Kohji Konishi

Translateral retroperitoneal approach in radical surgery for pancreatic carcinoma.

Investigations of the lymphatic routes using dye during operations and histological studies on the resected specimen of the pancreas and autopsied cases with pancreatic carcinoma have led to the conclusion that the surgery should be performed more extensively to improve the results and should consist of a complete lymphatic excision surrounding the celiac axis and the trunk of the superior mesentric artery including dissection of the nerve plexus and wide retroperitoneal dissection surrounding the pancreas, upwards to the level of adrenal glands, and downwards to the level of iliac bifurcation. A translateral retroperitoneal approach was found to be the most useful and safe method for such extended resection in patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Our radical procedure for pancreatic carcinoma is described herein.

Hepatic resection using a water jet dissector.

A newly-designed water jet dissector was used for hepatic resections in humans. To evaluate its usefulness, the water jet dissector was compared toan ultrasonic surgical aspirator in terms of average blood loss and time of operation. In hepatectomies on patients associated with liver cirrhosis, the average blood loss during hepatic resection using the water jet dissector was significantly smaller (P<0.05) than that with the ultrasonic surgical aspirator. However, in hepatectomies on patients without cirrhosis, the average blood loss during hepatic resection did not significantly differ between the two groups. Neither did the time of operation significantly differ between the two procedures in hepatectomies on patients with and without liver cirrhosis. No serious complications attributable to the use of the water jet dissector were encountered. The water jet dissector is thus considered to be a useful new device for use in the transection of the liver during hepatic resections.

Prognostic significance of expression of thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial growth factor in human gastric carcinoma.

Both thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are well‐characterized inducers of angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of these antigens and their prognostic significance in gastric carcinoma.

Management of continuous anastomosis of pancreatic duct and jejunal mucosa after pancreaticoduodenectomy: Historical study of 300 patients ☆

BACKGROUND Pancreaticojejunostomy is the most problematic anastomosis in the reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy. In the past, much of the morbidity and mortality associated with this operation was related to problems with this anastomosis. Recent data, however, suggest that the use of duct-to-mucosa sutures has led to a marked drop in both morbidity and mortality associated with pancreaticojejunostomy. METHODS Among the 300 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, including pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, 87 patients underwent traditional pancreaticojejunostomy by invagination of the end of the pancreas into the bowel (group B). Recently three-layer anastomosis was created in 213 patients. The outer layer was created between the pancreatic capsule and the serosa of jejunum. The middle layer was created between the pancreatic parenchyma and the seromuscular wall of jejunum. The inner layer was placed between the pancreatic duct and a small opening in the antimesenteric border of the jejunal mucosa. Among the 213 patients, the inner anastomosis was created with interrupted absorbable sutures (group A1) in 93 patients and continuous absorbable sutures (group A2) in 120 patients. RESULTS The three groups were similar with respect to age, gender, and primary disease. In the anastomosis, the incidence of leakage in group A2 (4.2%) was significantly less than in groups B (17.2%, p < 0.01) and A1 (11.8%, p < 0.05). The operative mortality rates were 3.2% in group A1, 1.7% in group A2, and 5.7% in group B. CONCLUSIONS We recommend continuous anastomosis of the pancreatic duct and jejunal mucosa as a safe procedure after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Clinical experience of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis

Between 1960 and 1986, seven patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and one patient with intrahepatic bile duct adenoma, related to hepatolithiasis, were seen among 112 cases of hepatolithiasis. Histopathologically, the tumors associated with hepatolithiasis arose from the periphery of the stone-containing bile duct, spread chiefly along the luminal surface, and invaded the ductal wall or periductal tissue. The tumors showed papillary to papillo-tubular proliferation and were diagnosed as the intraductal or periductal spreading type of cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, atypical epithelial hyperplasia was noted in the vicinity of the tumor area. These findings suggest that chronic relapsing cholangitis in patients with hepatolithiasis can induce progressive changes to atypical epithelial hyperplasia which may develop into cholangiocarcinoma.

