Improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Japanese obese patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) using computed tomography (CT) images. METHODS: We analyzed data from 57 patients who underwent LSG and had CTs performed before and after surgery. The patients included 34 women and 23 men (with an average age of 43 years); their mean preoperative weight and body mass index were 120 kg and 46 kg/m2, respectively. Obesity-related health disorders included type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 33 patients, hypertension in 33 and dyslipidemia in 32. We diagnosed NAFLD in cases with liver to spleen ratios (L/S ratio) <0.9 on non-contrast CT images. We evaluated changes in body weights, BMIs, comorbidities, metabolic parameters, L/S ratios, and liver volumes after surgery. RESULTS: The mean interval between CT scans before and after surgery was 26 months. The total weight loss and % excess weight loss were 35 kg and 72%, respectively. The remission rates for T2DM, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were 85%, 76% and 84%, respectively. After LSG, the L/S ratio increased in all the patients, while all except for one had L/S ratio >0.9. We diagnosed 33 out of 57 patients (58%) as having NAFLD before the operation. After the operation, the L/S ratios and liver volumes were not statistically different between the patients with previous NAFLD and those without it. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is an effective treatment for obesity-related health disorders including NAFLD in Japanese obese patients.

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy preserving the right gastroepiploic vessels following proximal gastrectomy: report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Blood flow of the remnant stomach is supplied via the right gastric and right gastroepiploic vessels after proximal gastrectomy (PG). Whether the remnant stomach can be safely preserved in patients who undergo pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) after PG remains unclear. We herein report two cases in which the remnant stomach was safely preserved by performing PPPD. CASE PRESENTATION: The first patient, a 76-year-old man, was diagnosed with cancer of the common bile duct and underwent PPPD 2 years after PG for gastric cancer. The remnant stomach and right gastroepiploic vessels were safely preserved. The second patient, a 56-year-old man with a history of PG for gastric cancer 20 years previously, was diagnosed with cancer of the common bile duct and underwent PPPD. We could safely preserve the remnant stomach and right gastroepiploic vessels. CONCLUSION: The remnant stomach could be preserved in performing PPPD following PG by preserving the right gastroepiploic vessels.

Clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before laparoscopic bariatric procedures in Japanese patients.

PURPOSES: The choice between performing routine and selective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) before bariatric surgery remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of UGE before laparoscopic bariatric procedures. METHODS: We enrolled 155 obese Japanese patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures at our institute and evaluated their endoscopic findings, such as reflux esophagitis (RE), hiatal hernia (HH), Barrett's esophagus, gastritis, duodenitis, gastroduodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, and polyps. RESULTS: Preoperative endoscopy revealed abnormal findings in 102 patients (66%), including gastritis in 57 (37%), HH in 51 (32%), RE in 27 (17%), benign gastric polyps in 16 (10%), duodenitis in 6 (4%), and Barrett's esophagus in 1 (0.6%). Two patients with definite HH were treated with simultaneous crural repair at the time of bariatric surgery. Duodenitis was graded as severe in three of these six patients and treated with a proton pump inhibitor before surgery. Eleven patients received therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), either before or after the surgery. In summary, preoperative endoscopy changed the perioperative management for 16 of the 155 patients (10%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine UGE may be necessary before bariatric procedures in obese Japanese patients.

Secondary Unconjugated Bile Acids Induce Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key players in liver fibrosis, cellular senescence, and hepatic carcinogenesis. Bile acids (BAs) are involved in the activation of HSCs, but the detailed mechanism of this process remains unclear. We conducted a comprehensive DNA microarray study of the human HSC line LX-2 treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA), a secondary unconjugated BA. Additionally, LX-2 cells were exposed to nine BAs and studied using immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and flow cytometry to examine the mechanisms of HSC activation. We focused on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway and revealed upregulation of genes related to nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling and senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors. α-Smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was highly expressed in cells treated with secondary unconjugated BAs, including DCA, and a morphological change associated with radial extension of subendothelial protrusion was observed. Interleukin-6 level in culture supernatant was significantly higher in cells treated with secondary unconjugated BAs. Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of cells highly expressing α-SMA was significantly increased in HSCs cultured with secondary unconjugated BAs. We demonstrated that secondary unconjugated BAs induced the activation of human HSCs.

Prognostic factors of non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma, excluding carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater, is a rare disease. Although several prognostic factors have been reported, they remain controversial due to the rarity of non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma. The aims of this study were to investigate prognostic factors in patients with non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma and to assess chemotherapy in patients with recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of 25 patients who underwent surgical treatment for non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma from 2004 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between the clinicopathological factors and outcomes was investigated. RESULTS: Serum level of CA19-9, gross appearance, tumor size, tumor invasion, lymph node metastases, TNM stage and lymphatic and vascular invasion were significant risk factors of recurrence. Patients with recurrence who received chemotherapy according to regimens used to treat colorectal cancer had a better prognosis than those without chemotherapy (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Advanced non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, but chemotherapy possibly improves the prognosis in the patients with recurrent non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

Effect of pre-firing compression on the prevention of pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major complication of distal pancreatectomy (DP). Several procedures for resection and closure of the pancreas have been proposed; however, the rate of POPF remains high. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between perioperative factors and POPF and to clarify the advantages of pre-firing compression of the pancreas in the DP. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 2008 to 2016, records of 75 patients who underwent DP were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between the perioperative factors and clinically relevant POPF was investigated. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that body mass index, thickness of the pancreas, and pre-firing compression were significantly related with clinically relevant POPF. Multivariate analysis showed that the pre-firing compression was an independent factor of clinically relevant POPF (OR = 44.31, 95%CI = 3.394-578.3, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-firing compression of the pancreas can prevent clinically relevant POPF in DP.

