Application of ablative therapy for intrahepatic recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatectomy

The post-hepatectomy recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is persistently high, affecting the prognosis of patients. An effective therapeutic option is crucial for achieving long-term survival in patients with postoperative recurrences. Local ablative therapy has been established as a treatment option for resectable and unresectable HCCs, and it is also a feasible approach for recurrent HCC (RHCC) due to less trauma, shorter operation times, fewer complications, and faster recovery. This review focused on ablation techniques, description of potential candidates, and therapeutic and prognostic implications of ablation for guiding its application in treating intrahepatic RHCC.

Development and validation of a novel nomogram for predicting overall survival in gastric cancer based on inflammatory markers

BACKGROUND

Nearly 66% of occurrences of gastric cancer (GC), which has the second-highest death rate of all cancers, arise in developing countries. In several cancers, the predictive significance of inflammatory markers has been established.

AIM

To identify clinical characteristics and develop a specific nomogram to determine overall survival for GC patients.

METHODS

Nine hundred and four GC patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between January 2010 and January 2013 were recruited. Prognostic risk variables were screened for Cox analysis. The C index, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the nomogram.

RESULTS

Tumor node metastasis stage, carcinoembryonic antigen, systemic immune-inflammation index, and age were identified as independent predictive variables by multivariate analysis. Systemic immune-inflammation index value was superior to that of other inflammatory indicators. The ROC indicated the nomogram had a higher area under the curve than other factors, and its C-index for assessing the validation and training groups of GC patients was extremely reliable.

CONCLUSION

We created a novel nomogram to forecast the prognosis of GC patients following curative gastrectomy based on blood markers and other characteristics. Both surgeons and patients can benefit significantly from this new scoring system.

Prognostic effect of excessive chemotherapy cycles for stage II and III gastric cancer patients after D2 + gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

According to relevant investigation and analysis, there are few research studies on the effect of excessive chemotherapy cycles after D2 gastrectomy on the survival of patients with gastric cancer.

AIM

To determine whether excessive chemotherapy cycles provide extra survival benefits, reduce recurrence rate, and improve survival rate in patients with stage II or III gastric cancer.

METHODS

We analyzed and summarized 412 patients with stage II gastric cancer and 902 patients with stage III gastric cancer who received D2 gastrectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Analysis and comparison at a ratio of 1:1 is aimed at reducing realistic baseline differences (n = 97 in each group of stage II, n = 242 in each group of stage III). Progression-free survival, overall survival and recurrence were the main outcome indicators.

RESULTS

When the propensity score was matched, the baseline features of stage II and III gastric cancer patients were similar between the two groups. After a series of investigations, Kaplan-Meier found that the progression-free survival and overall survival of stage II and III gastric cancer patients were consistent between the two groups. The local metastasis rate (P = 0.002), total recurrence rate (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis rate (P = 0.001) in the ≥ 9 cycle group of stage III gastric cancer were statistically lower than those in the < 9 cycle group. The interaction analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that intestinal type, proximal gastrectomy, and ≥ 6 cm maximum diameter of tumor had a higher risk of total mortality in the < 9 cycles group.

CONCLUSION

Overall, ≥ 9 chemotherapy cycles is not recommended for patients with stage II and stage III gastric cancer because it has an insignificant role in the prognosis of gastric cancer. However, for patients with stage III gastric cancer, ≥ 9 cycles of chemotherapy was shown to significantly decrease recurrence.

Effects of postoperative use of proton pump inhibitors on gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic variceal treatment during hospitalization

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT) is recommended as the mainstay choice for the management of high-risk gastroesophageal varices and acute variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for various gastric acid-related diseases. However, the effects of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications, especially gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), remain controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on post-EVT complications in patients with liver cirrhosis during hospitalization.

METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, treated by an attending physician between January 2016 and June 2020 and underwent EVT during their hospitalization were included. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications during hospitalization. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 143 patients were included. The incidence of post-EVT GIB and other post-EVT complications was 4.90% and 46.85%, respectively. In the overall analyses, postoperative use of PPIs did not significantly reduce the risk of post-EVT GIB (OR = 0.525, 95%CI = 0.113-2.438, P = 0.411) or other post-EVT complications (OR = 0.804, 95%CI = 0.413-1.565, P = 0.522). In the subgroup analyses according to the enrollment period, type and route of PPIs after the index EVT, use of PPIs before the index EVT, use of vasoactive drugs after the index EVT, indication of EVT (prophylactic and therapeutic), and presence of portal venous system thrombosis, ascites, and hepatocellular carcinoma, the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on the risk of post-EVT GIB or other post-EVT complications remain not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Routine use of PPIs after EVT should not be recommended in patients with liver cirrhosis for the prevention of post-EVT complications during hospitalization.

Associate factors for endoscopic submucosal dissection operation time and postoperative delayed hemorrhage of early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a treatment for early gastric cancer with the advantages of small invasion, fewer complications, and a low local recurrence rate. However, there is a high risk of complications such as bleeding and perforation, and the operation time is also longer. ESD operation time is closely related to bleeding and perforation.

AIM

To investigate the influencing factors associated with ESD operation time and postoperative delayed hemorrhage to provide a reference for early planning, early identification, and prevention of complications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study based on the clinical data of 520 patients with early gastric cancer in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021. The baseline data, clinical features, and endoscopic and pathological characteristics of patients were collected. The multivariate linear regression model was used to investigate the influencing factors of ESD operation time. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors of postoperative delayed hemorrhage.

RESULTS

The multivariate analysis of ESD operation time showed that the maximum lesion diameter could affect 8.815% of ESD operation time when other influencing factors remained unchanged. The operation time increased by 3.766% or 10.247% if the lesion was mixed or concave. The operation time increased by 4.417% if combined with an ulcer or scar. The operation time increased by 3.692% if combined with perforation. If infiltrated into the submucosa, it increased by 2.536%. Multivariate analysis of delayed hemorrhage after ESD showed that the maximum diameter of the lesion, lesion morphology, and ESD operation time were independent influencing factors for delayed hemorrhage after ESD. Patients with lesion ≥ 3.0 cm (OR = 3.785, 95%CI: 1.165-4.277), lesion morphology-concave (OR = 10.985, 95%CI: 2.133-35.381), and ESD operation time ≥ 60 min (OR = 2.958, 95%CI: 1.117-3.526) were prone to delayed hemorrhage after ESD.

CONCLUSION

If the maximum diameter of the lesion in patients with early gastric cancer is ≥ 3.0 cm, and the shape of the lesion is concave, or accompanied by an ulcer or scar, combined with perforation, and infiltrates into the submucosa, the ESD operation will take a longer time. When the maximum diameter of the lesion is ≥ 3.0 cm, the shape of the lesion is concave in patients and the operation time of ESD takes longer time, the risk of delayed hemorrhage after ESD is higher.

Impact of body mass index in elderly patients treated with laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The impact of obesity on surgical outcomes in elderly patients candidate for liver surgery is still debated.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of high body mass index (BMI) on perioperative and oncological outcome in elderly patients (> 70 years old) treated with laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Retrospective multicenter study including 224 elderly patients (> 70 years old) operated by laparoscopy for HCC (196 with a BMI < 30 and 28 with BMI ≥ 30), observed from January 2009 to January 2019.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, patients in two groups presented comparable results, in terms of operative time (median range: 200 min vs 205 min, P = 0.7 respectively in non-obese and obese patients), complications rate (22% vs 26%, P = 1.0), length of hospital stay (median range: 4.5 d vs 6.0 d, P = 0.1). There are no significant differences in terms of short- and long-term postoperative results.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that BMI did not impact perioperative and oncologic outcomes in elderly patients treated by laparoscopic resection for HCC.

Intestinal erosion caused by meshoma displacement: A case report

BACKGROUND

A meshoma formation and erosion to the small intestine is rare. Herein, we report one case of a meshoma that was not treated early; causing it to displace and erode the small intestine, with infection, complete control of symptoms was achieved after removal of the infected patch mass, no recurrence of hernia after 2 years of follow-up.

