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Although lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LLND) might be an effective approach for patients with rectal cancer with lateral lymph node metastasis, it is technically challenging because of the anatomical complexity and location of the deep pelvis. An assistance by transanal approach might be useful for a successful LLND.From September 2016 to May 2021, 39 patients with low rectal cancer underwent transanal total mesorectal excision with LLND. Among them, 18 patients underwent LLND using a conventional laparoscopic approach alone, while the remaining 21 underwent LLND using both conventional and transanal approaches. Their clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared.The operation time for LLND on each side was significantly shorter in the transanal group (105 min vs. 54 min, P 0.001). The intraoperative blood loss was also significantly less in the transanal group (40 g vs. 0 g, P = 0.031). The rate of overall postoperative complications ≥ grade II according to the Clavien-Dindo classification was significantly less in the transanal group (66.7% vs. 28.6%, odds ratio: 5.000, 95% confidence intervals: 1.313-19.047, P = 0.040). The number of harvested lateral lymph nodes in both groups was similar (8.5 vs. 8, P = 0.544).The transanal approach for LLND reduced operative time, blood loss, and morbidity compared with the conventional approach alone in a cohort of patients with rectal cancer.

Despite the increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction, laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with lower esophagectomy (PGLE) is not widely accepted owing to the lack of standardized reconstruction techniques. In this study, we developed a new reconstruction method named y-shaped overlap esophagogastric tube reconstruction, which reproduces an angle of His and a pseudo-fornix, to be used in laparoscopic transhiatal PGLE. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of this novel reconstruction method.This retrospective study included the analysis of short- and mid-term surgical outcomes of 30 consecutive patients with Siewert type II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who underwent laparoscopic PGLE with y-shaped overlap esophagogastric tube reconstruction from April 2015 to August 2020. A novel method was used to form a 6-cm pseudo-fornix and an angle of His using the distal esophagus and a long gastric tube.The median operation time was 369 min, and the median blood loss was 28 mL. The median follow-up period after surgery was 37 months. Although two patients experienced postoperative anastomotic leakage, none of the patients developed stenosis. One patient experienced moderate reflux symptoms, whereas four patients developed moderate reflux esophagitis based on the 1-year follow-up endoscopic examination; the condition of all patients could be efficiently controlled with medication.The short- and mid-term surgical outcomes of y-shaped overlap esophagogastric tube reconstruction reflected the feasibility of this simple technique and suggested its potential utility as a reconstruction alternative for Siewert type II tumors.

Whether surgical device usage in laparoscopic gastrectomy differs with respect to operator’s skill levels is unknown. Further, device usage analysis using artificial intelligence has not been reported to date. Herein, we compared the patterns of surgical device usage during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer among surgeons at different skill levels. The data of device usage was acquired from laparoscopic video recordings using an automated surgical-instrument detection system. In total, 100 video recordings of infrapyloric lymphadenectomy and 33 of D2 suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer were analyzed in this retrospective study. The system’s accuracy was evaluated by comparing the automatic and the manual usage time. Surgical device usage patterns were compared between qualified and nonqualified surgeons of The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System. For every device, the automatic detection time and manual detection time were consistent with each other. In infrapyloric lymphadenectomy, the usage time proportions of dissector forceps and clip applier were higher among nonqualified operators than among qualified operators (dissector, 5.1% vs. 2.3%, P

Rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma with inguinal lymph node metastasis (ILNM) is rare and is associated with poor prognostic outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of neoadjuvant therapy followed by selective inguinal lymph node dissection and total mesorectal excision for rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma with clinically suspected ILNM.This study enrolled 15 consecutive patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and curative resection for rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma with clinically suspected ILNM between 2005 and 2019 at a single institution. Inguinal lymph node dissection was selectively performed on the side of suspected metastasis before neoadjuvant therapy. Short- and long-term outcomes were retrospectively reviewed.Out of the15 patients, 11 were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, three with chemotherapy, and one with chemoradiation followed by chemotherapy. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scans were performed after neoadjuvant therapy in 14 patients. Five patients had negative FDG accumulation in inguinal lymph nodes on FDG-PET scan, and their inguinal lymph nodes were also pathologically negative for metastasis. Of the nine patients who had positive FDG accumulation, four had pathologically positive inguinal lymph nodes. Seven patients (46.7%) had inguinal seroma postoperatively. Five-year-overall survival was 77.5%, and 5-year-relapse-free survival was 64.2%. No patient had a recurrence in the inguinal region.In patients with rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma associated with clinical ILNM, radical resection with neoadjuvant therapy provides a good long-term survival.

