Preoperative prognostic predictors and treatment strategies for surgical procedure focused on the sequential organ failure assessment score in nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Several large-scale studies have assessed endovascular and surgical treatment methods for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI); however, the prognostic factors for NOMI remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate risk factors for in-hospital mortality among patients with NOMI who underwent laparotomy and to examine therapeutic strategies that may improve the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective study, the authors reviewed the electronic medical records retrieved from the inpatient database of patients with NOMI at eight district general hospitals between January 2011 and January 2021. A total of 88 patients who underwent laparotomies were divided into survivor and nonsurvivor groups, and statistical analysis was performed to determine clinical and physiological factors. RESULTS: Exploratory laparotomy based on second-look surgery was the first treatment choice. The overall mortality rate was 48.8%, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1. The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 8 [interquartile range: 3.75-14.2], and the median SOFA scores were 5 [3-7] in the survivor group and 13 [9-17.5] in the nonsurvivor group. Univariate analysis revealed a significant difference in BMI ( P <0.001), hypoglycemia ( P =0.0012), previous cardiovascular surgery ( P =0.0019), catecholamine use ( P <0.001), SOFA score ( P <0.001), platelet count ( P =0.0023), and lactate level ( P <0.001). Logistic regression analysis using the factors with significant differences revealed that SOFA score ≥10 (odds ratio 23.3; 95% CI: 1.94-280.00; P =0.013) was an independent prognostic factor. In addition, catecholamine use was suggested as a factor with a SOFA score greater than or equal to 10. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that a SOFA score of greater than or equal to 10 may be associated with increased mortality. While closely monitoring low blood pressure and renal dysfunction, survival rates may be improved if surgical intervention is performed before the SOFA score reaches greater than or equal to 10.

The Dynamic Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema without Compression: Salvaging Lymphedema Patients Who Lost Conservative Treatment Opportunity.

In conservative treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), compression therapy has a crucial role. However, some BCRL patients are unable to use compression, and then their lymphedema continues to worsen as they miss treatment opportunity. Although lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is an effective and minimally invasive surgical treatment for BCRL, compression therapy is still important to enhance lymphatic fluid flow in LVA. The authors previously reported the dynamic LVA method for BCRL, in which patient's natural hand movements theoretically propel lymph to the anastomosed vein. This study is conducted to clarify whether dynamic LVA can salvage BCRL patients without pre- and postoperative compression therapy. Methods: The study involved 17 BCRL patients, 18 limbs. All patients had International Society of Lymphology stage-2 lymphedema, but they had no compression: six patients had difficulty by other diseases to undergo compression, and other 11 patients refused any compression usage because of the burden of the treatment itself. Three dynamic LVAs were performed in each patient. Results: Patients' mean age was 60.4 ± 10.1, and mean body mass index was 24.0 ± 3.3. The mean follow-up period was 25.5 ± 9.2 months. The volume of the lymphedematous limb, according to the upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) index, was reduced in all 18 limbs postoperatively (postoperative UEL index 101.8 ± 9.4 versus preoperative UEL index 116.0 ± 20.1; P < 0.01). Twelve of the 18 limbs were cured without edema. Conclusion: Even without compression therapy, International Society of Lymphology stage-2 BCRL patients can be treated by the dynamic LVA method.

[Two Cases of Transfusion-Free Hepatectomy Following Chemotherapy for H3 Grade of Simultaneous Liver Metastases].

We report 2 cases of transfusion-free treatment for H3 grade of simultaneous liver metastases of the colon which were treated with the chemotherapy followed by R0 liver resection. Case 1 was a 67-year-old woman bearing ascending colon cancer and a metastatic mass occupying the left lobe of the liver with 160 mm in diameter. Laparoscopic ileocecal resection and 30-day left hepatectomy were performed after the 7 courses of FOLFOX plus bevacizumab(BEV). Case 2 was a 72- year-old woman bearing transverse colon cancer with more than 10 foci of liver metastases ranging from 21 mm to 100 mm in diameter. After the transverse colon resection and 12 months of chemotherapy from FOLFOX plus BEV to FOLFIRI plus panitumumab, partial liver resection was performed for each of size-reduced foci. In both patients who declined blood transfusion, optimization of red cells and autologous transfusion with hemodilution contributed to the safe liver resection with no postoperative complications.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer Metastasis to Right External Iliac Lymph Nodes].

