Double Percutaneous Transesophageal Gastrotubing for Gastric Cancer: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The management of gastric cancer causing gastric outlet obstruction and dilatation must include decompression of the stomach and intravenous nutrition. Percutaneous transesophageal gastrotubing (PTEG) is an effective technique for either gastric decompression or enteral nutrition. Here, we investigated the efficacy and safety of double PTEG (dPTEG), that is, using PTEG for both purposes simultaneously, in patients with gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with gastric outlet obstruction due to gastric cancer were admitted to our hospital between January 2015 and March 2017 and enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent dPTEG as soon as possible. After dPTEG tubes were placed, gastric decompression was started immediately and enteral nutrition was started within 1 d. Feeding and decompression through the double tubes were continued until the day before operation. Using data from these patients, we investigated the efficacy and safety of dPTEG. RESULTS: dPTEG was performed successfully in all patients and no critical adverse effects were observed. Eight of the 11 patients underwent radical or palliative resection. Decompression of the stomach was achieved and nutritional status was significantly improved after dPTEG in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that dPTEG is a safe and effective management technique for patients with gastric outlet obstruction and gastric dilatation due to gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the PINPOINT® Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System with intraoperative fluorescent imaging for acute cholecystitis: A case report.

We report on a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) using the bright field/full-color fluorescence laparoscope system PINPOINT® (Novadaq, Mississauga, ON, Canada). The patient was an 85-year-old man who was diagnosed with moderate AC. Indocyanine green (ICG) was administered just before surgery, and we used only PINPOINT® to perform the LC. The advantage of this procedure is that it can be performed while viewing ICG fluorescence in the cystic duct. Since the gallbladder is imaged with this technique, it is also advantageous from the perspective of deciding at which layer to detach the gallbladder from the liver. The operative time was 81 minutes, and blood loss was 5 ml. There were no perioperative complications, and the patient was discharged on post-operative day 6.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for the diagnosis and therapy of pedunculated gastric cancer with prolapse into the duodenal bulb: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative diagnosis of gastric cancer invasion is not always sufficiently accurate. Diagnostic endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be performed for the purpose of accurate decision making and to avoid partial treatment vs aggressive over-treatment. We present a patient with the gastric cancer with indeterminate pre-operative diagnosis for depth of the invasion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old man presented at our hospital because both anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) IGG antibody and serum pepsinogen (PG) levels were classified as positive. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, and a large (3.5 cm) pedunculated polyp-shaped gastric cancer with prolapse into the duodenal bulb was found. [fluorine-18]-fluorodeoxy-glucose (18F-FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging showed high 18F-FDG uptake, suggesting the possibility of advanced gastric cancer. Since the pre-operative diagnosis of the cancer invasion was indeterminable, diagnostic ESD was performed. The pathohistological diagnosis was early gastric cancer (33 × 35 × 20 mm, well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma [tub1], pT1a[M], ly[--], v[--], UL[--], pHM0, pVM0) according to the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was reported that ESD for early gastric cancers that met the expanded criteria was acceptable and should be the standard treatment instead of gastrectomy. The expanded criteria included cancer confined to the mucosa (cT1a), a single primary intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma, an ulcer-negative lesion of any size. We reported a case of pedunculated gastric cancer with prolapse into the duodenal bulb that could be treated by ESD. The present case is a good example of diagnostic ESD being used to minimize the damage of gastric cancer treatment.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-1 level represents disease activity as opposed to fibrosis in patients with histologically proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is prevalent in both economically developed and developing countries. Twenty percent of NASH progresses to cirrhosis with/without hepatocellular carcinoma, and there is an urgent need to find biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring progression of the disease. Using immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic examination we previously reported that expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) increased in monocytes, Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells in early stage NASH. The present study investigated whether serum MMP-1 levels reflect disease activity and pharmaceutical effects in NASH patients. METHODS: We measured the serum levels of MMPs, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and several cytokines/chemokines in patients with histologically proven early and advanced stages of NASH and compared them with those in healthy controls. RESULTS: Serum MMP-1 levels in stage 1 fibrosis, but not in the more advanced fibrosis stages, were significantly higher than in healthy controls (P=0.019). There was no correlation between serum MMP-1 level and fibrosis stage. Serum MMP- 1 levels in NASH patients represented disease activity estimated by serum aminotransferase values during the follow-up period. In contrast, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMPs did not change with disease activity. Consistent with the finding that MMP-1 is expressed predominantly in monocytes and Kupffer cells, serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor were significantly increased in NASH with stage 1 fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum MMP-1 levels represent disease activity and may serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring the progression of NASH.

