Comparing short-term outcomes after totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis: early experience of a single institution

Purpose@#To determine the safety and feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with modified delta-shaped anastomosis, we compared the short-term outcomes of TLDG to those of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with Billroth I anastomosis. @*Methods@#We analyzed the characteristics of 85 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis between January 2013 and December 2018. After propensity score matching, each group had 35 patients. @*Results@#Of these 85 patients, 44 underwent TLDG and 41 underwent LADG. Propensity score matching was performed with three covariates (age, underlying disease, and hypertension), and 35 patients from each group were matched 1:1. After matching, the TLDG group was older than the LADG group (64.5 ± 10.6 years vs. 56.3 ± 11.2 years, p = 0.003) and had more patients with hypertension (57.1% vs. 22.9%,p = 0.003).Tumors were larger in the TLDG group than in the LADG group (23.4 ± 16.2 mm vs. 16.0 ± 7.9 mm, p = 0.018). A greater proportion of patients had fever in the TLDG group than the LADG group (42.9% vs.20.0%, p = 0.039), and C-reactive protein from postoperative days 3 to 6 was greater in the TLDG group (11.4 ± 5.7 mg/dL vs. 7.0 ± 5.0 mg/dL, p = 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Although our data represent only our early experience performing TLDG with modified deltashaped anastomosis, this procedure is relatively safe and feasible. Nevertheless, compared to LADG, which is the conventional method, the operative time for TLDG was longer. Surgeons must also watch out for anastomotic complications

Ki-67 labeling index as a prognostic marker in advanced stomach cancer

PURPOSE: Proliferation marker Ki-67 is widely used in cancer prognosis prediction. We tried to investigate the role of Ki-67 as a prognostic factor in stomach cancer after surgery in this study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 251 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer from 2010 to 2015. In pathologic examination, Ki-67 labeling index was defined as the percentage of Ki-67 antigen positive cells. Prognostic significance of Ki-67 for gastric cancer was evaluated. Disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed as a primary end-point. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 28.0 months. Thirty-one patients (12.4%) showed Ki-67 labeling index (LI) lower than 25%. Sixty-eight patients (26.6%) showed recurrence during follow-up period. Recurrence was associated with Ki-67 LI level (≤25%, P = 0.016), and lymph node metastasis status (P = 0.002). High Ki-67 LI level (>25%) was also related to p53 positivity (P < 0.001) and poorly cohesive type (P = 0.002). The 3-year DFS was 69.4%. Low Ki-67 LI level (≤25%) was related with low DFS (47.6% vs. 72.6%, P = 0.016). T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.006), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.010), and neuronal invasion (P = 0.001) also affected the DFS. In addition, T stage (P = 0.03) and Ki-67 LI (P = 0.035) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. In patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 239, 93.4%), low Ki-67 (≤25%) was a poor prognostic factor for DFS (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Low Ki-67 LI predicts high rate of progression and low DFS of stomach cancer. Ki-67 LI can be a predictive marker in resected stomach cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in management of peritoneal carcinomatosis: Single center experience in Korea

PURPOSE: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has been considered a terminal condition and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIEPC) is regarded as an alternative therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the 30-day clinical outcomes of CRS/HIPEC and the feasibility of the surgery by investigating the morbidity and mortality in Inje University Hospital.METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 19 patients with PC who underwent CRS/HIPEC at Inje University Hospital in 2018. We evaluated pre-, intra-operative parameters and postoperative clinical outcomes and early complications.RESULTS: The mean operating time was 506.95 minutes and the mean blood loss was 837.11 mL. Six cases (31.58%) had morbidity of grade III or above. A longer operating time (≥560 minutes, P=0.038) and large blood loss (≥700 mL, P=0.060) were positively correlated with grade III or worse postoperative complications.CONCLUSION: Our early experience with CRS/HIPEC resulted in a 31.58% morbidity rate of grade III and above, with risk factors being longer operating time and greater intraoperative blood loss. As the surgical team's skills improve, a shorter operating time with less intraoperative blood loss could result in better short-term outcomes of CRS/HIPEC.