Laparoscopic local resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) near the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) increases the risk of injuring the EGJ. We investigated the safety of laparoscopic local resection for GISTs near the EGJ according to the distance from the EGJ to the tumor edge. We retrospectively evaluated 40 patients who had undergone laparoscopic local resection for GISTs near the EGJ between January 2009 and December 2019. After excluding 1 patient who had undergone right colectomy at the same time, 39 patients were classified according to distance of the GIST from the EGJ in the Near group (0–2.0 cm; n = 16) and the Far group (2.1–5.0 cm; n = 23). We found no marked differences in the operation time, blood loss, length of postoperative hospital stay, or postoperative complication rate in the two groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred with a tumor located on the EGJ. Three tumors recurred in the Near group, and all of them were located on the EGJ. Except for GISTs located on the EGJ, laparoscopic local resection for GISTs near the EGJ can be performed safely with few postoperative complications and a low risk of recurrence.

Despite the increasing utilization of transanal total mesorectal excision as a promising approach for low rectal cancer, the feasibility and safety of transperineal minimally invasive abdominoperineal resection (tp-APR) remain unclear. In total, 25 patients who underwent tp-APR between April 2017 and May 2020 (tp-APR group) and 27 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic APR between May 2009 and September 2016 (lap-APR group) for low rectal cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical outcomes were compared between the groups before and after propensity score matching. The primary outcome was the incidence of the overall postoperative complications with Clavien–Dindo grade II or above. Standardized technique of tp-APR was also demonstrated. On comparison, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and overall postoperative complications with Clavien–Dindo grade II or above were significantly less in the tp-APR group both before and after propensity score matching. The rates of urinary disturbance and perineal wound infection were significantly less in the tp-APR group after matching. Further, postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the tp-APR group both before and after matching. However, pathological outcomes did not differ between the groups before and after matching. There has been no local recurrence in the tp-APR group with a median follow-up period of 18 months. Standardized tp-APR for low rectal cancer is feasible and seems superior to conventional laparoscopic APR in terms of short-term outcomes. Further larger-scale studies with a longer follow-up period are required to evaluate oncological outcomes.

Wasserstein geometry and information geometry are two important structures to be introduced in a manifold of probability distributions. Wasserstein geometry is defined by using the transportation cost between two distributions, so it reflects the metric of the base manifold on which the distributions are defined. Information geometry is defined to be invariant under reversible transformations of the base space. Both have their own merits for applications. In this study, we analyze statistical inference based on the Wasserstein geometry in the case that the base space is one-dimensional. By using the location-scale model, we further derive the W-estimator that explicitly minimizes the transportation cost from the empirical distribution to a statistical model and study its asymptotic behaviors. We show that the W-estimator is consistent and explicitly give its asymptotic distribution by using the functional delta method. The W-estimator is Fisher efficient in the Gaussian case.

Given the worldwide popularization of conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy (C-MIE), robot-assisted MIE (RAMIE) can be expected to provide a finer procedure. However, controversy remains regarding whether RAMIE is superior to C-MIE in preventing recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy. Considering the shallow learning curve for RAMIE, a novel procedure for lymphadenectomy along the RLN during RAMIE is needed. Based on a logical and simple understanding of the left upper mediastinum anatomy, the authors developed a novel “modified bascule method” for RAMIE that could simplify lymphadenectomy along the left RLN and prevent it from being touched and stretched. Between 2018 and 2020, 46 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent RAMIE using this method at Kobe University. The modified bascule method was used to perform RAMIE for 29 men and 17 women with a median age of 67 years (range, 49–82 years). The median thoracoscopic procedure time was 438 min (range, 344–625 min), and the median console time was 351 min (range 273–518 min). The study harvested a median of 24 (range, 8–34) lymph nodes from the thoracic portion and 4 (range, 0–10) lymph nodes from along the left RLN. The mortality rate was 0%. Postoperative left RLN palsy classified as Clavien–Dindo (C–D) grade 1 or higher was observed for 9 patients (19%), whereas grade 2 or higher was not seen (0%). Pneumonia and anastomotic leakage rates higher than C–D grade 2 were respectively 13% and 19%. The novel modified bascule method for RAMIE can promote feasible lymphadenectomy along the left RLN even when performed during the learning period.

Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. Esophagectomy remains the principal treatment, and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been performed worldwide. This study aimed to clarify whether the lymph node ratio (LNR), defined as the ratio of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) to examined, is a prognostic factor for ESCC after MIE. This study included 327 MIEs with the patient in the prone position at two institutions from 2010 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses using clinicopathologic characteristics and the LNR were performed for the pN1 patients and the whole cohort. In the multivariate analysis for all stages, independent prognostic factors were depth of tumor invasion (P

Purpose Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been increasingly used, but many reports have stated that recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy after MIE is a major complication associated with postoperative pneumonia. Prevention of RLN palsy clearly has been a challenging task. The study aim was to determine if a three-dimensional (3-D) stereoscopic vision system can reduce the RLN palsy rate after MIE. Methods This was a retrospective study of MIE (McKeown esophagectomy) using a 3-D or 2-D stereoscopic vision system to treat 358 patients in the prone position between April 2010 and March 2019. The patients who underwent 3-D MIE (3-D group) or 2-D MIE (2-D group) were matched by using propensity score matching. After matching, the perioperative outcomes were compared between the groups. Results After propensity score matching, 154 patients were analyzed (77 patients, 3-D group; 77 patients, 2-D group). There were no significant differences in the patients’baseline characteristics in the matched cohort. There were no significant differences in the rates of pneumonia (Clavien–Dindo (C–D) grade ≥ II, 3-D vs. 2-D, 11 (14%) vs. 12 (16%)), anastomotic leakage (C–D grade ≥ II, 10 (13%) vs. 18 (23%)) and mortality. The rates of left RLN palsy (C–D grade ≥ IIIa, 1 (1.3%) vs. 7 (9.1%), P = 0.029), right RLN palsy (C–D grade ≥ I, 2 (3%) vs. 8 (10%), P = 0.049), comprehensive complication index (CCI®) (8.5 vs. 14.3, P = 0.011), and postoperative hospital stay period (median: 25 vs. 30 days, P = 0.034) were significantly lower in the 3-D group than in the 2-D group, respectively. Conclusions In MIE, the 3-D viewing system was one of the factors that reduced postoperative morbidities such as the rates of each RLN palsy and CCI®, leading to shorter postoperative hospital stay.

Although transanal total mesorectal excision (ta-TME) is adopted for rectal cancer surgery by an increasing number of surgeons, it is still technically challenging. We have employed a lateral-first approach for ta-TME to overcome technical difficulties. However, its outcomes and advantage over conventional laparoscopic TME remain unclear. Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent ta-TME using a lateral-first approach (the ta-TME group) and 53 consecutive patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic TME (the lap-TME group) for low rectal cancer were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to create balanced cohorts of ta-TME (n = 28) and lap-TME (n = 28). Their clinical outcomes were compared after PSM. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly lower in the ta-TME group than in the lap-TME group (P = 0.042 and P

Esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis despite the fact that surgical techniques have been advanced and optimized, and systemic multimodality approaches have progressed recently. Adding chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy to the basic surgical approach have been shown to have therapeutic benefit for esophageal cancer. This review describes the latest development of chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, which have contributed to the reduction in esophageal cancer growth and improved the survival of patients. Chemoradiation is a treatment option for resectable esophageal cancer to preserve the esophagus for patients who cannot tolerate surgery. Moreover, a combination of chemoradiotherapy and salvage surgery could extend the survival of patients. The effects of a triplet chemotherapy regimen are currently being verified in some Phase III studies for unresectable advanced/recurrent esophageal cancer. In addition, with the great promise of immune checkpoint inhibitors, strategies that incorporate the use of immunotherapy may shift from the metastatic setting to the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting as a result of clinical trials. More precise comprehension of the molecular biology of esophageal cancer is expected to further control disease progression using multimodality treatments in the future.

