Short Term Operative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Gastric Mobilization in Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer: Comparison with Hand Assisted Technique

Objective: This study evaluated the safety and operative utilities of the laparoscopic gastric mobilization compared with hand-assisted laparoscopic gastric mobilization. Patients and Methods: From April 2010 to November 2015, 125 patients with esophageal cancer have been performed laparoscopic mobilization;33 under hand-assisted laparoscopic gastric mobilization (HLG group) and 92 under laparoscopic gastric mobilization without hand-assisted technique (LG group). Preoperative data and surgical outcomes of 2 groups were compared. Results: Preoperative data were not significantly different except for BMI. Operation time in abdominal procedure of LG group is significantly longer than HLG group (P < 0.0001). Otherwise, the blood loss and number of dissected nodes of abdominal procedure was not significantly different in two groups. The perioperative blood transfusions were needed in 7 cases (21.2%) in HLG group and 25 (27.1%) in LG group. The postoperative complications and mortality within 30 days after surgery were not significantly different in two groups. The length of hospital stay was 29 days in HLG group and 31 days in HG group, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggested that laparoscopic gastric mobilization was safe technique and the short-term operative outcomes were comparable with that of hand-assisted laparoscopic mobilization.

Laparoscopic hemicolectomy in a patient with situs inversustotalis

As among persons with normal anatomy, occasional patients with situs inversus develop malignant tumors. Recently, several laparoscopic operations have been reported in patients with situs inversus. We describe laparoscopic hemicolectomy with radical lymphadenectomy in such a patient. Careful consideration of the mirror-image anatomy permitted safe operation using techniques not otherwise differing from those in ordinary cases. Thus, curative laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer in the presence of situs inversus is feasible and safe.

Isolated ileal perforation due to cytomegalovirus reactivation during management of terbinafine hypersensitivity

We report a case of 71-year-old man who developed a hypersensitivity syndrome associated with terbinafine. He was placed on terbinafine (250 mg/d) for the treatment of tinea pedis due to diabetes mellitus. Following the treatment with terbinafine, he developed druginduced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS). Systemic corticosteroid led to transient improvement of his clinical manifestations. Three months after disease onset, he presented with panperitonitis due to ileal perforation, and underwent an emergency operation. The affected ileum was resected and ileostomy was performed in the terminal ileum. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific IgG antibodies were significantly increased, high-titer CMV antigenemia was detected, and pathological examination of the resected ileum confirmed CMV infection. Based onthese observations, we strongly recommend that physicians monitor reactivation of the family of herpesvirus other than herpesvirus 6, to manage DIHS properly.

Operative Benefits of Artificial Pneumothorax in Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy in the Left Lateral Decubitus Position for Esophageal Cancer

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate operative benefits of artificial pnuemothorax in thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed short-term surgical outcomes including learning curve of 60 consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with artificial pnuemothorax in the left lateral decubitus position between April 2010 and November 2012 in our department. Results: The median operation time and intraoperative blood loss were 443 min and 220 ml, respectively, and these values were 174 min and 95 ml, respectively, in the thoracic phase of surgery. The median number of harvested lymph node was 37. Only 1 patient required conversion to open esophagectomy. The postoperative 30-day mortality rate was 1.7%. The thoracic operation time significantly decreased after an experience of 10 cases and intraoperative blood loss during thoracic phasesignificantly decreased after an experience of 20 cases (p < 0.05), and operation time remained constant for the following cases. The number of harvested lymph nodes did not exhibit significant changes with an increase in the number of case experienced. Conclusions: Artificial pneumothorax provided the shorting of learning curve at the thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left lateral decubitus position.

Direct Instruction by an Experienced Surgeon Can Shorten the Learning Curve for Laparoscopic-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy

Aim: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with regional lymph node dissection is a treatment option for patient with early gastric cancer. However, LADG is a technically complex and advanced procedure, which is challenging for inexperienced surgeons. In this report, we retrospectively evaluated the learning curve for LADG of a single surgeon with no previous experience in LADG and the usefulness of direct instruction by a surgeon experienced in LADG in shortening the learning curve. Patients and Methods: This study was analyzed 80 consecutive patients, who underwent LADG by a single surgeon (first assistant in 10 cases and operator in 70 cases) between January 2008 and December 2012. Patients were divided into 3 sequential groups of 10 (training period), 30 (learning period), and 40 (operating period) cases in each group. Median operation time and estimated blood loss for these 3 groups were determined. Other learning indicators, including transfusion requirement, postoperative complications, number of lymph node harvested, and rate of conversion open gastrectomy, were also evaluated. Results: During the training period, median operation time and estimated blood loss were 219.5 min and 83.0 ml, respectively. During the learning period, the operation time was significantly longer than that of training period. In the operating period, the operation time was significantly lesser than that during the learning period. However, the operation time was not different from that during the training period and reached a plateau. The estimated blood loss during the operating period was significantly lesser than that during the learning period. The difference in the number of lymph nodes retrieved between each group was not significant. Conclusions: Direct instructions by an experienced surgeon can decrease the number of cases required for learning. Because LADG is technically more complex than other laparoscopic procedures, standardization of LADG and an effective training system for performing it should be established.