Treatment of advanced stage cholangiocarcinoma: Systemic therapy may be the starting step for radical surgery

Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common biliary malignancy and the second most common hepatic malignancy following hepatocellular carcinoma. It can be classified anatomically as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), perihilar CCA, or distal CCA. The treatment of choice for iCCA is surgical resection, but only those with potentially resectable tumors can undergo surgery. The standard regimen for advanced stage iCCA is gemcitabine and cisplatin. We encountered two unusual cases of iCCA patients who were initially diagnosed as unresectable cases and underwent systemic chemotherapy, which showed great response and therefore enabled radical operation. The patients show that even though iCCA is a challenging disease, patients with good response to chemotherapy may have a chance to undergo radical surgery.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of remnant gastric cancer

PURPOSE: Remnant gastric cancer is defined as a malignant tumor developing on the remnant side of stomach after partial gastrectomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of remnant gastric cancer according to the cause and the reconstruction method of previous surgery.METHODS: Between January 2007 and February 2016, we analyzed 39 patients with their medical records who were diagnosed as remnant gastric cancer and underwent gastrectomy at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital.RESULTS: In the comparison of malignant disease (MD) and benign diseases (BD) group, the Billroth I:Billroth II ratio was 52.2% and 12.5%. The time interval from the previous operation to the diagnosis of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) was shorter in the MD group than in the BD group (6.6±6.04 vs. 34.7±10.12 years). Comparing B1 and B2 group, the proportion of patients previously undergone surgery due to MD was 85.7% and 44%. The time interval was higher in the B1 group than in the B2 group (8.0±8.78 vs. 23.8±16.48 years). Analyzing prognostic factors of survival, age and the presence of symptoms at the time of RGC diagnosis, and curability of surgery had a significant effect on the survival of the patients (P=0.032, hazard ratio [HR]=5.241, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.158–23.723; P=0.005, HR=5.086, 95% CI, 1.642–15.750; P=0.034, HR=3.165, 95% CI, 1.088–9.208).CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent partial gastrectomy for benign or MD require regular endoscopic follow-up and appropriate surgical approach is essential for the treatment of RGC.

Difference in Tumor Area as a Predictor of a Pathological Complete Response for Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to discover the clinical factors that can predict pathologically complete remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), so that those factors may help in deciding on a treatment program for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 137 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and data were collected retrospectively. The patients had undergone a total mesorectal excision after neoadjuvant CRT. Histologic response was categorized as pCR vs. non-pCR. The tumor area was defined as (tumor length) × (maximum tumor depth). The difference in tumor area was defined as pre-CRT tumor area – post-CRT tumor area. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to find the factors affecting pCR. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (16.8%) achieved pCR. On the univariate analysis, endoscopic tumor circumferential rate <50%, low pre-CRT T & N stage, low post-CRT T & N stage, small pretreatment tumor area, and large difference in tumor area before and after neoadjuvant CRT were predictive factors of pCR. A multivariate analysis found that only the difference in tumor area before and after neoadjuvant CRT was an independent predictor of pCR (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The difference in tumor area, as determined using radiologic tools, before and after neoadjuvant CRT may be important predictor of pCR. This clinical factor may help surgeons to determine which patients who received neoadjuvant CRT for locally advanced rectal cancer should undergo surgery.

Oncologic safety of self-expanded metal stent insertion as a bridge to elective surgery in malignant colorectal obstruction

PURPOSE: Colorectal obstruction develops most frequently by carcinoma, and 7%–30% of these colorectal carcinomas are acute cases. The oncologic safety of self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) insertion as a bridge to surgery has not yet been established. Thus, we investigated the oncologic safety of SEMS insertion as a bridge to surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.METHODS: This retrospective had 56 patients enrolled requiring emergency management for obstructive colorectal cancer at stage II or III, who had undergone curative surgery between July 2008 and June 2011. These subjects were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone emergency surgery without SEMS insertion (non-stent group) and those who had undergone elective surgery after preoperative decompression with SEMS insertion (stent group). The two groups were compared for clinicopathologic characteristics, postoperative complications, and survival rate.RESULTS: Enterostomy was performed in 25 patients (100.0%) in the non-stent group and 1 patient (3.2%) in the stent group; laparoscopic surgery was carried out in 7 patients (28.0%) in the non-stent group and 19 patients (61.29%) in the stent group, each showing statistically significant differences. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications and 5-year disease-free survival rate (72% vs. 74.19%, P=0.87, respectively).CONCLUSION: In treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction, elective operation after stent insertion had similar oncologic outcomes compared with emergency operation. Preoperative stent insertion not only lowers the incidence of enterostomy but also makes laparoscopic surgery possible, thereby enhancing patients' quality of life. Therefore, preoperative stent insertion is a useful method that may replace emergency surgery in treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction.

