The application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol after distal gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients undergoing distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to the ERAS group (EG) and the conventional care group (CG) by stratified randomization according to age and sex. The primary endpoint was adjusted postoperative hospital stay, calculated using discharge criteria developed to evaluate recovery. Nutritional data and quality of life (QoL) (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] C30 and STO22) during the perioperative period were also analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 198 eligible patients with GC for the study between June 2017 and January 2019. A total of 147 patients were finally enrolled in this study (full analysis set) and were assigned to EG (n = 71) and CG (n = 76). First flatus was faster significantly in EG (3.6 ± 1.5 vs 4.1 ± 1.2 days, P = .019). EG showed a faster start of the sips and soft diet than CG (1.3 ± 0.7 vs 3.1 ± 0.4 days, P < .001; 2.4 ± 0.9 vs 5.2 ± 0.7 days, P < .001) according to the protocol. The recorded hospital stay was not significantly different; however, adjusted hospital stay was significantly shorter in EG than in CG (6.5 ± 3.1 vs 7.8 ± 2.1 days, P = .005). There was no difference in morbidity, and no mortality occurred in both groups. EG did not show significant superiority in nutritional outcome and QoL improvement, except for pain scale in EORTC-STO22. CONCLUSION: The application of the ERAS protocol could reduce the adjusted hospital stay without an increase in postoperative complications. There was no significant difference in long-term nutritional outcome and QoL of the 2 groups.

A novel animal model of abdominal aortic aneurysm by mechanical injury.

The present study established a novel and reproducible animal model to study abdominal aortic aneurysms. In total, 22 adult Lewis rats underwent a procedure to produce mechanical injuries at the infrarenal aorta which was opened temporarily. The aortas were injured 6 times and repaired. Those rats were divided into 2 groups and the aortic aneurysm tissue was harvested after 42 (6-week group) or 63 (9-week group) days and evaluated for the progression of aortic aneurysms. In the 6-week group, changes in the aneurysm were observed in 6/10 (60%) rats and the mean maximum diameter of the aorta demonstrated a 119% increase in size from the baseline measurement. In the 9-week group, changes in the aneurysm were observed in 8/11 (88%) rats and the mean maximum diameter of aorta demonstrated a 133% increase in size. Additional findings from the aortic aneurysm tissue were found microscopically, including the destruction of the tunica media and the elastic fiber. The present study demonstrated that this novel animal model for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) produced by mechanical injury may have high reproducibility and similar gross and microscopic morphology to humans. This model could be helpful to investigate the treatment of AAAs.

Comparison between the mesenteric fixation method (MEFIX) and conventional methods at preventing the occurrence of Petersen's hernia: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Petersen's hernia, which occurs after Billroth-II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y (REY) anastomosis, can be reduced by defect closure. This study aims to compare the incidence of bowel obstruction above Clavien-Dindo classification grade III due to Petersen's hernia between the mesenteric fixation method and the conventional methods after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. METHODS: This study was designed as prospective, single-blind, non-inferiority randomized controlled multicenter trial in Korea. Patients with histologically diagnosed gastric cancer of clinical stages I, II, or III who underwent B-II or REY anastomosis after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy are enrolled in this study. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria are randomly assigned to two groups: a CLOSURE group that underwent conventional Petersen's defect closure method and a MEFIX group that underwent the mesenteric fixation method. The primary endpoint is the number of patients who underwent surgery for bowel obstruction caused by Petersen's hernia within 3 years after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. DISCUSSION: This trial is expected to provide high-level evidence showing that the MEFIX method can quickly and easily close Petersen's defect without increased postoperative complications compared to the conventional method. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05105360. Registered on November 3, 2021.

Identifying the best candidates for reduced port gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have focused on the non-inferiority of RPG compared with conventional port gastrectomy (CPG); however, we assumed that some candidates might derive more significant benefit from RPG over CPG. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and perioperative parameters of 1442 patients with gastric cancer treated by gastrectomy between 2009 and 2022. The C-reactive protein level on postoperative day 3 (CRPD3) was used as a surrogate parameter for surgical trauma. Patients were grouped according to the extent of gastrectomy [subtotal gastrectomy (STG) or total gastrectomy (TG)] and lymph node dissection (D1+ or D2). The degree of surgical trauma, bowel recovery, and hospital stay between RPG and CPG was compared among those patient groups. RESULTS: Of 1442 patients, 889, 354, 129, and 70 were grouped as STGD1+, STGD2, TGD1+, and TGD2, respectively. Compared with CPG, RPG significantly decreased CRPD3 only among patients in the STGD1+ group (CPG: n = 653, 84.49 mg/L, 95% CI 80.53-88.45 vs. RPG: n = 236, 70.01 mg/L, 95% CI 63.92-76.09, P < 0.001). In addition, the RPG method significantly shortens bowel recovery and hospital stay in the STGD1+ (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), STGD2 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and TGD1+ (P = 0.026 and P = 0.007), respectively. No difference was observed in the TGD2 group (P = 0.313 and P = 0.740). CONCLUSIONS: The best candidates for RPG are patients who undergo STGD1+, followed by STGD2 and TG D1+, considering the reduction in CRPD3, bowel recovery, and hospital stay.