This study was conducted to determine whether establishing the proximal resection line using India ink tattooing can ensure safe resection margins during totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. This retrospective study included 81 patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer on the lower two-thirds of the stomach. The proximal resection margins were analyzed with respect to the macroscopic type and clinical T stage, and the intraoperative appearance of the stain on the serosa was classified by reviewing surgical videos. R0 resection was performed in all patients. The rates of the intended margins were 89.2% in patients without a frozen section diagnosis and 84.2% in patients with differentiated type lesions who underwent a frozen section diagnosis; however, most patients with undifferentiated advanced lesions failed to achieve the intended resection margins. Intraoperative appearance revealed that 85.2% of patients had localized type stains, whereas 11.1% had widespread-type stains. Our procedure to determine the proximal resection line in totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is oncologically safe. However, careful observation of the resected specimen and a frozen section analysis should be performed for undifferentiated advanced lesions.

The influence of anastomotic leakage on long-term survival in patients with rectal cancer is debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between anastomotic leakage and long-term survival. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, 395 consecutive stage I to III rectal cancer patients underwent anterior resection between 2007 and 2012. Five-year overall survival, 5-year disease-free survival, and 5-year local recurrence-free survival were compared between patients with leakage (Leakage (+)) and patients without leakage (Leakage (−)). Of 395 patients, 50 (12.7%) had anastomotic leakage. Of these 50, 34 (68.0%) required urgent surgery and 16 (32.0%) could be managed by watchful waiting or with percutaneous drainage. The median follow-up period was 62.6 months. Five-year overall survival did not differ between the two groups (Leakage (+) 93.8% vs. Leakage (−) 89.0%, P = 0.121). Five-year disease-free survival also did not differ between the two groups (81.6% vs. 80.3%, P = 0.731), and neither did 5-year local recurrence-free survival (91.9% vs. 86.1%, P = 0.206). In a multivariable Cox regression model, BMI > 25, preoperative CA19-9 > 37, pathological T stage, pathological N stage, and circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive were independent predictors of disease-free survival. Moreover, pathological T stage, pathological N stage, and CRM positive were the only independent predictors of overall survival and local recurrence-free survival. Anastomotic leakage was not a risk factor for overall survival, disease-free survival, or local recurrence-free survival. Anastomotic leakage is not associated with a significant decrease in long-term survival in rectal cancer patients.

Skeletal muscle loss after gastrectomy can worsen patients’ quality of life and prognosis. Laparoscopic gastrectomy is less invasive than open gastrectomy and has become commonly performed. However, the degree of skeletal muscle loss after laparoscopic procedures remains unclear. We herein report the degree and risk factors of psoas muscle loss after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The total psoas area (TPA) on computed tomography of 50 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) and 167 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for gastric cancer was retrospectively evaluated at one postoperative year. The TPA loss was compared between LDG and LTG and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for TPA loss > 10%. The median TPA decrease rate was 5.9% in the LDG group and 15.6% in the LTG group. LTG and postoperative respiratory complications were independent factors associated with a severe TPA loss of > 10%. In the LTG group, no independent factors were identified in a multivariate analysis. In the LDG group, postoperative complications were identified as an independent risk factor for TPA loss > 10%. Laparoscopic gastrectomy leads to postoperative TPA loss, especially in patients who underwent LTG and had postoperative respiratory complications. Postoperative complications after LDG were also a risk factor for TPA loss.

Oral health is associated with various diseases, including cancer. Tooth loss is a simple and objective index of oral health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between preoperative tooth loss and esophageal cancer prognosis after esophagectomy. This study included 191 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer after perioperative dental evaluation and oral care at Kobe University Hospital from April 2011 to March 2016. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (tooth loss

Purpose: The surgical indication of laparoscopic surgery for pT4 colon cancer remains to be established because only a few studies have investigated the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for them to date. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the validity of laparoscopic surgery for them. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 81 patients with pT4 colon cancer who underwent surgical resection with a curative intent at Kobe University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2015. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the propensity score–matched patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy (LAP group, n = 25) and those who underwent open colectomy (OP group, n = 25). Results: Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the LAP group than in the OP group (p = 0.029). Operative time, R0 resection rate, and morbidity did not significantly differ between the two groups. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) did not significantly differ between the propensity score–matched groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the entire cohort showed the surgical approach (LAP vs OP) selected was not a significant prognostic factor for OS or RFS. Conclusions: The short and the long-term outcomes were similar between the LAP and OP groups. Laparoscopic surgery might be a safe and feasible option for pT4 colon cancer patients.

