastomotic bleeding, leakage and stenosis. Univariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis, and comorbidities were related to complication rate (P=0.000, P=0.032). Multivariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis was the most important risk factor of complication (P=0.001). Surgical experience was not related to complication rate (12.5% in early period and 11.5% in late period, P=1.000). CONCLUSION: Complication rate of LAG was acceptable (11.9%). According to this study, unexpected lymph node metastasis is thought to be the most important risk factor for complications of LAG. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish lower complication rates in this procedure with careful patient selection through accurate preoperative evaluation.

Factors Affecting Prognosis in Early Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Treatment strategies for early gastric carcinoma (EGC) should be based on achieving a complete cure, but clear indications for limited surgery have not been established. We investigated surgical outcomes for early gastric cancer to determine the optimal? treatment strategy for EGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects included 881 patients who underwent curative surgery for EGC between 1986 and 2003. Retrospective uni & multi-variate analysis for prognostic factors, factors affecting lymph node metastasis, and risk factors for cancer recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: In multivariate survival analyses, age, operation method, macroscopic appearance and lymph node stage proved to be independent prognostic factors. Lymph node metastasis, depth of tumor invasion, tumor size, lymphatic and venous invasion were also significant risk factors in multivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses for cancer recurrence, depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis proved to be significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Appropriate surgical treatment with lymph node dissection is necessary for EGC patients with risk factors for lymph node metastasis.

The Prognostic Significance of the Number of Resected Lymph Nodes in Gastric Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of the number of resected lymph nodes on the survival of gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection, and to evaluate the cut-off values that can have an influence on survival on the tumor stage-stratified analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 949 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Korea University Medical Center from 1992 to 2002. They were classified according to the depth of tumor invasion, and the influence of the number of resected lymph nodes on survival was investigated. The cut-off value for the number of resected lymph nodes was determined as the smallest value that showed a significant survival difference. RESULTS: The tumor size, location, lymph node stage, the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the number of resected lymph nodes were significantly different according to the tumor stage. The average number of resected lymph nodes was about 39, and it showed linear correlation with the number of metastatic lymph nodes. On the Cox proportional hazard model, the cut-off values of the number of resected lymph nodes, as corrected by the number of metastatic lymph nodes, was 14 for all the patients, 15 for the pT1 patients, 28 for the pT2 patients and 37 for the pT3 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Retrieving a number of lymph nodes that is more than the cut-off value could improve the survival of gastric cancer patients. Surgeons should also make efforts to perform an exact and thorough D2 lymph node dissection. Therefore, we urge surgeons to perform D2 dissection and pathologists should examine an certain exact number of lymph nodes.

The Significance of Prophylactic Gastrojejunostomy for Patients with Unresectable Stage IV Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of palliative gastrojejunostomy for treating patients with unresectable stage IV gastric cancer, and as compared with laparotomy for treating patients with incurable gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 167 patients who could not undergo resection without obstruction at Korea University Hospital from 1984 to 2007. They were classified into two groups, one that underwent palliative gastrojejnostomy (the bypass group, n=62) and one that underwent explo-laparotomy (the O&C group, n=105), and the clinical data and operative outcomes were compared according to the groups. RESULTS: For the clinical characteristics, there were no differences of age, gender and liver metastasis between the bypass group and the explo-laparotomy group, but there was a significant different for the presence of peritoneal metastasis (P=0.001). There was no difference between two groups for the postoperative mortality and morbidity. For the postoperative outcomes, the duration of the hospital stay (29.25 vs 16.67) and the frequency of re-admission were not different, but the median overall survival (4.3 months vs. 3.4 months, respectively) was significantly different. By multivariate analysis, the presence of peritoneal metastasis was identified as the independent prognostic factor for incurable gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: A prophylactic bypass procedure is not effective for improving the quality of life and prolonging the life expectancy of unresectable stage IV gastric cancer patients without obstruction.

The Surgical Treatment of Malignant Bowel Obstruction Caused by Recurrent Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Malignant bowel obstruction caused by recurrent gastric cancer must be treated appropriately to improve the effects of treatment and to prolong survival. We reviewed the surgical treatments for malignant bowel obstruction caused by recurrent gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were patients with malignant bowel obstruction caused by recurrent gastric cancer and these patients were treated by surgical procedures at our hospital from 1998 to 2008. The patients were treated by resection, ostomy or bypass. The success of treatment was decided when the patients were able to tolerate more than a liquid diet. RESULTS: 42 patients were treated 46 times by surgical procedures. Resection was done12 times, ostomy was done 24 times and bypass was done 10 times. The hospital stay and the period to liquid diet after the operation were shorter in the ostomy group. The post operative morbidity rate was 21.7% and the post operative death rate was 8.7%. There was no significant difference in survival according to the type of surgery. CONCLUSION: Ostomy is good choice for selected patients because it has a shorter hospital stay and period to liquid diet. There was no significant difference in survival according to the type of surgery because curative resection is difficult to perform in patients with malignant bowel obstruction.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Safe Procedure that can be Performed by Surgical Residents

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopic surgery has many advantages and has become popular in various disease settings, surgical residents do not yet have sufficient opportunity to perform laparoscopic surgery. Appendectomies are the most common procedures performed by surgical residents, and they may be suitable for gaining them laparoscopic experience. We had our residents perform laparoscopic appendectomies and analyzed clinical outcomes to verify the utility of this procedure in providing laparoscopy education. METHODS: Between September 2006 and December 2007, 384 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis underwent laparoscopic appendectomy (n=191, LA) or open appendectomy (n=193, OA). Patient demographic data and outcomes for the two groups were compared. In the LA group, cases performed by surgical residents were compared against those performed by surgical specialists. RESULTS: Both groups of patients were comparable demographically. The incidence of complicated appendicitis in the LA group was 19.4% and that in the OA group was 25.9% (P=0.126). Operative time was similar between the two groups. Postoperatively, recovery time was shorter in the LA group than in the OA group, especially for patients with non-complicated appendicitis. LA performed by surgical residents showed similar outcomes, including operative time and postoperative recovery parameters. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy appears to have many advantages, such as less pain, rapid postoperative recovery, and more economic differential diagnosis. This procedure can be performed safely by surgical residents. Thus, laparoscopic appendectomy is a suitable procedure for laparoscopic surgery education for surgical residents.