Cutaneous asthenia (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) in a Korean short-haired cat

A 1-year-old Korean domestic short-haired cat presented with skin hyperextensibility and a severely macerated wound on the skin of the dorsal part of the neck. Diagnostic studies including histopathology and skin extensibility index revealed congenital cutaneous asthenia (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). In this cat, the skin wounds and defects were successfully managed with standard wound management and cosmetic surgery. Although skin hyperextensibility is persistent, the cat has lived well without other complications to date. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cutaneous asthenia in a cat in Korea.

When Eastern Surgeons Meet Western Patients: A Pilot Study of Gastrectomy with Lymphadenectomy in Caucasian Patients at a Single Korean Institute

East Asian surgeons generally report lower morbidity and mortality rates for gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy than do surgeons in Western countries; however, the disparity remains unexplained. The aim of this article was to determine the feasibility and safety regarding cases in which East Asian surgeons perform such procedures in Caucasian patients (CPs). Twelve CPs underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea between June 2011 and April 2014. Procedures performed included total gastrectomy (7 of 12, 58%), distal gastrectomy (4 of 12, 33%), and completion total gastrectomy (1 of 12, 8%). Nine patients (75%) underwent D2 lymphadenectomy, and D1+ lymphadenectomy was performed in three others (25%). In four patients (33%), combined resections were carried out. The median values of surgical parameters were as follows: operative time, 266.5 min (range, 120-586 min); estimated blood loss, 90 mL (range, 37-350 mL); retrieved lymph node count, 37.5 (range, 22-63); and postoperative hospital stay, 13.7 days (range, 5-63 days). No mortality was encountered, although two patients (17%) experienced complications (both Clavien-Dindo classification grade IIIa anastomotic leakages), which were successfully managed by conservative treatment. In the hands of East Asian surgeons, mortality and short-term morbidity appears to be acceptably low in CPs subjected to gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.

Immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity reaction after intraperitoneal administration of vancomycin

Intraperitoneal (IP) vancomycin is widely used to treat Gram-positive peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis. There have been two cases of red man syndrome (RMS), a vancomycin-specific nonimmunologic reaction, associated with IP vancomycin. However, immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to IP vancomycin has not yet been reported. A 49 year old woman on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed her first peritonitis episode. The patient was treated with IP vancomycin once/wk for 4 weeks. She experienced mild itching and flushing throughout her body for 1 day after the second treatment. Whenever vancomycin was administered, generalized urticaria and a prickling sensation developed, and the intensity increased gradually; however, these symptoms improved after vancomycin was discontinued. An allergic skin test was performed 6 weeks after the previous urticarial episode, and an intradermal skin test revealed a positive response to vancomycin. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to IP vancomycin administration.

ERCC1 as a Predictive Marker for FOLFOX Chemotherapy in an Adjuvant Setting

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) as a predictive marker for FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy in stages II and III colon cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 166 high risk stages II and III colon cancer patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and data were collected prospectively. They underwent a curative resection followed by FOLFOX4 adjuvant chemotherapy. We analyzed ERCC1 expression in the primary colon tumor by using immunohistochemical staining. The oncological outcomes included the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate. The DFS was analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazard model was used for the prognostic analysis. RESULTS: ERCC1-positive expression was statistically significant in the older patients (P = 0.032). In the multivariate analysis, the prognostic factors for DFS were female sex (P = 0.016), N stage (P = 0.009), and postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level (P = 0.001), but ERCC1 expression was not a statistically significant prognostic factor for DFS in the univariate analysis (P = 0.397). The 5-year DFS rate was not significantly associated with the ERCC1 expression in all patients (P = 0.396) or with stage III disease (P = 0.582). CONCLUSION: We found that ERCC1 expression was not significantly correlated with the 5-year DFS as reflected by the oncologic outcomes in patients with high-risk stages II and III colon cancer treated with FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy.