Clinical experience of biliary tract carcinoma associated with anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system

Between 1978 and 1988, 15 patients with gallbladder cancer and 2 patients with bile duct cancer were seen among 49 patients with anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system. Radiographic findings revealed two types of this anomalous condition: one in which the pancreatic duct entered the common bile duct(type 1) and one in which the common bile duct entered the pancreatic duct (type 2). In gallbladder cancer, the common bile duct presented no dilatation, or in some patients, mild dilatation, and type-1 anomalous union was frequently found among these patients. In contrast, the two patients with bile duct cancer had cystic dilatation of the common bile duct and type-2 anomalous union. The bile amylase level, which was determined in seven patients, was extremely high in all the patients. Histopathologically, the tumors in most patients showed papillary to papillo-tubular proliferation in the mucosal layer while atypical epithelial hyperplasia was noted in the vicinity of the tumor area. These findings suggest that this congenital anomaly in both ducts results in a loss of the normal sphincteric mechanism of the doudenal papilla, and that chronic relapsing cholecystitis or cholangitis, caused by the reflux of pancreatic juice into the biliary tract, can induced progressive changes to atypical epithelial hyperplasia which may develop into carcinoma.

Intussusception of a mucocele of the appendix secondary to an obstruction by endometriosis: Report of a case

We treated a patient with a complete invagination of the cecum which contained a mucocele of the appendix secondary to an obstruction by endometriosis. Preoperatively, a barium enema showed a crab’s claw-like area without filling in the oral side of the transverse colon. An emergency laparotomy was performed and revealed a mucocele of the appendix to have induced appendicecal invagination; however, no colonic invagination was observed. An appendicecal resection was thus done. Pathologically, the resected specimen was a mucosal hyperplasia with mucin-secreting lesions of the appendix. The theories regarding the pathogenesis of appendicecal mucocele are reviewed and discussed.

Acute pancreatitis associated with anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system

Between 1978 and 1989, 13 of 48 patients with anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AUPBD) were diagnosed as having acute pancreatitis. We have studied the clinical, radiologic, and surgical features of these 13 patients. A transient rise in the intraductal pressure of the pancreatic duct during an episode of abdominal pain is responsible for pancreatitis in patients with AUPBD. This rise in the intraductal pressure must be due to bile reflux into the pancreatic duct when an abnormally long common channel is blocked by cholelithiasis, protein plug, or dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi. The pancreatitis resolves when the common channel obstruction is removed, and bile and pancreatic juice flow easily into the duodenum. We believe that this phenomenon is responsible for acute relapsing pancreatitis. It is our belief that the pancreas appears almost normal during symptom-free intervals.

Pancreatitis and anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system in childhood.

From January 1978 to December 1989, 48 patients were diagnosed as having anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AUPBD) at the Second Department of Surgery, Kanazawa University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals. Among these 48 patients, 13 (28.1%) were children under 13 years of age. Four of these patients had acute pancreatitis. The clinical, radiological, and surgical features of these patients are presented. The chief presenting complaint was epigastric pain in all cases; three patients had recurrent episodes of epigastric pain and had been diagnosed as having autotoxicosis. AUPBD was clearly demonstrated in all patients, three by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and one by operative cholangiography. At operation, macroscopic evidence of pancreatitis was recognized in all cases. In one case, roentogenolucent pancreaticolithiases were seen on ERCP. We consider AUPBD as an important cause of pancreatitis in children and advocate ERCP in children who are suspected having biliary tract or pancreatic disease. The diagnosis of AUPBD should be considered when children with abdominal pain and elevated serum or urinary amylase levels are evaluated.

Strangulation ileus resulting from encasement of a loop of the small intestine by the great omentum, caused by abnormal adhesion

We treated a patient with a mechanical ileus resulting from encasement of a loop of the small intestine by the great omentum, caused by abnormal adhesion. Apart from its occurrence postoperatively with laparotomy, strangulation of small intestine into the omentum is very rare, and its occurrence without underlying disease, except in children, has not been documented previously.