Optimal timing of preoperative indocyanine green administration for fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the PINPOINT® Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System.

INTRODUCTION: The PINPOINT® Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System (Novadaq, Mississauga, Canada) allows surgeons to visualize the bile ducts during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surgeons can continue operation while confirming the bile ducts' fluorescence with a bright-field/color image. However, strong fluorescence of the liver can interfere with the surgery. Here, we investigated the optimal timing of indocyanine green administration to allow fluorescent cholangiography to be performed without interference from the liver fluorescence. METHODS: A total of 72 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in this study. The timing of indocyanine green administration was set immediately before surgery and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 h before surgery. The luminance intensity ratios of gallbladder/liver, cystic duct/liver, and common bile duct/liver were measured using the ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA). Visibility of the gallbladder and bile ducts was classified into three categories (grades A, B, and C) based on the degree of visibility in contrast to the liver. RESULTS: The luminance intensity ratio for the gallbladder/liver, cystic duct/liver, and common bile duct/liver was ≥1 in the 15-, 18-, and 24-h groups. The proportion of cases in which evaluators classified the visibility of the gallbladder and bile ducts as grade A (best visibility) reached a peak in the 15-h group and decreased thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the optimal timing of indocyanine green administration for fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the PINPOINT Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System was 15 h before surgery.

Prophylactic retention suture for surgical site infection: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of gastrointestinal surgery. Because retention suture is known to prevent abdominal wound dehiscence, it is only considered indicated in high-risk patients. At present, there are no clear indications for retention suture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of prophylactic retention suture and to determine what situations indicate prophylactic retention suture against SSI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2014 and January 2016, 135 patients who underwent midline laparotomy in our hospital were analyzed. Inclusion criteria for this study were patients with American Society Anesthesiologists' physical status classification system (ASA-PS score) ≥ 3 or emergent surgery. RESULTS: Of the 135 patients, 30 (22.2%) received prophylactic retention suture. Diabetes mellitus, surgical wound classification, large incision, and retention suture were associated with SSI in multivariate analysis. In subgroup analysis, SSI risk factors were analyzed in each surgical wound classification. Only in surgical wound classification class II and III did retention suture significantly reduce the risk of SSI (odds ratio = 0.100 [0.012-0.837], P = 0.034). In class IV, however, half the patients developed SSI, regardless of retention suture. Table 3 summarizes the results of the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that prophylactic retention suture reduces SSI for surgical wound classification class II or III. For class IV operations, however, other methods to prevent SSI are necessary.

New method of indocyanine green fluorescence sentinel node mapping for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The present study describes the retrospective feasibility study of ICG fluorescence SN mapping in back-table for early gastric cancer using PINPOINT®. METHOD: SN mapping were performed as following; the day before surgery, 0.5 ml ICG was injected endoscopically in four quadrants of the submucosa surrounding the gastric cancer using an endoscopic puncture. Intraoperatively, the gastrocolic ligament was divided to visualize all possible directions of lymphatic flow from the stomach. PINPOINT® (NOVADAQ, Canada) was used to illuminate regional lymph nodes from the serosal side. Positive staining was confirmed by at least 3 surgeons and an endoscopist during surgery (Figure 1). Lymph node dissection and gastrectomy were performed according to the criteria of gastric cancer treatment guidelines of JGCA. RESULT: All 6 patients had gastrectomy with laparoscopic approach. ICG positive lymphatic flow and lymph nodes were able to be observed in all the patients. Final pathological diagnosis was all StageI and curative resection. All the patients had ICG positive lymphatic area in left gastric artery (LGA) area. Two patients with tumor located in L area had ICG positive flow to right gastroepipoloic artery (RGEA) area. The mean of ICG positive lymph nodes was 8.6. One patient had a metastatic lymph node in station No.4, which was positive for ICG. CONCLUSION: Our method made identification of ICG positive lymph nodes easy in SN mapping in back-table under room light. Although further accumulation and analysis are necessary, we may be able to apply this method for intraoperative SN mapping of laparoscopic gastric cancer surgey.

