Junya Taomoto

New technique for the retraction of the liver in laparoscopic gastrectomy.

We developed a new technique for the retraction of the liver using a Penrose drain and a J-shaped retractor, which is both an easy and time-saving method that provides a good view during laparoscopic gastrectomy without damaging the liver.

Effects of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on postoperative morbidity and mortality associated with esophageal cancer

We compared the surgical outcomes between 114 patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy (group 1) and 92 others who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) (group 2), and assessed the preoperative and surgical factors that influence postoperative morbidity to determine the impact of nCRT on morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy via cervical, right transthoracic, and abdominal approaches. The overall postoperative morbidity rates were 44.7% and 55.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.13). Rates of anastomotic leak (8.8% vs. 16.3%; P = 0.10), pneumonia (9.6% vs. 13.0%; P = 0.44), recurrent nerve palsy (15.8% vs. 10.9%; P = 0.31), and all other complications did not significantly differ between the groups. Multivariable analysis revealed cervical lymph node dissection (odds ratio [OR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-3.84; P = 0.047) as the sole independent covariate for overall morbidity. Furthermore, a history of cardiovascular disease (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.03-8.24; P = 0.045), the retrosternal reconstruction route (OR, 15.15; 95% CI, 3.56-62.50; P = 0.0002), and a longer surgical duration (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.002-1.02; P = 0.01) were independent covariates for anastomotic leakage, and advanced age (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.15; P = 0.02) and lower body mass index (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33; P = 0.04) were independent covariates for pneumonia. However, whether or not patients received nCRT was irrelevant. We found that nCRT is safe for three-incision esophagectomy and it does not increase the incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality relative to esophagectomy alone.

Clinical Characteristics of Gastric Cancer with Metastasis to the Lymph Node along the Superior Mesenteric Vein (14v)

Aim: We investigated the clinical significance of metastasis to the lymph node (LN) along the superior mesenteric vein (14v) in gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective study of 2,513 gastrectomy patients with a 14v dissection was done using the Ganken Igan Database. Results: The incidence of 14v metastasis correlated with tumor location, depth of tumor invasion, regional LN metastases, peritoneal metastasis, peritoneal cytology-positive, hepatic metastasis and postoperative recurrence (p < 0.01). Metastases to the infrapyloric LN (6), suprapyloric LN (5) and left paracardial LN (2) were independent variables affecting 14v metastasis (p < 0.05), and the 6 status was a useful predictive factor for a 14v-negative status with a low false-negative rate (1.9%). The patients with 14v metastasis after curative surgery demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate than those without (5-year overall survival rate; 11.3 vs. 60.2%, p < 0.0001). In them, LN around the abdominal aorta (16)-positive group showed a significantly lower survival rate than the negative group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Advanced gastric cancer with invasion to the lower stomach often metastasizes to 14v, and the 6 status can predict 14v negative. Most patients with 14v metastasis have a poor prognosis, similar to those with systemic metastasis, although some such patients may benefit from a curative dissection.

Esophageal bypass operation prior to definitive chemoradiotherapy in advanced esophageal cancer with tracheobronchial invasion.

BACKGROUND In T4 esophageal cancer with tracheobronchial invasion, an esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) often occurs during or after chemoradiotherapy. We have performed esophageal bypass operations prior to definitive chemoradiotherapy for these patients to increase the chemoradiotherapy completion rate by minimizing the potential effect of an ERF. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical outcome of esophageal bypass surgery prior to chemoradiotherapy. METHODS Between 1997 and 2010, 17 patients underwent esophageal bypass surgery followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer with tracheobronchial invasion (bypass group). Ten patients in the same circumstances were treated with chemoradiotherapy alone (control group). Overall survival, the clinical effect of chemoradiotherapy, the ERF incidence rate, and the safety of esophageal bypass surgery were assessed. RESULTS The overall response rate to chemoradiotherapy was 64.7% in the bypass group and 90.0% in the control group. Except for 2 patients with ERF at initial diagnosis, 4 (26.7%) of the 15 patients developed ERF in the bypass group, and 3 (30.0%) of the 10 patients developed ERF in the control group during or after chemoradiotherapy. The 2-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 17.6% and 17.6% in the bypass group and 20.0% and 0% in the control group, respectively (p = 0.924); long-term survival of more than 3 years was seen only in the bypass group. CONCLUSIONS Esophageal bypass surgery prior to definitive chemoradiotherapy could be performed safely, and this strategy contributed to long-term survival in the patients who achieved a good response to chemoradiotherapy but developed an ERF.

Advanced esophageal cancer with an esophago-bronchial fistula successfully treated by chemoradiotherapy following esophageal bypass surgery: report of a case.

Esophageal bypass surgery using a gastric tube prior to definitive chemoradiotherapy in preparation for the formation of esophago-tracheal or bronchial fistula is a possible strategy for esophageal cancer invading the airway. This report presents the case of a patient with esophageal cancer involving the left main bronchus who underwent esophageal bypass followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy and who has achieved long-term survival without deterioration of his quality of life, in spite of the development of a malignant esophago-bronchial fistula.

Inguinal hernia repair with the mesh plug method is safe after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

AbstractPurpose We evaluated the safety and efficiency of using the mesh plug method (MP) to repair inguinal hernias in patients with a history of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). We also investigated how RRP influences the development of inguinal hernias and impacts their repair.Methods Among 488 adult male patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair during a recent 5-year period, 37 had a history of RRP. We compared the characteristics and surgical outcomes of the patients who had undergone RRP (post-RRP group) with those who had not (non-RRP group).ResultsAll post-RRP hernias were treated by MP. The 37 post-RRP patients had a collective 41 hernias, 40 of which were of the indirect type. The side affected by the hernia did not differ significantly between the groups. We compared the short-term surgical outcomes of the indirect post-RRP hernias vs. the indirect non-RPP hernias without recurrence and incarceration. The operation times, postoperative hospital stay, and mobility rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. The blood loss was almost equal in both groups.ConclusionInguinal hernia repair after RRP may be difficult because of inflammatory changes in the preperitoneal cavity, but the surgical outcomes of MP were equivalent in patients with or without a history of RPP in this study. MP is a safe and effective method for post-RPP hernia repair.

Long-term survival following radical surgery after chemotherapy for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma with extensive lymph node metastases: Report of a case

A 46-year-old man was referred to us after he presented to his local physician complaining of difficulty eating. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a tumor at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was diagnosed from the biopsy findings. Computed tomography (CT) showed apparent enlargement of the pretracheal lymph nodes, the lymph nodes around the bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves, and the lower thoracic paraesophageal lymph nodes, confirming metastasis. Since the disease was far advanced esophagogastric cancer with marked lymph node metastases throughout the mediastinum, curative resection would have been unlikely. Thus, he was commenced on systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin (90 mg/body, day 8) + S-1 (120 mg/body/day, given for 3 weeks, followed by a 2-week withdrawal). Even after six cycles of chemotherapy over 8 months, a complete response could not be achieved. Finally, we performed transthoracic subtotal esophagectomy with extensive lymph node dissection reconstructed using a gastric tube through a retrosternal route. The patient remains recurrence-free 7 years later.