Although transperineal minimally invasive abdominoperineal resection (tp-APR) based on the concept of transanal total mesorectal excision has recently been used for rectal cancer, the operative procedure has not been standardized to date due to its technical difficulty. The tp-APR procedure used by the authors for a male patient with low rectal cancer is presented in this video.

Although most esophageal non-epithelial tumors are benign tumors, such as leiomyomas, they also include gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs); thus, a histopathological diagnosis is indispensable to determine the optimal treatment strategy. However, no consensus has been reached as to the diagnostic methods and treatments for esophageal non-epithelial tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the diagnostic methods and treatments for esophageal non-epithelial tumors in our hospital. All 28 cases of esophageal non-epithelial tumors at Kobe University Hospital from 2008 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively with respect to the diagnostic methods, histopathological diagnosis, and treatments. Three diagnostic methods, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), endoscopic incisional biopsy, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)/endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), were performed in our hospital. All GIST cases could be correctly diagnosed by EUS-FNA. Tumors less than approximately 20 mm in diameter and located in the superficial layer are good indications for ESD/EMR, which both play roles in diagnosis and treatment. The final diagnoses by these methods consisted of the following: 13 leiomyomas, 5 GISTs, 3 schwannomas, 2 liposarcomas, 3 cysts, 1 reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, and 1 granulosa cell tumor. Fifteen cases underwent surgery. Enucleation or partial resection was performed for leiomyomas, schwannomas and liposarcomas, while esophagectomy was performed for GISTs. Thus, sufficient management of non-epithelial tumors is achieved. Improved endoscopic procedures, including EUS-FNA and ESD/EMR, enabled the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of esophageal non-epithelial tumors.

Although the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for transverse colon cancer have been shown by the recent studies, the optimal laparoscopic approach for mid-transverse colon cancer is controversial. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with the mid-transverse colon cancer at our institutions between January 2007 and April 2017. Thirty-eight and 34 patients who received extended right hemicolectomy and transverse colectomy, respectively, were enrolled. There were no significant differences in operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay between the two groups. Postoperative complications developed in 10 of 34 patients (29.4%; wound infection: 2 cases, anastomotic leakage: 2 cases, bowel obstruction: 1 case, incisional hernia: 2 cases, others: 3 cases) for the transverse colectomy group and in 4 of 38 patients (10.5%; wound infection: 1 case, anastomotic leakage: 0 case, bowel obstruction: 2 cases, incisional hernia: 0 case, others: 1 case) for the extended right hemicolectomy group (P = 0.014). Although the median number of harvested #221 and #222 LNs was similar between the two groups (6 vs. 8, P = 0.710, and 3 vs. 2, P = 0.256, respectively), that of #223 was significantly larger in extended right hemicolectomy than in transverse colectomy (3 vs. 1, P = 0.038). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 92.4 and 90.3% for the extended right hemicolectomy group, and 95.7 and 79.6% for the transverse colectomy group (P = 0.593 and P = 0.638, respectively). Laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy and laparoscopic transverse colectomy offer similar oncological outcomes for mid-transverse colon cancer. Laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy might be associated with fewer postoperative complications.

Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy is regarded as the only curative option for resectable esophageal cancer, but it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) management was recently associated with improved outcomes after surgery for esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of standardizing procedures for minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) in the MDT setting. This was a case-matched control study of 154 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (TEP) between 2012 and 2016. Surgery was performed by two attending surgeons (surgeons A and B) who began working together in the same MDT in 2015. At that time, the following surgical procedures were standardized between surgeons A and B: mediastinal lymphadenectomy, abdominal procedures, and estimation of the blood supply of the gastric conduit. Short-term outcomes were compared between the following paired groups using propensity scores: surgeon A’s pre- and post-standardization groups, surgeon B’s pre- and post-standardization groups, and surgeon A’s post-standardization group and surgeon B’s post-standardization group. Concerning surgeon A, the estimated total blood loss in the post-standardization group (142 ± 87 mL) was significantly lower than that in the pre-standardization group (376 ± 215 mL, P = 0.006). The rate of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in the post-standardization group (13%) was significantly lower than that in the pre-standardization group (47%, P = 0.046). Concerning surgeon B, the rate of anastomotic leakage in the post-standardization group (0%) was significantly lower than that in the pre-standardization group (11%, P = 0.039). Comparing the post-standardization groups of surgeons A and B, there were no significant differences in operative outcomes or morbidity. Standardizing procedures for MIE improved and homogenized surgical short-term outcomes.