Small bowel diaphragm disease with multiple cluster lesions in one segment of the small bowel mimicking an adhesion band: A case report.

RATIONALE: Small bowel diaphragm disease (SBDD) is a rare case, caused by long-term administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The circumferential diaphragm in the lumen of small bowel causing mechanical obstruction is the characteristic finding. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 74-year-old male was transferred to Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) due to abdominal pain lasting for 2 months. He was treated in the local medical center (LMC) with Levin tube insertion and Nil Per Os (NPO) but showed no improvement. DIAGNOSIS: According to abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CT) result, small bowel obstruction due to the adhesion band was identified, showing dilatation of the small bowel with abrupt narrowing of the ileum. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic exploration was done but failed to find an adhesion band. An investigation of the whole small bowel was done with mini-laparotomy. At the transitional zone, the intraluminal air could not pass so the segmental resection of small bowel including the transitional zone and end-to-end anastomosis was done. OUTCOMES: After surgery, every laboratory finding recovered to the normal range in 4 days, but the patient's ileus lasted for 8 days. The patient's symptoms were relieved after defecation, he was discharged on postoperative day 10. LESSONS: For patients who show mechanical obstruction without an operation history but with long-term administration of NSAIDs, the clinicians should suspect small bowel diaphragm disease.

Clinical strategies for securing negative proximal margin in early gastric cancer.

Securing an appropriate proximal resection margin (PRM) is crucial for oncological safety in treating gastric cancer. This study investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with incomplete PRM length of <2 cm in early gastric cancer. Clinicopathological data of 1,493 patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer in 2012 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into the PRM length of <2 cm and ≥2 cm groups based on pathological results. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated factors for incomplete PRM length. Factors related to patients with a relative PRM positive were also analyzed. The proportion of patients with a PRM length of <2 cm was 17.9% (267/1,493). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age <50, preoperative endoscopic size of ≥3 cm, size discrepancy of ≥2 cm, and midbody tumor with a lesser curvature significantly contributed to the PRM length of <2 cm. Twenty-four patients had a relative PRM positive (24/1493, 1.6%). An incomplete PRM was the only risk factor for a positive relative PRM. Surgical treatment for early gastric cancer requires an accurate preoperative endoscopic tumor size and location evaluation. A more aggressive resection is recommended for patients with age <50, preoperative endoscopic size of ≥3 cm, size discrepancy of ≥2 cm, and midbody tumor with a lesser curvature.

Clinical Experiences and Selection of Accessory Devices for Pediatric Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal: A Retrospective Multicenter Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Swallowing of foreign bodies (FBs) is the most common indication of therapeutic endoscopy in children. Endoscopic removal may be necessary depending on the type of FB, age of the child, and location of the FB. We attempted to analyze the characteristics of each device used for the endoscopic removal of FBs in children. METHODS: Medical records of the patient's age, sex, weight, type, location, size, shape, type of device used for endoscopic removal, and endoscopic time were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: A total of 424 FB removal procedures were analyzed. The average age of the patients at the time of FB removal was 4.1 ± 3.7 years. Coins were the most common FBs (192, 45.3%). The most common locations of the FBs were the esophagus (45.7%) and the stomach (48.3%), respectively. For a total of 371 cases, forceps were used in 96 cases (25.9%) for esophageal FBs and in 25 cases for gastric FBs (6.7%), while nets were used in 250 cases (67.4%) for gastric FBs retrieval; the average durations of the procedures were 7.2 ± 7.4 minutes, 8.5 ± 7.2 minutes, and 5.7 ± 7.3 minutes, respectively (P = 0.003). The procedure time was significantly shorter, in the group of patients with low body weights, when nets were used than when forceps were used to remove gastric FBs (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic procedure duration, in low-weight children, was shorter when retrieval nets were used than that with forceps.

Application of the Falciform Ligament Patch for the Prevention of Duodenal Stump Leakage After Gastrectomy: Technical Report on a Case Series.