Blood flow evaluation using PINPOINT® in a case of incarcerated inguinal hernia: A case report.

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence for intestinal blood flow has been reported, but application during laparoscopic surgery for incarcerated inguinal hernia has not been reported. Here, we report the case of a patient with an incarcerated inguinal hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluation of intestinal blood flow with ICG fluorescence using PINPOINT®, a brightfield full-color, near-infrared fluorescence camera. A man in his 80s was diagnosed with incarcerated inguinal hernia and underwent laparoscopic surgery. The ascending colon and mesentery showed deep red discoloration on gross evaluation. However, intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall, indicating the absence of irreversible ischemic changes of the bowel. As such, no resection was performed, and transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty was completed. The patient had a good postoperative course. In this case, ICG fluorescence with the PINPOINT was useful to avoid bowel resection during laparoscopic surgery.

Crus incision without repair is a risk factor for esophageal hiatal hernia after laparoscopic total gastrectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although postoperative esophageal hiatal hernia (EHH) is primarily considered a post-operative complication of esophagectomy, it is also a rare post-operative complication of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG), with a reported incidence rate of 0.5 %. The purpose of this study is to analyze the incidence, clinical features, and prevention of EHH following LTG for gastric cancer. METHODS: Between October 2008 and July 2014, 78 patients who underwent LTG for gastric cancer in our hospital were analyzed. We compared the crus incision group (in which the left crus of the diaphragm was incised without suture repair) with the crus conserving or repair group (in which the crus was preserved or the crus was incised and underwent suture repair). The primary endpoint was incidence of postoperative EHH. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 7 (9.0 %) developed postoperative EHH. Three of seven patients (42.9 %) were symptomatic and required an emergency operation for intestinal obstruction. Four of seven patients (57.1 %) were asymptomatic and did not require an operation. Incising the left crus of the diaphragm without suture repair during LTG was considered the only risk factor for postoperative EHH (0 of 29 for preserving the crus or incising and performing suture repair of the crus vs. 7 of 49 in crus incision without suture repair; p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that incision of the crus without suture repair is associated with EHH after LTG. If crus incision is required, crus repair may be effective for the prevention of postoperative EHH.

A case of incarcerated femoral hernia with intestinal blood flow assessment by brightfield full-color near-infrared fluorescence camera: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has been reported for examining intestinal blood flow (IBF), but not in the case of bowel released from entrapment in a femoral hernia. We report the case of a patient with incarcerated obturator femoral hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluation of IBF with ICG fluorescence using a brightfield full-color near-infrared fluorescence camera. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A woman in her 60s was diagnosed with incarcerated femoral hernia and underwent surgery. Laparotomy was performed to reduce bowel incarceration via an anterior approach. The small bowel showed deep-red discoloration on gross evaluation, but intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall. This indicated an absence of irreversible ischemic changes to the bowel, so resection was not performed and a modified Kugel herniorrhaphy was performed. The patient showed a good postoperative course. CONCLUSION: In herniorrhaphy with mesh, minimization of bowel resection is important for preventing postoperative infection of the mesh. In this case, ICG fluorescence with a near-infrared fluorescence camera was central to reducing bowel resection. ICG fluorescence may be useful for evaluating IBF in surgery for incarcerated femoral hernias.

Stomaplasty with pannicuectomy in an obese patient with stomal retraction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Stomal retraction is a common complication following stoma formation. A repeat surgical procedure for stomal revision is an invasive treatment that is often required as a result. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old woman with obstructive rectal carcinoma and perforative peritonitis underwent an emergent anterior resection and colostomy (Hartmann's operation). After the operation, the patient changed the stoma pouch every day because of stomal retraction and leakage. Thirty-eight days after the operation, we performed a stomaplasty with pannicuectomy. Following this procedure, the patient changed the stoma pouch twice weekly. DISCUSSION: Stomal retraction is caused by the thick subcutaneous fat and abnormal skin folds in obese patients, as well as the excess tension that is the result of inadequate mobilization. Treatment of stomal retraction typically requires an intraperitoneal stoma revision. Our method of panniculectomy with skin excision but without stomal revision does not involve an incision around the stoma and there is no risk of fecal contamination. CONCLUSION: We report a case of an obese patient who underwent stomaplasty with pannicuectomy for stomal retraction. We believe that stomaplasty with pannicuectomy is a feasible option in obese patients with stomal retraction.