CASE SUMMARY

A 62-year-old male patient presented with recurrent abdominal pain repeatedly for 1 wk, which has worsened 2 d before admition, accompanied by fever. Five years before presentation he underwent right inguinal hernia Plug and patch repair approach. Two years ago, a computed tomography scan revealed a right lower abdominal mass with soft tissue density, measuring approximately 30 mm × 17 mm, which was diagnosed as meshoma that was not treated. The patient had poorly controlled diabetes in the past year.

CONCLUSION

The formation of meshoma is rare, and that if not treated in time it might erode and require resection of the involved organ.

Postoperative adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal tumors in the world. Liver resection (LR) and liver transplantation (LT) are widely considered as radical treatments for early HCC. However, the recurrence rates after curative treatment are still high and overall survival is unsatisfactory. Microvascular invasion (MVI) is considered to be one of the important prognostic factors affecting postoperative recurrence and long-term survival. Unfortunately, whether HCC patients with MVI should receive postoperative adjuvant therapy remains unknown. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor-based targeted therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with MVI after LR or LT, aiming to provide a reference for the best adjuvant treatment strategy for HCC patients with MVI after LT or LR.

New perspectives on robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy: An analysis of the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a common malignancy. Despite all advancements, the prognosis remains, poor with an overall 5-year survival of only 10.8%. Recently, a robotic platform has become an attractive tool for treating pancreatic cancer (PC). While recent studies indicated improved lymph node (LN) harvest during robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), data on long-term outcomes are insufficient.

AIM

To evaluate absolute LN harvest during PD. Secondary outcomes included evaluating the association between LN harvest and short- and long-term oncological outcomes for three different surgical approaches.

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of the National Cancer Database, including patients diagnosed with PC who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robotic PD in 2010-2018. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables, chi-square test - for categorical. Overall survival was defined as the time between surgery and death. Median survival time was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared with the Wilcoxon test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of covariates with survival after controlling for patient characteristics and procedure type.

RESULTS

17169 patients were included, 8859 (52%) males; mean age 65; 14509 (85%) white. 13816 (80.5%) patients had an open PD, 2677 (15.6%) and 676 (3.9%) - laparoscopic and robotic PD respectively. Mean comorbidity index (Charlson-Deyo Score) 0.50. On average, 18.84 LNs were harvested. Mean LN harvest during open, laparoscopic and robotic PD was 18.59, 19.65 and 20.70 respectively (P < 0.001). On average 2.49 LNs were positive for cancer and did not differ by the procedure type (P = 0.26). Vascular invasion was noted in 42.6% of LNs and did differ by the approach: 42.1% for open, 44.0% for laparoscopic and 47.2% for robotic PD (P = 0.015). Median survival for open PD was 26.1 mo, laparoscopic - 27.2 mo, robotic - 29.1 mo (P = 0.064). Survival was associated with higher LN harvest, while higher number of positive LNs was associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that robotic PD is associated with increased intraoperative LN harvest and has comparable short-term oncological outcomes and survival compared to open and laparoscopic approaches.

Short-term efficacy assessment of transarterial chemoembolization combined with radioactive iodine therapy in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an effective treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). Radioactive iodine therapy has been used in the treatment of advanced PHC, especially in patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis. However, data on the therapeutic effect of TACE combined with radioactive iodine therapy in PHC are scarce.

AIM

To investigate the clinical efficacy of TACE combined with radioactive iodine implantation therapy in advanced PHC via perfusion computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

For this study, 98 advanced PHC patients were recruited and divided randomly into the study and control groups. Patients in the study group were treated with TACE combined radioactive iodine implantation therapy. Patients in the control group were treated with only TACE. The tumor lesion length, clinical effect, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and CT perfusion parameters were compared before and after therapy, and statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in tumor length and serum AFP between the study and control groups (P > 0.05) before treatment. However, the tumor length and serum AFP in the study group were lower than those in the control group 1 mo and 3 mo after therapy. After 3 mo of treatment, the complete and partial remission rate of the study group was 93.88%, which was significantly higher than the control group (77.55%) (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups on the perfusion CT variables, including the lesion blood volume, permeability surface, blood flow, hepatic artery flow and mean transit time (P > 0.05). After 3 mo of treatment, all perfusion CT variables were lower in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The survival time of patients in the study group was 22 mo compared to 18 mo in the control group, which was significantly different [log rank (Mantel-Cox) = 4.318, P = 0.038].