Relationship between 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and gastric adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a contributory carcinogen in gastric adenocarcinoma. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) catabolizes PGE2 by oxidizing its 15(s)-hydroxy group. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of 15-PGDH in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue and the relationship between 15-PGDH expression and clinicopathologic features of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2007 and December 2007 were enrolled and evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: In 62 patients (62.6%), 15-PGDH expression was lower in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue than in nonneoplastic tissue. Regarding the relationship between 15-PGDH expression and clinicopathological features, 15-PGDH expression was significantly lower in tissues with poor differentiation (P = 0.002), advanced T stage (P = 0.0319), a higher number of lymph node metastases (P = 0.045), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.031), and vascular invasion (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: 15-PGDH expression was associated with a subset of clinicopathologic features such as differentiation grade, T stage, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion.

Interaction between postoperative shivering and hyperalgesia caused by high-dose remifentanil / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: High-dose remifentanil-based anesthesia is associated with opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) and postanesthetic shivering (PAS). These effects can be prevented by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. This study aimed to investigate correlations between OIH and PAS caused by high-dose remifentanil and the effects of low-dose ketamine on OIH and PAS. METHODS: Seventy-five patients scheduled for single-port laparoscopic gynecologic surgery were randomly allocated into three groups, each of which received intraoperative remifentanil: group L at 0.1 microg/kg/min; group H at 0.3 microg/kg/min; and group HK at 0.3 microg/kg/min plus 0.25 mg/kg ketamine just before incision, followed by a continuous infusion of 5 microg/kg/min ketamine until skin closure. RESULTS: PAS, postoperative tactile pain threshold, and the extent of hyperalgesia in group H were significantly different (P < 0.05) than in the other two groups. PAS was significantly correlated with OIH, including mechanically evoked pain such as postoperative tactile pain threshold (r = -0.529, P = 0.01) (r = -0.458, P = 0.021) and the extent of hyperalgesia (r = 0.537, P = 0.002) (r = 0.384, P = 0.031), respectively, in group H and group HK. Notably, both groups were treated with high-dose remifentanil. Tympanic membrane temperature, time to first postoperative analgesic requirement, postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, and cumulative patient-controlled analgesia volume containing morphine were comparable in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: OIH, including the enhanced perception of pain, and PAS were both associated with high-dose remifentanil, were significantly correlated and were attenuated by a low dose of ketamine. This suggests that a common mechanism in part mediated through activation of the central glutamatergic system (e.g., NMDA receptors), underlies the two effects caused by high doses of remifentanil.

Negative Effect of Rapidly Resorbing Properties of Bioactive Glass-Ceramics as Bone Graft Substitute in a Rabbit Lumbar Fusion Model

BACKGROUND: Bioactive glass-ceramics have the ability to directly bind to bones and have been widely used as bone graft substitutes due to their high osteoconductivity and biocompatibility. CaO-SiO2-P2O5-B2O3 glass-ceramics are known to have good osteoconductivity and are used as bone graft extenders. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the resorbing properties of glass-ceramics in bone fusion after producing and analyzing three types of CaO-SiO2-P2O5-B2O3 glass-ceramics with high osteoconductivity that had enhanced resorption by having an increased B2O3 content. The three types of CaO-SiO2-P2O5-B2O3 glass-ceramics with B2O3 contents of 8.0, 9.0, and 9.5 weight % were designated and grouped as P20B80, P10B90, and P5B95, respectively. Glass-ceramic types were tested for fusion rates and bone formation by employing the lumbar 5-6 intertransverse process fusion model in 51 New Zealand male rabbits. Bioactivity was assessed by soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF). RESULTS: In vitro study results showed sufficient hydroxycarbonate apatite layer formation occurred for P20B80 in1 day, for P10B90 in 3 days, and for P5B95 in 5 days after soaking in SBF. For the rabbit lumbar spine posterolateral fusion model, the autograft group recorded a 100% fusion rate with levels significantly higher than those of P20B80 (29.4%), P10B90 (0%), and P5B95 (14.3%), with high resorbing properties. Resorbing property differences among the three glass-ceramic groups were not significant. Histological results showed new bone formation confirming osteoconductivity in all three types of glass-ceramics. Radiomorphometric results also confirmed the resorbing properties of the three glass-ceramic types. CONCLUSIONS: The high resorbing properties and osteoconductivity of porous glass-ceramics can be advantageous as no glass-ceramics remain in the body. However, their relatively fast rate of resorption in the body negatively affects their role as an osteoconductive scaffold as glass-ceramics are resorbed before bony fusion.