Intraoperative ICG fluorescence contrast imaging of the main artery watershed area in colorectal cancer surgery: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Visualization of the main artery watershed area may be useful for determining the area that should be resected in colorectal cancer surgery. Resection of the main artery watershed area may result in complete resection of lymph nodes along the main artery and area of potential ischemia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A man in his 60s with a chief complaint of hematochezia visited our hospital, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and underwent surgery. A case that underwent colorectal resection with intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography from the resection-side of the superior rectal artery (SRA) in order to confirm the watershed area is reported. Observation was performed using a PINPOINT(®) bright-field, color, near-infrared fluorescence camera, and the watershed area of the SRA fluoresced 33s after the intra-arterial injection of ICG. After observation resection and anastomosis was performed. The patient's postoperative course was good. DISCUSSION: The method is simple and can be performed within a short time, and it enables visual evaluation of the blood flow in the intestinal tract before anastomosis. CONCLUSION: This method can be expected to provide useful information for complete resection of lymph nodes along the main artery and area of potential ischemia.

Endoscopic computerized tomography guided percutaneous trans-gastric drainage: A case report on this hybrid approach.

Percutaneous drainage, percutaneous transgastric drainage, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transgastric drainage are primarily utilized for drainage of fluid collections dorsal to the stomach. Percutaneous transgastric drainage is performed with computed tomography (CT) guidance, but it requires inflation of a balloon in the stomach, and gastric peristalsis makes it difficult to ensure a reliable puncture route via the stomach. Using endoscopy-assisted CT-guidance, we were able to safely and effectively perform percutaneous transgastric drainage. A 69-year-old man underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer of the inferior section of the common bile duct. Postoperative day 5, the amylase value of the drainage fluid was 1,232 IU/L, we diagnosed a pancreatic fistula developed as a result of pancreaticojejunal anastomotic failure and we performed drainage at the drain which was placed in the foramen of Winslow intraoperatively, however fluid collection dorsal to the stomach was detected on a follow-up abdominal CT scan, and the fluid was a high value of amylase, we judged the drain was not working well and the pancreatic fistula occured. Endoscopy-assisted, CT-guided percutaneous transgastric drainage was therefore performed, and the pancreatic fistula was successfully closed the fistula.

Intestinal blood flow assessment by indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in a patient with the incarcerated umbilical hernia: Report of a case.

After reduction of the incarceration during surgery for incarcerated hernia, intestinal blood flow (IBF) and the need for bowel resection must be evaluated. We report the case of a patient with incarcerated umbilical hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluating IBF using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence. A woman in her 40s with a chief complaint of abdominal pain visited our hospital, was diagnosed with incarcerated umbilical hernia and underwent surgery. Laparotomy was performed to reduce bowel incarceration. After reducing the incarceration, IBF was observed using ICG fluorescence detected using a brightfield full-color fluorescence camera. The small bowel that had been incarcerated showed deep-red discoloration on gross evaluation, but intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall. This indicated an absence of irreversible ischemic changes of the bowel, so no resection was performed. The patient showed a good postoperative course, including resumption of eating on day 4 and discharge on day 11. In surgery for incarcerated hernia, ICG fluorescence may offer a useful method to evaluate IBF after reducing the incarceration. This case implied that PINPOINT could be used in open conventional surgery.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the PINPOINT endoscopic fluorescence imaging system with intraoperative fluorescent imaging: A case report.

We report on a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed using the PINPOINT endoscopic fluorescence imaging system (Novadaq, Mississauga, ON, Canada), which enables surgery to be performed while simultaneously viewing fluorescent images. The patient was a 43-year-old man diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis. Indocyanine green (ICG) was administered 18h prior to surgery. The PINPOINT system made it possible to perform the procedure while viewing ICG fluorescence in the cystic duct. As the gallbladder was also imaged with this technique, it was easy to determine at which layer to detach the gallbladder from the liver bed. The operative time was 1h and 32min, and blood loss was 5ml. There were no perioperative complications.