CONCLUSION

TACE combined with radioactive iodine implantation in the treatment of advanced PHC can inhibit the formation of blood vessels in tumor tissue and reduce the perfusion level of tumor lesions, thereby improving the clinical efficacy and prolonging the survival time of patients.

Hereditary polyposis syndromes remain a challenging disease entity: Old dilemmas and new insights

In this editorial we present an overview and insights of the management of hereditary polyposis syndromes. The primary focus was on familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis syndrome and Peutz-Jegher syndrome. Genetic testing has become increasingly available and is easier than ever to integrate into clinical practice. Furthermore, several genes have been added to the expanding list of genes associated with hereditary polyposis syndromes, allowing for precise diagnostics and tailored follow-up. Endoscopic evaluation of patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes is paramount in the surveillance strategies. Current endoscopic procedures include both diagnostic procedures and surveillance as well as therapeutic interventions. Recommendations for endoscopic procedures in the upper and lower gastrointestinal canal were described. Surgery is still a key component in the management of patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes. The increased cancer risk in these patients often render prophylactic procedures or intended curative procedures in the case of cancer development. Surgical interventions in the upper and lower gastrointestinal canal were described with relevant considerations. Development of chemopreventive medications is ongoing. Few drugs have been investigated, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It has been demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors may lower the number of polyps. Other medications are currently under investigation, but none have, to date, consistently been able to prevent development of disease.

Low preoperative skeletal muscle index increases the risk of mortality among resectable pancreatic cancer patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The only potential curative treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer is surgery; however, the prognosis remains poor. Measures of body composition based on computed tomography (CT) have been established as a reliable predictor of the prognosis of cancer patients after surgery.

AIM

To elucidate the associations of body composition measures derived from preoperative CT scans with the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

One hundred fifteen patients undergoing pancreatic resection with curative intent for pancreatic cancer were retrospectively enrolled. A preoperative CT scan at the third lumbar vertebral level was performed to measure the skeletal muscle index (SMI), mean skeletal muscle radiodensity, subcutaneous adipose tissue index, and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio. The clinical and pathological data were collected. The effects of these factors on long-term survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the five body composition measures, only low SMI independently predicted overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR): 2.307; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.210-4.402] and recurrence-free survival (HR: 1.907; 95%CI: 1.147-3.171). Furthermore, patients with low SMI (vs high SMI) were older (68.8 ± 9.3 years vs 63.3 ± 8.4 years); low SMI was present in 27 of 56 patients (48.2%) aged 65 years and older and in 11 of 59 younger patients (18.6%). In addition, subgroup analyses revealed that the correlation between low SMI and OS was observed only in patients aged 65 years and older.

CONCLUSION

Low preoperative SMI was more prevalent in elderly patients and was associated with a poor prognosis among pancreatic cancer patients, especially elderly patients.

Timing of individualized surgical intervention in Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with an increasing incidence worldwide. Comprehensive therapy for CD focuses on symptom control and healing the intestinal mucosa to improve the quality of life and prevent complications. Surgical intervention plays a vital role in comprehensive therapy. However, deciding the optimal timing for surgical intervention has long been a focus of controversy. This review provides insights into the timing of surgery for CD and guides clinicians in daily treatment.

Hydrogen gas and preservation of intestinal stem cells in mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND

Patients with mesenteric ischemia frequently suffer from bowel necrosis even after revascularization. Hydrogen gas has showed promising effects for ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing reactive oxygen species in various animal and clinical studies. We examined intestinal tissue injury by ischemia and reperfusion under continuous initiation of 3% hydrogen gas.