Conversion of supraventricular tachycardia to normal sinus rhythm by dexmedetomidine treatment / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Conversion of supraventricular tachycardia to normal sinus rhythm by dexmedetomidine treatment / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Successful Treatment of Abdominal Cutaneous Entrapment Syndrome Using Ultrasound Guided Injection

There are various origins for chronic abdominal pain. About 10-30% of patients with chronic abdominal pain have abdominal wall pain. Unfortunately, abdominal wall pain is not thought to be the first origin of chronic abdominal pain; therefore, patients usually undergo extensive examinations, including diagnostic laparoscopic surgery. Entrapment of abdominal cutaneous nerves at the muscular foramen of the rectus abdominis is a rare cause of abdominal wall pain. If abdominal wall pain is considered in earlier stage of chronic abdominal pain, unnecessary invasive procedures are not required and patients will reach symptom free condition as soon as the diagnosis is made. Here, we report a case of successful treatment of a patient with abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome by ultrasound guided injection therapy.

A Case of Cephalic Tetanus with Unilateral Ptosis and Facial Palsy

Cephalic tetanus is defined as a combination of trismus and paralysis of one or more cranial nerves. Cranial nerves III, IV, VI, VII, and XII may be affected, but the facial nerve is most frequently implicated. A 64-year-old female visited hospital for left ptosis followed by facial palsy after a left forehead abrasion in a car accident. At nine days post injury, left ptosis developed, left facial palsy developed twelve days post injury, and at fifteen days post injury, trismus and dysphagia developed. The following day, there was progression of symptoms to generalized tetanus, such as dyspnea and generalized rigidity. Videofluoroscopic swallow study showed penetration and aspiration. We report a case of cephalic tetanus with ptosis, facial palsy, and dysphagia, which progressed to generalized tetanus.

A Case of Herpes Zoster Peripheral Polyneuropathy Manifested by Foot Drop in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

In herpes zoster infection, neurological complications may be overlooked because pain is a more prominent symptom and because peripheral polyneuropathy associated with weakness is rare. A 57-year-old male visited our hospital, complaining of pain and skin eruptions on the right flank. He was diagnosed as having herpes zoster and the symptoms were alleviated by administration of acyclovir for a week. After three weeks, the herpes zoster relapsed. He was re-admitted and diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and imatinib mesylate was prescribed for five weeks. Ten weeks after the onset of herpes zoster, bilateral foot drops and numbness of the right foot dorsum developed. Through an electrodiagnostic study, he was diagnosed as having peripheral polyneuropathy that was suspected to be caused by neural invasion by varicella zoster virus. After administration of famciclovir, not only the pain but also the neurologic symptoms improved. We herein report a case of peripheral polyneuropathy that was supposed to be related to herpes zoster.

The Influence of Laterality of Pharyngeal Bolus Passage on Dysphagia in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate swallowing laterality in hemiplegic patients with stroke and recovery of dysphagia according to the laterality. METHOD: The sample was comprised of 46 dysphagic patients with hemiplegia after their first stroke. The sample's videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was reviewed. Swallowing laterality was determined by the anterior-posterior view of VFSS. We measured width difference of barium sulfate liquid flow in the pharyngoesophageal segment. If there was double or more the width of that from the opposite width in the pharyngoesophageal segment more than twice on three trials of swallowing, then it was judged as having laterality. Subjects were assigned to no laterality (NL), laterality that is ipsilateral to hemiplegic side (LI), and laterality that is contralateral to hemiplegic side (LC) groups. We measured the following: prevalence of aspiration, the 8-point penetration-aspiration scale, and the functional dysphagia scale of the subjects at baseline and follow up. RESULTS: Laterality was observed in 45.7% of all patients. Among them, 52.4% were in the hemiplegic direction. There was no significant difference between groups at baseline in all measurements. When we compared the changes in all measurements on follow-up study, there were no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we found that there was no significant relation between swallowing laterality and the severity or prognosis of swallowing difficulty. More studies for swallowing laterality on stroke patients will be needed.