We report a rare case of postoperative ascending colon cancer metastasis to the right external iliac lymph nodes. A 57- year-old woman underwent a laparoscopic right colectomy and D3 lymph node dissection. Pathological findings indicated a Stage Ⅲb, pT4aN1bM0 cancer. Because side effects were observed on adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX, she was switched to S-1 administration every other week. Sixteen months postoperatively, right inguinal pain and elevated CEA values were noted. CT revealed two swollen right external iliac nodes with high FDG uptake on PET-CT. With the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis, an open celiotomy was performed to remove the lymph nodes. Pathological findings confirmed lymph node recurrence of ascending colon cancer. Postoperatively, her CEA values were normal and no recurrence was noted. This rare occurrence highlights the importance of examining adjacent lymph nodes for possible tumor recurrence. We report this case with the necessary literature review.

[Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Jehovah's Witness Gastric Cancer Patient after Preoperative Blood Augmentation].

An 80-year-old female of Jehovah's Witness with anemia was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer(cT4aN2M0, stage ⅢA). The first value of Hb at the clinic was 7.5 g/dL that made it difficult to perform total gastrectomy in safe. The treatment of blood augmentation included the administration of intravenous iron and oral intake of vitamins in the earlier period. The number of hemoglobin was not optimized sufficiently in the first 10 days, that necessitated administration of erythropoietin( ESPO® INJECTION: 24,000 unit×2 times). Hb value increased in 11.6 g/dL 34 days after the treatment, that enabled laparoscopic total gastrectomy to be performed. The tumor infiltrated left crus of diaphragm. The patient was discharged in 16th postoperative day with Hb value of 10.1 g/dL without any complications. Pathological findings showed pT4b(crus) N2M0, stage ⅢB. Preoperative blood augmentation benefited the patients with anemia who decline allogenic blood transfusion. Anemia with malignant tumors is associated with not only iron deficiency due to the chronic bleeding but also functional deficiency or iron sequestration due to malignant itself, inflammation and infection. Erythropoiesis along with infusion of iron contributed to the optimization of Hb value that ensure performing total gastrectomy in safe.

[A Case of Biliary Neuroendocrine Tumor with Neo Adjuvant Chemotherapy].

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with biliary carcinoma. Abdominal CT showed a tumor at the inferior bile duct. Tumor cells with small cell carcinoma were confirmed with biopsy of ERCP. Although the tumor seemed to be resectable, ERCP caused pancreatitis. We decided to perform surgery after the pancreatitis had healed to initiate neoadjuvant chemotherapy. According to the guideline of pancreatic NET(G3), we adopted the regimen of CDDP plus VP-16. After 2 courses, CT revealed that there were no changes in tumor size and that the pancreatitis was healing. We then performed pancreatoduodenectomy. Histological examination of the specimen demonstrated small cell NEC of the bile duct. Five months after the operation, multiple liver metastases manifested, leading to liver failure and death. NEC of the bile duct is known to be a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Further evaluation is needed to elucidate optimal therapy for biliary NEC.

[A Successful Case of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Curative Total Pancreatectomy after Chemotherapy].

A 68-year-old man with jaundice was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The tumor seemed to invade the portal vein, the common hepatic artery, and the splenic artery plexus. The initial diagnosis was unresectable pancreatic cancer. The patient was treated with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel therapy. The tumor reduced in size, and invasion of the main vessels was alleviated after 3 courses. Therefore, we performed total pancreatectomywith total gastrectomy. Histopathological findings showed pancreatic adenocarcinoma, T4(PV)N2M0, fStage Ⅳb, R0. There are reports of curative resection for unresectable pancreatic cancer after chemotherapy. However, the majorityof these reports were about pancreatoduodenectomyor distal pancreatectomy. We present a rare case of curative total pancreatectomy after chemotherapy.

