Risk factors for atypical lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate atypical lymph node metastasis rates according to tumor depth, size, and location in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS: A total of 727 gastric adenocarcinoma patients, with metastasis to 1 or 2 lymph nodes, who underwent radical gastrectomy with curative intent from May 2003 to May 2017, were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of atypical (skip or transversal) metastases were evaluated according to the following risk factors: longitudinal versus circumferential location, size, and T stage of the tumor.RESULTS: The rates of skip and transversal metastases were 8.4% and 15.5%, respectively. Skip metastases were present throughout, regardless of the primary tumor location. On the contrary, transversal metastases of gastric cancer were most frequently observed in the lower third region (19.5%, P=0.002). When the size of the tumor is large (>4 cm), transversal metastasis was found to be significantly more common (P=0.035), compared with skip metastasis, which was less common (P=0.011). There was no significant correlation between atypical metastases and tumor depth.CONCLUSION: Lower and larger tumors were more likely to have transversal metastases compared with others; however, skip metastases were less common in large tumors.

Aspiration Pneumonia in a Pediatric Patient under General Anesthesia despite Adequate Preoperative Fasting / 대한구급학회지

Aspiration pneumonia rarely occurs during general anesthesia; however, it can result in fatal pulmonary complications. To reduce aspiration pneumonia, a preoperative fasting time of 8 hours is recommended. A 4-year-old boy with ankyloglossia was scheduled for frenotomy. He completed preoperative fasting time and had no digestive symptoms. Pulmonary aspiration due to unexpected massive vomiting occurred during anesthesia induction. The patient's airway was immediately secured by endotracheal tube. The vomitus in the airway tract was removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Abdomen radiograph taken after this event showed paralytic ileus which can cause aspiration of gastric contents. We describe a case of pneumonia caused by aspiration of gastric contents in a pediatric patient who followed fasting instructions and who was scheduled for outpatient surgery.

Clinical Trial on the Incidence of Wound Infection and Patient Satisfaction After Stoma Closure: Comparison of Two Skin Closure Techniques

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications that can occur after stoma closure. Reports have described differences in the incidence of wound infection depending on the skin closure technique, but there is no consensus on the ideal closure technique for a stoma wound. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of SSI and the patient satisfaction between a circumferential purse-string approximation (CPA) and a primary linear closure (PC) of a stoma wound. METHODS: This prospective nonrandomized trial enrolled 48 patients who underwent a stoma closure from February 2010 to October 2013. Patients were divided into two groups according to the stoma closing technique: the CPA group (n = 34) and the PC group (n = 14). The incidences of SSI for the two groups were compared, and the patients' satisfaction with the stoma closure was determined by using a questionnaire. RESULTS: SSI occurred in 3 of 48 patients (6.3%) and was more frequent in the PC group than in the CPA group (3/14 [21.4%] vs. 0/34 [0%], P = 0.021). Time to complete healing after stoma closure in the CPA group was 32 days (range, 14-61 days). Patients in the CPA group were more satisfied with the resulting wound scar (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: After stoma closure, CPA was associated with a significantly lower incidence of wound infection and greater patient satisfaction compared to PC. However, with the CPA technique, the time to heal is longer than it is with PC.

Aspiration Pneumonia in a Pediatric Patient under General Anesthesia despite Adequate Preoperative Fasting / 대한중환자의학회지

Aspiration pneumonia rarely occurs during general anesthesia; however, it can result in fatal pulmonary complications. To reduce aspiration pneumonia, a preoperative fasting time of 8 hours is recommended. A 4-year-old boy with ankyloglossia was scheduled for frenotomy. He completed preoperative fasting time and had no digestive symptoms. Pulmonary aspiration due to unexpected massive vomiting occurred during anesthesia induction. The patient's airway was immediately secured by endotracheal tube. The vomitus in the airway tract was removed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Abdomen radiograph taken after this event showed paralytic ileus which can cause aspiration of gastric contents. We describe a case of pneumonia caused by aspiration of gastric contents in a pediatric patient who followed fasting instructions and who was scheduled for outpatient surgery.