Background: Duodenal stump leakage (DSL) is a serious complication after gastrectomy. In this study, we developed a novel prevention technique using a falciform ligament patch (FLP) to prevent DSL among high-risk patients after gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: From January 2019 to July 2021, 14 patients who were judged to be at high risk for DSL during preoperative examinations or surgery were included in this retrospective study, and the FLP was applied to the duodenal stump. The falciform ligament was separated from the liver after duodenal transection during gastrectomy; the end part was used to cover the duodenal stump and was fixed using nonabsorbable polypropylene sutures. Results: In total, 14 patients who underwent FLP had one or two risk factors that were identified: 5 patients, gastric cancer duodenal invasion; 4 patients, gastric outlet obstruction (GOO); 1 patient, cancer involving the distal resection margin; 1 patient, duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor involving the distal resection margin; 1 patient, gastric cancer duodenal invasion and GOO; and 2 patients, cancer involving the distal resection margin and GOO. FLP construction was successful, and no patient developed complications of DSL. The average hospital stay was 11.9 days, and the patients were discharged without any morbidities after surgery. Conclusions: Therefore, the FLP can be used to prevent DSL among high-risk patients after gastrectomy.

A 3-year follow-up study of uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction: clinical results and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to identify the clinical outcomes of uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction in patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) over 3-year follow-up. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2017, 269 patients who underwent TLDG were enrolled in the study and analyzed retrospectively. They were classified into two groups according to the reconstruction method: uncut Roux-en-Y reconstruction (uncut RY) (n = 154) and Billroth II with Braun anastomosis (B-II/Braun) (n = 115). Postoperative endoscopic findings (residual food, bile reflux, gastritis, and esophagitis) and nutritional status (body weight, serum hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin levels) were assessed every 6 months for 3 years. RESULTS: Residual food was less frequent in the uncut RY group in the 6th month after TLDG (p = 0.022), but there were no differences between the two groups for the rest of the study period. The incidence of bile reflux and gastritis was low in the uncut RY group during all postoperative periods (all p < 0.001). In the B-II/Braun group, the frequency of reflux esophagitis was high in the 30th and 36th months after TLDG (both p < 0.001), and there were no differences between the two groups during the preceding periods. No significant differences were found with respect to nutritional status, such as body weight, serum hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin levels during all postoperative periods. CONCLUSIONS: Three-year follow-up outcomes showed that uncut RY can effectively reduce the incidence of bile reflux and gastritis in the remnant stomach compared to B-II/Braun after TLDG.

Experience with a Hybrid Procedure Involving Laparoscopic Fundoplication with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Chronically Ill Children.

Gastrostomy with concurrent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) is often performed as a laparoscopic gastrostomy (LG) by surgeons. Since 2014, we started performing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) as gastrostomy with LNF. This study aims to compare the outcomes of LG and PEG with LNF. Patients were recruited into two groups: LNF with LG (historical control) or PEG. Demographic data, operation time, time to start feeding, time to full feeding, length of hospital stay (LOS), and complications were compared between the groups. Fourteen patients underwent LNF with LG and 49 underwent LNF with PEG. The median age and body weight of patients were 4.25 years and 14.15 kg in the LG group and 2.58 years and 10.60 kg in the PEG group, respectively. Operation times were significantly shorter in the PEG group (1.81 vs. 2.61 h). The times to start feeding and full feeding as well as LOS were shorter in the PEG group. Nevertheless, complications were similar in both groups. In conclusion, PEG with LNF was associated with significantly shorter operation times, times to start feeding and reach full feeding, and LOS. PEG is a suitable method for LNF in chronically ill children.

Efficacy and Safety of Weight Reduction of the Donor in Hepatic Steatosis for Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Use of steatotic livers is a known risk factor for increased primary nonfunction after liver transplantation. This study investigated the efficacy and clinical outcome of simple weight reduction of steatosis for donors undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIAL AND METHODS We defined two groups: the reduction group, which included donors with >30% macrovesicular steatosis and body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m², and the conventional group, which included donors with.

Potential Therapeutic Approaches for the Intussusception Through a Side-to-Side Jejunojejunal Anastomosis After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy.

We reviewed our experience with the management of intussusception presenting as a complication of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and studied the feasibility of a laparoscopic intervention to treat or prevent this condition. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 12 patients diagnosed with intussusception, following gastrectomy, from 2008 to 2017, including clinical manifestations, incidence, post-LG time-interval before diagnosis, and treatment. Totally, 12/2300 gastrectomy patients (0.52%) developed intussusception. All 12 had undergone laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer (12/1250, 0.96%) and presented with intussusception through a side-to-side jejunojejunal anastomosis. The mean latency period was 423.8 (range: 86 to 1500) days. Four patients underwent emergent laparoscopic reduction of the efferent loop without bowel resection, along with fixation of the reduced jejunum to the afferent loop and the small bowel mesentery, to prevent a recurrence. One patient required open surgery with manual reduction and segmental resection of the gangrenous small bowel portion. All operated patients recovered without any complications. Intussusception resolved spontaneously in the remaining 7/12 patients. We found that a laparoscopic approach can be used for preventing or managing post-LG intussusception. We found that recurrence can be prevented or treated by anchoring and fixing the (reduced) efferent loop to the afferent loop and the small bowel mesentery.