Laparoscopic liver resection in cirrhotic patients with specific reference to a difficulty scoring system.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic liver resection is widely used for liver tumors, but its utility in patients with cirrhosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in patients with liver cirrhosis with specific reference to a difficulty scoring system. METHODS: From January 2010 to March 2016, the outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in 95 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical outcomes were analyzed to identify differences between the liver cirrhosis and non-liver cirrhosis groups; these groups were further stratified to high and low difficulty scores. The surgical outcomes of both groups were compared according to the difficulty scores. RESULTS: Overall, 53/95 (55.8%) patients were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. There were no significant differences in surgical duration, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and morbidity between groups, although liver function was worse in the liver cirrhosis group than in the non-liver cirrhosis group. Multivariate analysis showed that the difficulty score was an independent predictor of increased blood loss. In particular, blood loss in cirrhotic patients was significantly greater with a high difficulty score than with a low difficulty score. CONCLUSIONS: The safety profile of laparoscopic liver resection was the same in patients with and without liver cirrhosis. However, patients with liver cirrhosis and a high difficulty score require extra attention, because of a higher risk for perioperative blood loss.

Control of inferior vena cava injury during laparoscopic surgery using a double balloon-equipped central venous catheter: proof of concept in a live porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic inferior vena cava (IVC) injury is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication during laparoscopic surgery. This experimental study aimed to assess the hemostatic ability of a new device, double balloon-equipped central venous (DB-CV) catheter, for IVC injury. METHODS: The DB-CV catheter comprises a triple-lumen sphincterotome combined with two dilating balloons having a diameter of 25 mm. The experimental procedures were performed in five pigs. The DB-CV catheter was inserted via the right femoral vein. For the IVC occlusion test, correct placement of the balloons was confirmed by indocyanine green fluorescence imaging, and hemodynamic data were recorded. For the IVC injury test, a 3- to 4-mm circumferential incision was created in IVC, and hemostasis was initiated using balloon inflation 5 s after the injury. RESULTS: Hemodynamic changes were minimal, with a 20 mmHg reduction in the mean arterial pressure because of IVC occlusion. All bleeding from IVC injuries was successfully temporarily stopped by direct balloon compression, with a mean time to hemostasis of 69 s and mean blood loss of 32 ml. Subsequently, the positioning of IVC injuries between two balloons made it possible to suture the injured IVC. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon occlusion using the DB-CV catheter provides a rapid temporal hemostatic effect and can overcome the serious condition of massive hemorrhage from IVC injuries.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenia.

PURPOSE: Splenectomy is the standard therapy for medically refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has gained wide acceptance; however, the long-term outcomes of LS versus open splenectomy (OS) for patients with ITP remain unclear. METHODS: We analyzed, retrospectively, 32 patients who underwent splenectomy, as LS in 22 and OS in 10, for refractory ITP at our institute. Data were evaluated based on the American Society of Hematology 2011 evidence-based practice guidelines for ITP. RESULTS: Although the operation time was significantly longer in the LS group (p < 0.01), LS was associated with less blood loss (p < 0.01), infrequent blood transfusion during surgery (p < 0.01), quicker resumption of oral intake (p < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (p < 0.01) than OS. Positive responses, including complete and partial remission, were achieved in 90% of the OS group patients and 77% of the LS group patients. The mean follow-up periods were 183 and 92 months, respectively. Relapse-free survival rates, 15 years after the operation were 63% in the OS group and 94% in the LS group. CONCLUSIONS: LS can provide better short-term results and comparable long-term results to those of OS for ITP.

Clinical Utility of the Difficulty Scoring System for Predicting Surgical Time of Laparoscopic Liver Resection.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has several problems, such as technical complexity and patient and tumor factors. A difficulty scoring system to preoperatively evaluate the difficulty of LLR was established at the second International Consensus Conference on Laparoscopic Liver Resection. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical usefulness of the difficulty scoring system for LLR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2010 to June 2015, the records of 78 patients who had undergone LLR were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' data were used to assign a difficulty score, and the correlations between scores and surgical outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: The mean surgical time was 256 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 168 mL. The difficulty score significantly correlated with surgical time and blood loss, but not with morbidity and postoperative hospital stay. Multivariate analysis showed that the difficulty score was an independent predictor of prolonged surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: The difficulty score was found to be an effective predictor of surgical time for LLR.

Benefit of laparoscopic liver resection in high body mass index patients.

AIM: To explore the impact of body mass index (BMI) on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). METHODS: From January 2010 to February 2015, sixty-eight patients who underwent primary partial liver resection in our institute were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical outcomes of LLR were compared with those of open liver resection (OLR). In addition, we analyzed associations with BMI and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 68 patients, thirty-nine patients underwent LLR and 29 were performed OLR. Significant difference in operation time, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay was observed. There were no significant differences in mortality and morbidity in two groups. Twenty-two patients (32.4%) were classified as obese (BMI ≥ 25). A statistically significant correlation was observed between BMI and operation time, between BMI and blood loss in OLR, but not in LLR. The operation time and blood loss of OLR were significantly higher than that of LLR in obese patients. Open liver resection and BMI were independent predictors for prolonged operation time and increased blood loss in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that BMI had influenced to surgical outcomes of OLR. LLR was less influenced by BMI and had great benefit in obese patients.