[A Case of HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer with a Pathological Complete Response to Conversion Chemotherapy with S-1 plus Oxaliplatin plus Trastuzumab].

A 71-year-old female, with nausea, was diagnosed with type 2 advanced gastric cancer in cardia. Examinations revealed cStage Ⅳ of cT4aN2M1 with paraaortic lymph node metastasis. S-1 plus oxaliplatin plus trastuzumab was performed for 6 courses. Because of adverse events, S-1 plus trastuzumab for 4 courses was followed. After that treatment, the primary tumor as well as metastatic lymph nodes were shown with marked reduction in size by CT scan, which enabled total gastrectomy with D2 plus paraaortic lymphadenectomy to be performed as a curative resection. The surgical specimen revealed pathological CR.

Real-time Indocyanine Green Videolymphography Navigation for Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis.

Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography is a useful imaging modality for evaluation of lymphedema and detection of lymphatic vessels. It also allows us to ensure patency of the anastomosed vessels intraoperatively. However, strong light from the operating microscope usually disturbs ICG fluorescence imaging. Only some built-in ICG camera systems with specific operating microscopes make real-time ICG lymphography possible in lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA). We applied a new high-resolution ICG videolymphography system, which is separated from the operating microscope. Because the system can divide near-infrared fluorescence light of ICG from visible light of the operating microscope, real-time ICG videolymphography-navigated LVA under operating microscope illumination is possible regardless types of operating microscopes. The study involved 10 patients with upper extremity lymphedema characterized by International Society of Lymphology stage 2 and treated by 3 lymphaticovenular anastomoses at the forearm (30 lymphaticovenular anastomoses incorporating 30 lymphatic vessels) under real-time ICG videolymphography. The rate of intraoperative detection of lymphatic vessels using real-time ICG videolymphography was 86.7% (0.25-0.85 mm in diameter), and that of lymph flow through the lymphaticovenular anastomoses was 76.7%. None of lymphatic vessels and no flow were detected under the microscope light by means of another non-built-in ICG lymphography camera. Real-time ICG videolymphography in LVA is beneficial, because the surgeon could find lymphatic vessels easily by checking dual images of original view and ICG fluorescent view and ensure accuracy of the LVA in a suture by a suture without any pauses of the surgical procedures.

The dynamic-lymphaticovenular anastomosis method for breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema: Creation of functional lymphaticovenular anastomoses with use of preoperative dynamic ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is generally an effective procedure for breast cancer treatment-related upper extremity lymphedema (UEL). Clinical improvement is, however, limited by the degree of sclerosis of the lymphatic vessels. We have developed a method by which we use dynamic ultrasonography to depict vessels through which lymph can be propelled into the LVA under the power of the patient's natural hand movements. METHODS: We assessed the dynamic-LVA method by comparing clinical details of 15 cases of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema treated by dynamic LVA and 15 corresponding cases treated by conventional LVA. RESULTS: Placement of incisions at a total of 90 forearm sites (three per patient) yielded 90 LVAs (32 in "linear ICG lymphography pattern incisions" and 58 in "stardust pattern incisions"). Sclerotic lymphatic vessels were encountered at greater frequency in "linear pattern incisions" in the dynamic LVA group than in the conventional LVA group (7.1% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.030). Postoperative volume reduction was significantly greater in the dynamic LVA group than in the conventional LVA group; the UEL index at 1 month was 8.12 ±â€¯3.08 vs. 3.74 ±â€¯5.82, respectively (P = 0.018), and at 1 year was 10.23 ±â€¯6.16 vs. 2.03 ±â€¯9.36, respectively (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic LVA is clinically beneficial because the imaging guides decisions over the locations where the incisions should be placed so that a patient's natural hand motions can be used to propel lymph into the anastomosis despite the presence of sclerosis and because even early improvements are obtained.