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) quantifies three intraoperative factors and predicts postoperative complications, but few reports describe its usefulness in esophagectomy, and no studies to date show its correlation with long-term prognosis after esophagectomy.This study investigated 400 cases in which esophagectomy was performed on esophageal malignant tumors at the authors' hospital from January 2007 to January 2017. In this study, SAS was defined as the sum of the scores of three parameters, namely, estimated blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate, with values extracted from medical records. Postoperative complications classified as Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher were also extracted. The study retrospectively compared the relationship of SAS to postoperative complications and survival.Univariate analysis showed that postoperative complications were significantly associated with hypertension (p = 0.017), thoracotomy (p = 0.012), and SAS ≤ 5 (p 0.0001), and multivariate analysis showed that hypertension (p = 0.049) and SAS ≤ 5 (p 0.0001) were significant predictive factors for complications. In the prognostic analysis, log-rank analysis showed that patients with an SAS ≤ 5 had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with a SAS 5 (p = 0.043), especially for complications classified as clinical stage 2 or higher (p = 0.027). In the multivariate analysis, SAS ≤ 5 was identified as a significantly poor prognostic factor for complications classified as clinical stage 2 or higher (p = 0.029).In this study, SAS was useful not only for predicting short-term complications, but also as a long-term prognostic factor after esophagectomy.

Laparoscopic complete mesocoloic excision (CME) with central vascular ligation for splenic flexure cancer is technically challenging because of its anatomical complexity. Although embryological and anatomical consideration should be helpful to perform CME in colorectal cancer surgery, such studies on the splenic flexure are lacking. The splenic flexure is located embryologically between the terminal portion of the midgut and the beginning of the hindgut, and is supplied by the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries. The mesentery of the transverse and descending colon originally is a continuous sheet, although they rotate and partially fuse to each other during development. Our surgical strategy was excision of the transverse and descending mesocolon with ligation of the left colic artery and left branch of the middle colic artery, and extraction of the specimen in an intact package wrapped by the embryological planes. We performed laparoscopic surgery according to our surgical strategy in 17 patients with splenic flexure colon cancer. There were no conversions to open surgery or serious intraoperative complications. Two patients had pathological stage (pStage) I, 5 pStage II, 9 pStage III, and 1 pStage IV disease. No patient had recurrence except for 1 with pStage IV cancer, with a median follow-up of 16 months. Our laparoscopic CME technique is feasible for treatment of splenic flexure cancer. Knowledge of anatomy based on embryology is essential to perform this surgery.

Background Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has recently been used for the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Here, the feasibility and effectiveness of SILS for GIST and indications for SILS according to tumor location were investigated. Case presentation From July 2009 to May to 2013, a total of 14 patients underwent SILS for GIST. In 14 patients, 5 patients had tumor near the esophagogastric junction, 4 patients on the lesser curvature, 2 patients on the anterior wall, 2 patients on the posterior wall, and 1 patient on the greater curvature. The surgery of one patient with lesser curvature tumor was converted to conventional laparoscopic surgery because of technical difficulties. Another patient required re-operation because of a posterior wall tumor causing gastric obstruction. There was no complication in patients with tumors on the anterior wall and greater curvature. Conclusions Because SILS for GISTs located mainly on the anterior wall was feasible, SILS may be considered the most appropriate type of laparoscopic surgery for GISTs in this location. However, for GISTs on the posterior wall or with lesser curvature, which require more complex management, SILS is challenging and should be carefully adapted.

We have developed a new method to localize a tumor during totally laparoscopic gastrectomy that uses intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography combined with preoperative clipping and tattooing. One or 2 days before the surgery, endoscopic clipping was performed just proximal to the tumor, followed by tattooing with India ink at the clipping site. Examination by intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography was performed at the tattooed site to detect the clips. The resection line of the stomach was determined with use of the detected clips as a marker of the proximal margin of the tumor. This method was attempted in 14 patients who underwent totally laparoscopic gastrectomy, and the clips were successfully identified in all patients. The clips were visualized as several layers of a hyperechoic bar, which was termed a "ladder sign." The mean time from insertion of the laparoscopic probe to identification of the clips was 2 min. The ladder sign is an important finding in this method.

