Hidehito Shibasaki

Schematic Pancreatic Configuration: A Risk Assessment for Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

IntroductionPostoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a serious complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Preoperative risk assessment of POPF is desirable in careful preparation for operation. The aim of this study was to assess simple and accurate risk factors for clinically relevant POPF based on a schematic understanding of the pancreatic configuration using preoperative multidetector computed tomography.MethodsThree hundred and eighteen consecutive patients who underwent PD in the National Cancer Center Hospital East between November 2006 and March 2013 were investigated. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative clinicopathological findings as well as pancreatic configuration data were analyzed for the risk of clinically relevant POPF. POPF was defined according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula classification. POPF grade A occurred in 52 patients (16.4 %), grade B in 84 (26.4 %), and grade C in 6 (1.9 %).ConclusionsIndependent risk factors for POPF grade B/C included main pancreatic duct diameter (MPDd) < 2 mm (P = 0.001), parenchymal thickness ≥ 8 mm (P = 0.018), not performing portal vein/superior mesenteric vein resection (P = 0.004), and amylase level of drainage fluid on postoperative day 3 ≥ 375 IU/L (P < 0.001). Pancreatic configuration data including MPDd and parenchymal thickness were good indicators of clinically relevant POPF.

Surgical Procedure Depending on the Depth of Tumor Invasion in the Duodenal Cancer

BACKGROUND Duodenal cancer excluding Vaters papilla cancer is a relatively rare disease entity; therefore, the most appropriate operative methods depending on the tumor condition, such as the tumor site and/or depth of invasion, still remain unclear. The aim of this study is to determine an appropriate operative method and an appropriate extent of lymph node dissection depending on tumor site or tumor invasion depth. METHODS Data of a total of 35 patients with duodenal cancer who underwent resectional surgery with curative intent were reviewed retrospectively, and the clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes were investigated. RESULTS Overall 5-year survival rates of all resected cases were 63.0% (median survival: 9.1 years). Multivariate analysis identified histological G3/4 (P = 0.002) and presence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004) as independent adverse prognostic factors. Of the 35 patients, 11 (31.4%) had lymph node metastasis. In all patients with the tumor invasion depth within limited to the mucosa or submucosa (T1a or T1b), lymph node metastasis was absent (0/15 patients). T2/3/4 tumor (P < 0.001) and G3/4 (P = 0.021) were identified as predictors of the presence of lymph node metastasis. Four (11.4%) of the 35 patients had metastasis in the infrapyloric node. CONCLUSIONS Limited resection is sufficient for patients with T1a tumor. In the case of T1b tumor, limited resection or pancreatoduodenectomy may be selected after performing pancreaticoduodenal node biopsy as sentinel lymph node biopsy. For patients with T2-4 tumor, pancreatoduodenectomy or substomach preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (excepting Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy) with regional lymph node dissection should be performed.

A case of basaloid carcinoma of the esophagus with a solitary lung metastasis for which thoracoscopic partial lung resection was performed.

We experienced a case of basaloid carcinoma of the esophagus with a solitary lung metastasis for which thoracoscopic partial lung resection was performed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of basaloid carcinoma of the esophagus with lung metastasis for which surgery was performed. There are no evidence-based treatment strategies for postoperative recurrence of basaloid carcinoma of the esophagus. Treatment strategies such as adjuvant therapy centered on chemotherapy and surgical indications should be established.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy performed with the patient in the left lateral position has been occasionally reported since the 1990s, but it has not been established as a standard procedure. This may be because the success of this procedure largely depends on the technical competence of an assistant to secure an adequate field of view during the procedure. Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with the patient in the prone position has recently been introduced and has been consistently shown to be useful. Compared with left lateral thoracoscopic esophagectomy, prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy requires less assistance in exposing the operative field and it is relatively easy to obtain a satisfactory field of view. We performed prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy on 20 patients and were successful in achieving a wide field of view. The postoperative course was remarkably favorable in all patients and the procedure is considered promising for standard thoracoscopic esophagectomy. There are few detailed reports of this procedure; herein, we describe the procedure of prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy employed at our hospital.