Single Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Early-Stage Lower Extremity Lymphedema Treated by the Superior-Edge-of-the-Knee Incision Method.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) remains challenging. Application of the superior-edge-of-the-knee incision method for lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is reported to have a strong therapeutic effect in patients with LEL because lymph-to-venous flow at the anastomosis is enhanced by knee joint movement during normal walking. We investigated whether a single LVA created by this method is adequate for early LEL. METHODS: The study involved 10 patients with LEL characterized by stage 2 or 3 leg dermal backflow and treated by a single LVA at the thigh via the superior-edge-of-the-knee incision method. The lymphatic vessel and direction of flow were assessed intraoperatively, and reduction in lymphedema volume was assessed postoperatively. RESULTS: Use of our incision method yielded a single anastomosis in all patients with stage 2 leg dermal backflow and in all patients with stage 3 leg dermal backflow. The lymphatic vessel was 0.65 ± 0.08 mm in diameter (0.65 ± 0.09 and 0.65 ± 0.09 mm, respectively; P = 1.000). No venous reflux occurred in any patient. Mean follow-up was 7.70 ± 3.30 months (9.60 ± 3.29 and 5.80 ± 2.17 months, respectively; P = 0.068). Mean reduction in the LEL index was 20.160 ± 9.892 (22.651 ± 12.272 and 17.668 ± 7.353, respectively; P = 0.462). CONCLUSION: A single LVA created by the superior-edge-of-the-knee incision method can be expected to have a strong therapeutic effect in patients with stage 2 or 3 leg dermal backflow.

Stomach resection with intraoperative fluoroscopy in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is common for early gastric cancer. Formerly, we used to verify the location of the marking clip to decide the proximal incisional line with our hand, through a small epigastric incision. In 2015, we introduced intracorporeal reconstruction and started to decide the incisional line using intraoperative fluoroscopy. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative fluoroscopy in LDG. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: A total of 19 patients were included in this retrospective observational study. On the day before operation, we endoscopically clipped several points located 2 cm proximal to the tumour edge to cover about half of the tumour. After lymph node dissection, we incised the stomach with an endoscopic linear stapling device, including the previously placed clips, guided by intraoperative fluoroscopy. Reconstruction was performed in all patients who underwent Billroth I and Roux-en-Y procedures. RESULTS: No complications were observed during pre-operative endoscopic clipping or intraoperatively. On pathological examination, all resected specimens had negative margins, and the mean distance from the tumour edge was 28.5 ± 16.5 (13-60) mm. CONCLUSION: Stomach resection with intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance was safe and effective.

[A Successful Treatment for Stage III c Gastric Cancer with Low Cardiac Function Using S-1 plus Oxaliplatin(SOX)as a Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy].

A 83-year-old female, with oppression in her chest, was subjected to type 2 advanced gasteric cancer in esophagogastric junction. Examinations revealed Stage III c of cT4, cN2, cM0. For adopting neoadjuvant chemotherapy, S-1 plus CDDP was not on the list, but S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) was, because massive load of infusion along with the chemotherapy was not appropriate for the patient with low cardiac function. After 2 courses of SOX, the primary tumor as well as metastatic lymph nodes were shown with marked reduction in size by CT scan, which enabled total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy to be performed as a curative resection, leading to patient living with no recurrence more than 3 years. SOX was considered as one of safe neoadjuvant agent for gastric cancer combined with low cardiac function.

Copper(I) 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene complexes as efficient catalysts for click reactions of azides with alkynes.

Complexes of copper with 1,4-diphenyl, 1,4-dimesityl, and 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4-(3,5-xylyl)-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (abnormal NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) were prepared by consecutive treatment of the corresponding azolium salts with silver oxide and copper chloride. The new CuCl(aNHC) complexes efficiently catalyzed click reactions of azides with alkynes to give 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles in excellent yields at room temperature with short reaction times. CuCl(TPh) was particularly effective for the reaction between sterically hindered azides and alkynes.