Shinsuke Usui

Narrow-band imaging system with magnifying endoscopy for superficial esophageal lesions

BACKGROUND By assessing the intrapapillary capillary loop in esophageal mucosa, magnifying endoscopy can play an important role in the evaluation of superficial esophageal lesions. A newly developed narrow-band imaging system was applied to magnifying endoscopy in a clinical setting; the benefit of the narrow-band imaging system was evaluated. METHODS Forty-one patients (37 men, 4 women; mean age 63.5 [7.3] years) were enrolled between March 2002 and January 2003 in the study. Endoscopy was performed with a magnifying endoscope, a standard video-endoscopic system, and a narrow-band imaging system. The assessment consisted of 3 phases: a numerical analysis of the red, green, blue color value of endoscopic images, creation of model images, and assessment on the actual images. In the numerical analysis, the red, green, blue color value for intrapapillary capillary loop and background mucosa were obtained, and the ratio and contrast value were calculated. RESULTS In the numerical analysis, both the ratio and the contrast value between the intrapapillary capillary loop and background mucosa were statistically different. Based on an evaluation of created model images, almost all assessors found the narrow-band imaging system to be superior. In the assessment of actual images, the narrow-band imaging system improved overall accuracy for depth of invasion, especially for inexperienced endoscopists. CONCLUSIONS The narrow-band imaging system improved the accuracy of magnifying endoscopy for assessment of esophageal lesion.

Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: comparison with conventional open total gastrectomy.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy has been applied to the treatment of early gastric cancer in Japan. So far, several studies about comparison between laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy and conventional open distal gastrectomy were reported. However, there are few reports on the laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy, mainly because this procedure is performed relatively infrequently, and the procedure is more difficult than laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy. This was a case-control study comparing between laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy group and open total gastrectomy group. From June 2001 to August 2004, laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy was performed in 20 patients. Reconstruction was performed by Roux-en-Y method or Roux-en-Y with jejunal pouch method through the mini-laparotomy. These cases were compared with 19 cases of open total gastrectomy, regarding operating time, blood loss, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, time to the first passage of gas, time to initiate oral intake, and postoperative hospital stay. Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy was successful in 20 patients. The mean operating time was 280 minutes and blood loss was 227.5 mL. Leukocyte counts on days 1, 3, and 7 were significantly lower in laparoscopic surgery group than in open surgery group. The time to first flatus, time to initiate oral intake, and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the open surgery group. This study demonstrated that laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy is suitable and feasible for early gastric cancer and has the advantage of a shorter recovery time compared with open total gastrectomy.

Laparoscopy-assisted esophagoenteral anastomosis using endoscopic purse-string suture instrument “Endo-PSI (II)” and circular stapler

It is said that laparoscopic esophagoenteral anastomosis is not easy. In particular, purse-string suture of the abdominal esophagus is difficult when using a circular stapler. We have developed an endoscopic purse-string suture instrument, the “Endo-PSI (II)”, and the instrument was employed clinically during laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy. The device was inserted into the abdominal cavity through a 4-cm minilaparotomy of the epigastrium, and pneumoperitoneum was established by closing a Lap Disc. The Endo-PSI (II) was attached to the abdominal esophagus and a straight needle with a 2-0 polypropylene suture was passed through the device laparoscopically. After a purse-string suture of the abdominal esophagus was made, the abdominal esophagus was transected laparoscopically and the removed stomach was pulled out through the minilaparotomy. The anvil head of a circular stapler was inserted into the abdominal cavity through the minilaparotomy, and insertion of the anvil into the esophagus and ligation of the purse-string suture were performed laparoscopically, too. The combination of using a circular stapler for esophagojejunostomy and closure of the jejunal stump was also performed laparoscopically. Between May 2007 and May 2008, these products were used in 23 patients during laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy. There were no cases that required conversion to a conventional open procedure. The newly developed Endo-PSI (II) was useful for laparoscopic purse-string suture of the esophagus.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy has been applied to the treatment of early gastric cancer in Japan. However, there have been few reports on the laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy mainly because of the difficulty of the procedure. Here, we report a series of cases where hand-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomies were performed successfully. The mobilization of the greater curvature was performed laparoscopically. About 7-cm mini-laparotomy was made at the epigastrium and duodenal transection was performed with linear stapler. After dissection of suprapyloric and anterosuperior lymph nodes was performed through the mini-laparotomy, dissection of lymph nodes along the celiac artery, and the left gastric artery was performed by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed through the mini-laparotomy. We successfully performed this procedure in 5 patients. The mean operating time and blood loss were 275 minutes and 177.5 mL, respectively. Hand-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomy is suitable and feasible for early gastric cancer.

Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Esophagojejunostomy Using Newly Developed Purse-string Suture Instrument “endo-psi”

Although there are several reports on the esophagojejunostomy during laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy, the procedures still remain to be established. We report hand-assisted laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy using circular stapler and newly developed instrument “Endo-PSI.” Between April 2005 and April 2006, 13 patients received these products during laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy. The Endo-PSI was attached to the abdominal esophagus using hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The insertion of the straight needle with 2-0 polypropylene into the device and the cutting of the esophagus were also performed using hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The insertion of the anvil head into the esophagus and the ligation of the purse-string suture were performed laparoscopically. After the jejuno-jejunal anastomosis was performed extracorporeally, the combination of the circular stapler for esophagojejunostomy and the closure of the stump of the jejunum were performed laparoscopically. There were no complications attributable to this procedure and there were no cases that required conversion to conventional open procedure or required extension of median incision. This newly developed Endo-PSI was useful for laparoscopic purse-string suture.

Preoperative imaging of surrounding arteries by three-dimensional CT: is it useful for laparoscopic gastrectomy?

One of the difficulties in laparoscopic gastrectomy is the identification of the feeding artery of the stomach. Recently, 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography has enabled the noninvasive visualization of arteries surrounding the stomach. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography may facilitate laparoscopic gastrectomy by obtaining a road map of the arteries of the stomach. Twenty-nine cases of gastric cancer were evaluated using 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography before surgery. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography showed the left gastric artery in 29 patients (100%), the right gastroepiploic artery in 29 patients (100%), the right gastric artery in 24 patients (82.8%), and the left gastroepiploic artery in 21 patients (72.4%). The aberrant hepatic artery was detected in 6 patients, and the variant of the right gastric artery and the variant of the left gastric artery were detected in 5 cases and 1 case, respectively. All laparoscopic gastrectomy procedures were performed successfully without conversion to open surgery. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography was considered to be useful for laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Triple-incision laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for the resection of gastric cancer: comparison with conventional laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

Reduced port surgery and single‐port surgery are currently in the spotlight as next‐generation, minimally invasive surgical techniques. We performed a triple‐incision laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TIL‐DG) for gastric cancer as a reduced port surgery.

Prognostic significance of gastric cancer metastasis in second-tier lymph nodes detected on reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry

To determine the prognostic significance of the methods used to determine the presence of metastasis in second‐tier lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer, the authors studied lymph nodes surgically removed from 100 patients with gastric cancer (55 with early cancer, 45 with progressive). The results of HE staining were compared with those of immunohistochemistry using the anticytokeratin (CK) antibody and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assays. Lymph node 7 or 8a was obtained intraoperatively, then mRNA was extracted using an immunobeads method, and RT‐PCR with CK19 mRNA was performed. The P for Cox regression analysis for metastasis detected by HE staining, CK staining, and RT‐PCR of all 100 cases was 0.312, 0.426, and 0.021, respectively, while for second‐tier lymph nodes it was 0.154, 0.013, and 0.006, respectively. In conclusion, RT‐PCR and CK staining for detection of metastasis in second‐tier lymph nodes were more reliable prognostic indicators than conventional HE staining.

Preliminary report of multi degrees of freedom forceps for endoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic suturing requires more complex techniques than conventional open surgery, because of the limited degrees of freedom of endoscopic devices. The prototype multi degrees of freedom forceps was developed with a concept of a flexibility that frees us from the restriction on suturing during endoscopic surgery. It was designed for a needle holder. We calculated the movement of the forceps’ distal joint at the time of horizontal suturing. The learning curve was also investigated for ten surgeons. The device was clinically applied in several surgeries. We could perform suturing freely using this prototype forceps at any point and in any directions. The learning curve had its peak within five training sessions, and may be mastered during about ten training sessions. All clinical applications were successfully achieved. With the increased degree of freedom for forceps, the operability for endoscopic surgery was improved.

Spleen preservation versus splenectomy in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer: A comparison of short-term outcomes

Splenic hilar lymph node dissection via a splenectomy for advanced proximal gastric cancer remains controversial. Recently, a laparoscopic spleen‐preserving hilar lymph node dissection procedure was described in several publications. To assess the feasibility and safety of spleen‐preserving laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy (LTG‐D2), the present retrospective study compared the short‐term surgical outcomes between spleen preservation and splenectomy during laparoscopic D2 total gastrectomy (LTG‐D2S).