New technique for treating abdominal surgical site infection using CT woundgraphy and NPWT: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for abdominal surgical site infection (SSI) is becoming increasingly common, although enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) has been reported as a complication. To avoid ECF, we used computed tomography (CT) woundgraphy to evaluate the relationship between the wound and the intestine, and then safely treated the abdominal SSI with NPWT. CASE PRESENTATION: Following a laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for low rectal neuroendocrine tumor and covering ileostomy, a 59-year-old woman underwent stoma closure. Six days after surgery, we diagnosed SSI. We suspected ECF, because the wound was deep and the pus resembled enteric fluid. However, CT woundgraphy showed that the wound was separated from the abdominal cavity and the intestine by the abdominal rectus muscle. Accordingly, we performed NPWT. SSI was cured and the wound was well granulated. Twenty-three days after surgery, the patient was discharged. Eventually, the wound was completely epithelialized. DISCUSSION: Although successful NPWT has been reported for open abdominal wounds, ECF is a common complication. ECF can be prevented by separating the wound from the intestine by the omentum or muscle fascia, protecting the intestinal serosa during surgery, and applying low vacuum pressure. The relationships among the wound, the fascia, and the intestine must be evaluated before abdominal SSI treatment. One good method is CT woundgraphy, which evaluates wound extent and depth, closure of muscle fascia, and the relationship between the wound and the intestine. CONCLUSION: We report a case of CT woundgraphy before NPWT for abdominal SSI. CT woundgraphy is a good candidate for evaluating wound condition.

Fibrogenesis and Carcinogenesis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinase (TIMPs).

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is emerging worldwide because life-styles have changed to include much over-eating and less physical activity. The clinical and pathophysiological features of NASH are very different from those of HBV- and HCV-chronic liver diseases. The prognosis of NASH is worse among those with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), and some NASH patients show HCC with or without cirrhosis. In the present review we discuss fibrogenesis and the relationship between fibrosis and HCC occurrence in NASH to clarify the role of MMPs and TIMPs in both mechanisms. Previously we proposed MMP and TIMP expression in the multi-step occurrence of HCC from the literature based on viral-derived HCC. We introduce again these expressions during hepatocarcinogenesis and compare them to those in NASH-derived HCC, although the relationship with hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HPCs) invasion remains unknown. Signal transduction of MMPs and TIMPs is also discussed because it is valuable for the prevention and treatment of NASH and NASH-derived HCC.

Efficacy of nasopancreatic stenting prior to laparoscopic enucleation of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

We report a patient who underwent laparoscopic enucleation for a nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. The patient was a 55-year-old man who had a 12- × 11-mm tumor close to the main pancreatic duct (MPD) in the pancreatic body. To avoid and detect injury to the main pancreatic duct during operation, a nasopancreatic drainage stent (NPDS) was endoscopically placed prior to the operation. According to the NPDS, the relation between the tumor and MPD was easily identified by laparoscopic ultrasonography during enucleation, thus enabling the resecting line to be determined. Moreover, after enucleation, pancreatography through the NPDS was able to clarify the absence of injury to the MPD. The NPDS was removed postoperatively, and the patient was discharged uneventfully on postoperative day 8. Preoperative placement of the NPDS seems to be a useful option for performing safe laparoscopic enucleation of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, especially when the lesion is located close to the MPD.

Phase II study of gemcitabine in combination with regional arterial infusion of nafamostat mesilate for advanced pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of regional arterial infusion of the synthetic serine protease inhibitor nafamostat mesilate combined with gemcitabine for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-arm, single center, institutional review board-approved phase II trial was conducted. Thirty-five of 38 consecutive patients were included in the study. Patients received nafamostat mesilate (4.8 mg/kg continuous regional arterial infusion) with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m intravenously) on days 1, 8, and 15. This treatment was repeated at 28-day intervals. The primary endpoints were to evaluate overall survival and 1-year survival rate. The secondary endpoints were to assess therapeutic response and clinical benefit response. Overall survival times were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: The median survival time was 10.0 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 40.0%. The response rate and disease control rate were 17.1% and 88.6%, respectively. A fraction of 25% of the patients who required opioids for cancer-related pain could reduce their opioid intake, and 37.1% of the patients showed healthy weight gain. Among the patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, the median survival time was 9.0 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 32.0%. The proposed regimen offers an economic advantage compared with recent therapy regimens that have shown significant improvements in median survival over standard chemotherapy with gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS: An alternative regimen for unresectable pancreatic cancer, especially for metastatic pancreatic cancer, is proposed based on acceptable survival time, clinical benefit, and cost advantage.