AIM

To clarify the treatment effects and target cells of hydrogen gas for mesenteric ischemia.

METHODS

Three rat groups underwent 60-min mesenteric artery occlusion (ischemia), 60-min reperfusion following 60-min occlusion (reperfusion), or ischemia-reperfusion with the same duration under continuous 3% hydrogen gas inhalation (hydrogen). The distal ileum was harvested. Immunofluorescence staining with caspase-3 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled 5 (LGR5), a specific marker of intestinal stem cell, was conducted to evaluate the injury location and cell types protected by hydrogen. mRNA expressions of LGR5, olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4), hairy and enhancer of split 1, Jagged 2, and Neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Tissue oxidative stress was analyzed with immunostaining for 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Systemic oxidative stress was evaluated by plasma 8-OHdG.

RESULTS

Ischemia damaged the epithelial layer at the tip of the villi, whereas reperfusion induced extensive apoptosis of the cells at the crypt base, which were identified as intestinal stem cells with double immunofluorescence stain. Hydrogen mitigated such apoptosis at the crypt base, and the LGR5 expression of the tissues was higher in the hydrogen group than in the reperfusion group. OLFM4 was also relatively higher in the hydrogen group, whereas other measured RNAs were comparable between the groups. 8-OHdG concentration was high in the reperfusion group, which was reduced by hydrogen, particularly at the crypt base. Serum 8-OHdG concentrations were relatively higher in both reperfusion and hydrogen groups without significance.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that hydrogen gas inhalation preserves intestinal stem cells and mitigates oxidative stress caused by mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic vs open surgery for T2 gallbladder cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the development of laparoscopic techniques, gallbladder cancer (GBC) is no longer a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery (LS). Although LS is recommended for stage T1 GBC, the value of LS for stage T2 GBC is still controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of LS in comparison to those of open surgery (OS) for stage T2 GBC.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for published studies comparing the efficacy of LS and OS in the treatment of stage T2 GBC, with a cutoff date of September 2022. The Stata 15 statistical software was used for analysis. Relative risk (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were calculated to assess binary and continuous outcome indicators, respectively. Begg’s test and Egger’s test were used for detecting publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of five studies were included, with a total of 297 patients, 153 in the LS group and 144 in the OS group. Meta-analysis results showed that the LS group was better than the OS group in terms of operative time [WMD = -41.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): -75.66 to -6.92, P = 0.02], estimated blood loss (WMD = -261.96, 95%CI: -472.60 to -51.31, P = 0.01), and hospital stay (WMD = -5.67, 95%CI: -8.53 to -2.81, P = 0.0001), whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of blood transfusion (RR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.31-1.15, P = 0.13), complications (RR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.39-1.33, P = 0.29), number of lymph nodes retrieved (WMD = –1.71, 95%CI: -4.27 to -0.84, P = 0.19), recurrence (RR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.06-2.84, P = 0.36), 3-year and 5-year overall survival (RR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.82-1.18, P = 0.89 and RR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.68-1.53, P = 0.92; respectively), and 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival (RR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.84-1.21, P = 0.93 and RR = 1.15, 95%CI: 0.90-1.46, P = 0.26; respectively).

CONCLUSION

The long-term outcomes of LS for T2 GBC are similar to those of OS, but LS is superior to OS in terms of operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative hospital stay. Nevertheless, these findings should be validated via high-quality randomized controlled trials and longer follow-ups.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis in a young COVID-19 patient resulting in death: A case report

BACKGROUND

With the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, liver injury in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been regularly reported in the literature. There are a growing number of publications describing the occurrence of secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in various cases. We present a case of sudden onset SSC in a critically ill patient (SSC-CIP) following COVID-19 infection who was previously healthy.