In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the number of dissected lymph nodes (LNs), including those along the recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs), influences prognosis and nodal staging accuracy. However, dissection of LNs along the RLN increases the risk of complications, especially RLN palsy. Therefore, complete dissection of these LNs with prevention of RLN palsy is recommended. We present herein a new method for lymphadenectomy along the right RLN, named the Pincers maneuver, during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (TEP). The fundamental concept in this new method is to first exfoliate the two-dimensional membrane (lateral pedicle), which includes the right RLN, LNs along the right RLN, and the primary esophageal artery, from the right side of the trachea toward the neck. Using a Pincers strategy, closing in from the inner and outer sides of the two-dimensional membrane (lateral pedicle), lymphadenectomy along the right RLN toward the right inferior thyroid artery should be easy. This technique was evaluated in 30 consecutive cases of TEP for squamous cell cancer. There were 15 patients who underwent the new method (Pincers maneuver; Pm) and 15 patients who underwent the conventional method (Cm). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the duration of the thoracic procedure and dissection along the right RLN. No intraoperative and postoperative morbidity related to the right RLN was observed in either group. The Pm group had a higher number of dissected LNs along the right RLN than the Cm group (6.3 vs 3.1, p = 0.044). The Pincers maneuver for lymphadenectomy along the right RLN during TEP is technically safe and feasible. It increases the number of dissected LNs along the right RLN.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has less morbidity than the open approach. In particular, thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (TEP) has been performed worldwide. Using the cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) method, this study aimed to confirm whether a trainee surgeon who learned established standards would become skilled in TEP with a shorter learning curve than that of the mentoring surgeon. Surgeon A performed TEP in 100 patients; the first 22 patients comprised period 1. His learning curve, defined based on the operation time (OT) of the thoracic procedure, was evaluated using the CUSUM method, and short-term outcomes were assessed. Another 22 patients underwent TEP performed by surgeon B, with outcomes compared to those of surgeon A’s period 1. Using the CUSUM chart, the peak point of the thoracic procedure OT occurred at the 44th case in surgeon A’s experience of 100 cases. With surgeon A’s first 22 cases (period 1), the peak point of the thoracic procedure OT could not be confirmed and graph is expanding soaring at CUSUM chart. The CUSUM chart of surgeon B’s experience of 22 cases clearly indicated that the peak point of the thoracic procedure OT occurred at the 17th case. The rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy for surgeon B (9 %) was significantly lower than for surgeon A in period 1 (36 %) (p = 0.0266). There is some possibility for a trainee surgeon to attain the required basic skills to perform TEP in a relatively short period of time using a standardized procedure developed by a mentoring surgeon. The CUSUM method should be useful in evaluating trainee competence during an initial series of procedures, by assessing the learning curve defined by OT.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with the patient in the prone position (TEP) is now being performed as minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. This study examines the short-term outcomes and the learning curve associated with TEP. One surgeon (“Surgeon A”) performed TEP on 100 consecutive patients assigned to three periods based on treatment order. Each group consisted of 33 or 34 patients. The outcomes of the three groups were compared to define the influence of surgeon expertise. Outcomes improved as Surgeon A gained experience in performing this operation, as evidenced by reduced thoracic operative times between periods 1 and 2, and then between periods 2 and 3 (p = 0.0033 and p = 0.0326, respectively); an increased number of retrieved chest nodes between periods 1 and 2 (p = 0.0070); and a decline in recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy between periods 2 and 3 (p = 0.0450). Period 2 was the pivotal period for each learning curve. An individual surgeon’s learning curve over the course of 100 TEP procedures had three outcomes: a shortened operative time, a higher number of retrieved chest nodes, and a decreased rate of RLN palsy. Approximately 30–60 cases were needed to reach a plateau in the TEP procedure and a reduction in the morbidity rate.