A Case of Endoscopically Treated Laryngopharyngitis Resulting from Clinostomum complanatum Infection.

A 46-year-old woman visited our hospital presenting throat pain and globus sensation. The symptoms occurred seven days after eating raw perch and mullet. An endoscopy under sedation showed a fluke-with an approximate length of 4.8 mm and width of 1.5 mm-on the left aryepiglottic fold, with active motility on the mucosa. It was extracted from the larynx using biopsy forceps and was identified as Clinostomum complanatum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second reported case of human infection with Clinostomum complanatum diagnosed and treated by an endoscopy in Korea. Endoscopy is a useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment of patients at risk for parasitic infections complaining of throat pain.

Fabrication, spectroscopy, and dynamics of highly luminescent core-shell InP@ZnSe quantum dots.

InP quantum dots of 3 nm in diameter have been prepared using a dehalosilylation reaction and passivated with ZnSe to enhance photoluminescence by 6.8 times. Core-shell InP@ZnSe quantum dots dispersed in n-hexane have then been investigated using time-resolved spectroscopy to understand their photoluminescence dynamics. The observed decay times of 0.1, 7, and 1100 ns have been attributed to the relaxation times of electrons in the conduction band, trap sites, and surface states. The surface-state luminescence of core-shell InP@ZnSe quantum dots having the maximum at 760 nm has been distinguished spectrally and dynamically from their band-edge emission having the maximum at 620 nm or from their trap-site emission having the maximum at 660 nm.

Spectroscopy and dynamics of Mn(2+) in ZnS nanoparticles.

Both spectra of transient absorption (lambda(max) = 390 nm) and luminescence (lambda(max) = 590 nm) for the (4)T(1) state of Mn(2+) in ZnS nanoparticles shift to long wavelengths by 40 nm and broaden by 1.7 times as the state becomes banded. The (4)T(1) band of capping Mn(2+) in ZnS nanoparticles decays on the time scale of 0.35 mus, which is much shorter than either the decay time of the (4)T(1) state (2000 micros) for lattice-bound isolated Mn(2+) or that (180 micros) for surface-bound isolated Mn(2+) in ZnS nanoparticles.

A case of acute eosinophilic myopericarditis presenting with cardiogenic shock and normal peripheral eosinophil count.

Eosinophilic myocarditis usually results from myocardial damage as a result of drugs or parasites, and is generally associated with increased peripheral eosinophil count. This form of myocarditis is difficult to diagnose clinically. A 25 year-old previously healthy woman was transferred from a local clinic because of hypotension and dyspnea with sudden cardiogenic shock after a three day history of gastrointestinal illness. Echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular wall thickening with moderate pericardial effusion. Biopsy of endomyocardial tissue from the right ventricle showed diffuse infiltration of inflammatory cells, mostly eosinophils, even though the patient had a peripheral eosinophil count that was normal at the time of biopsy. The patient was treated with corticosteroids for the symptoms of pericarditis, and she recovered without cardiac sequelae, clinically and echocardiographically. We here report a case of acute eosinophilic myopericarditis, with cardiogenic shock, diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy with normal peripheral eosinophil count at the time of biopsy, and complete recovery without sequelae.

An autopsy case of postpartum acute myocardial infarction associated with postpartum ergot alkaloids administration in old-aged pregnant women.

Cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that occur during pregnancy or postpartum are rarely reported. Ergot derivatives are known to induce the spasmodic contraction of coronary arteries. Administration of ergot derivatives can cause AMI, even in normal healthy people. In several reported cases, ergot derivatives triggered severe AMI during the postpartum period. Here, we report the case of a forty-year-old woman who was successfully impregnated by artificial fertilization and died after treatment with ergot derivatives. The autopsy revealed AMI with severe coronary atherosclerosis. This is the first case that reports aggravation of pre-existent severe coronary atherosclerosis after postpartum infusion of ergot derivatives.

Acute appendicitis in Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a case report.

Common complications of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) that lead to surgical intervention include intussusception, perforation, necrosis, and massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Acute appendicitis is rarely seen as a complication of HSP. A seven-year-old boy was admitted for arthralgia, abdominal pain, hematochezia, melena, and purpuric rash on the lower extremities. On admission day abdominal ultrasonography was normal, but on day 5, he became pyrexial and developed right iliac fossa pain and tenderness with guarding. Ultrasonography showed distended appendix surrounded by hyperechoic inflamed fat. On exploration an acutely inflamed, necrotic appendix was removed and grossly there was an appendiceal perforation in the appendiceal tip. Microscopically some of the small blood vessels in the submucosa showed fibrinoid necrosis with neutrophilic infiltrations. The authors report the case of a child who developed acute perforative appendicitis requiring appendectomy while on treatment for HSP.