Ziel Da die laparoskopische Dissektion der Lymphknoten (LK) im Bereich der A. und V. colica media technisch anspruchsvoll ist, wird die Laparoskopie bei Karzinomen des Colon transversum kontrovers diskutiert. Im vorliegenden Beitrag beschreiben wir eine kraniale Technik zur Durchfuhrung einer LK-Dissektion im Bereich der A. und V. colica media. Hauptmerkmal dieses Ansatzes ist die fruhzeitige Teilung dieser Gefase vor der Mobilisation des Kolons.

Splenic flexure mobilization (SFM) is sometimes required for secure and tension-free anastomosis during laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Although several approaches have been used for laparoscopic SFM,1 it is still considered complicated and troublesome because of the lack of a standardized technique. We propose a three-step method for laparoscopic SFM, aimed at providing a simplified and standardized method, which is presented in the video.First, the mesocolon of the transverse and descending colon is dissected from the retroperitoneal tissue using a medial approach. The appropriate plane for dissection can be recognized just beneath the inferior mesenteric vein, and the gauze should be placed in the dissected space. Second, the transverse colon and transverse mesocolon are detached from the pancreas and spleen by means of an anterior approach. The lesser sac is opened, and the attachment to the pancreas or spleen is cut using the inserted gauze as a landmark. Third, the lateral attachment of the descending colon to the left abdominal wall is dissected cranially or caudally.Using this method, we performed laparoscopic SFM for 13 patients with colorectal cancer with no conversion to another approach or to open surgery. No intraoperative complications were reported, including bleeding from the spleen and injury of the pancreas. The mean time for SFM was 55 min.We consider this three-step method as being useful, and it might help the standardization of laparoscopic SFM.

The controversy regarding laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) is mainly due to the difficulty associated with esophagojejunostomy during this procedure. Although several techniques have so far been reported to overcome this issue,1 – 4 a reliable technique has not yet been established. We developed intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy using a circular stapler in LTG with a hand-sewn over-and-over suture technique, and have shown its favorable outcomes compared with those of conventional open surgery.5 This technique is presented in the video. After transection of the esophagus, an over-and-over suture with a 2-0 monofilament is placed counterclockwise from the right to the left side of the cut end in an outside-to-inside direction, and then from the left to the right side in an inside-to-outside direction. After insertion of the anvil head into the esophagus, it was fixed by ligation of the thread. Finally, intracorporeal esophagojejunal anastomosis was performed using a circular stapler. In LTG, reconstruction using this method was performed for 23 consecutive patients with gastric cancer. There were no serious intraoperative complications or need for conversion to open surgery. Anastomotic leakage and stenosis occurred in one case each, respectively. The mean time for fixation of the anvil to the esophagus was 15 min for the last 12 consecutive patients. This method is simple and feasible, and the advantage of this technique is the elimination of the backhand stroke throughout the suturing procedure.

Complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation is considered to contribute to superior oncological outcomes after colon cancer surgery [1]. For advanced right-sided colon cancer, this surgery sometimes requires lymph node (LN) dissection along the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), with division of the middle colic vessels, or their right branches, at origin [2]. Here, we present cranially approached radical LN dissection along the surgical trunk during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. The omental bursa is first opened wide, and the gastrocolic trunk of Henle is exposed, using the right gastroepiploic vessels and the accessory right colic vein (ARCV) as landmarks. After division of ARCV, SMV and middle colic vein (MCV) are identified. After dividing MCV at its root, LN dissection along SMV is conducted in a cranial-to-caudal manner. Concurrently, the middle colic artery, or its right branch, is exposed and divided at origin. The transverse colon is then raised ventrally, and LN dissection along SMV using a cranial-to-caudal approach is again performed. The ileocolic and right colic vessels are divided at origin. The ascending and transverse mesocolon, including the pedicles, are then separated from the retroperitoneal tissues, pancreatic head, and duodenum, using a medial approach. The key characteristics in this procedure consist of easy access to pancreas, early division of ARCV and middle colic vessels at origin, and easy dissection along SMV. We performed a laparoscopic colectomy using this approach for 18 patients with right-sided colon cancer. The mean operative time and blood loss were 288 min and 83 ml, respectively. The mean number of harvested LNs was 24. There were 6 cases with positive LN metastasis. There were no recurrent cases at a median follow-up period of 24 months. We consider this approach to be safe and useful for radical LN dissection along SMV for right-sided colon cancers.