CASE SUMMARY

A 33-year old female patient was admitted to our University Hospital due to increasing shortness of breath. A prior rapid antigen test showed a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. The patient had no known preexisting conditions. With rapidly increasing severe hypoxemia she required endotracheal intubation and developed the need for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a setting of acute respiratory distress syndrome. During the patient´s 154-d stay in the intensive care unit and other hospital wards she underwent hemodialysis and extended polypharmaceutical treatment. With increasing liver enzymes and the development of signs of cholangiopathy on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) as well as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the clinical setting was suggestive of SSC. At an interdisciplinary meeting, the possibility of orthotopic liver transplantation and additional kidney transplantation was discussed due to the constant need for hemodialysis. Following a deterioration in her general health and impaired respiratory function with a reduced chance of successful surgery and rehabilitation, the plan for transplantation was discarded. The patient passed away due to multiorgan failure.

CONCLUSION

SSC-CIP seems to be a rare but serious complication in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, of which treating physicians should be aware. Imaging with MRCP and/or ERCP seems to be indicated and a valid method for early diagnosis. Further studies on the effects of early and late SSC in (post-) COVID-19 patients needs to be performed.

Meta-analysis of transanal vs laparoscopic total mesorectal excision of low rectal cancer: Importance of appropriate patient selection

BACKGROUND

Achieving a clear resection margins for low rectal cancer is technically challenging. Transanal approach to total mesorectal excision (TME) was introduced in order to address the challenges associated with the laparoscopic approach in treating low rectal cancers. However, previous meta-analyses have included mixed population with mid and low rectal tumours when comparing both approaches which has made the interpretation of the real differences between two approaches in treating low rectal cancer difficult.

AIM

To investigate the outcomes of transanal TME (TaTME) and laparoscopic TME (LaTME) in patients with low rectal cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic review of comparative studies was performed in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, anastomotic leak, R0 resection, completeness of mesorectal excision, circumferential resection margin (CRM), distal resection margin (DRM), harvested lymph nodes, and operation time were the investigated outcome measures.

RESULTS

We included twelve comparative studies enrolling 969 patients comparing TaTME (n = 969) and LaTME (n = 476) in patients with low rectal tumours. TaTME was associated with significantly lower risk of postoperative complications (OR: 0.74, P = 0.04), anastomotic leak (OR: 0.59, P = 0.02), and conversion to an open procedure (OR: 0.29, P = 0.002) in comparison with LaTME. Moreover, the rate of R0 resection was significantly higher in the TaTME group (OR: 1.96, P = 0.03). Nevertheless, TaTME and LaTME were comparable in terms of rate of intraoperative complications (OR: 1.87; P = 0.23), completeness of mesoractal excision (OR: 1.57, P = 0.15), harvested lymph nodes (MD: -0.05, P = 0.96), DRM (MD: -0.94; P = 0.17), CRM (MD: 1.08, P = 0.17), positive CRM (OR: 0.64, P = 0.11) and procedure time (MD: -6.99 min, P = 0.45).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that for low rectal tumours, TaTME is associated with better clinical and short term oncological outcomes compared to LaTME. More randomised controlled trials are required to confirm these findings and to evaluate long term oncological and functional outcomes.

Rectal tubular adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Differential diagnosis of colorectal intramucosal tumors from invasive adenocarcinoma is important in clinical practice due to the different risks of lymph node metastasis and different treatment options. The phenomenon of a colorectal adenoma with part of the gland entering the submucosa is known as pseudoinvasion of the adenoma, which is a major challenge for pathological diagnosis. It is essential to raise awareness of colorectal adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion clinically to avoid overtreatment.

CASE SUMMARY

We describe a case of rectal adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion in a 48-year-old man. The patient was admitted to Jinhua People's Hospital due to a change in stool habit for 5 d. We performed colonoscopy, and the results suggested a submucosal bulge approximately 1.0 cm × 1.0 cm in size in the rectum 8 cm from the anal verge, with red surface erosion. Ultrasound colonoscopy was also performed and a homogeneous hypoechoic mass about 0.52 cm × 0.72 cm in size was seen at the lesion, protruding into the lumen with clear borders and invading the submucosa. Endoscopic surgery was then performed and the pathological specimen showed a tubular adenoma with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (intramucosal carcinoma) involving the adenolymphatic complex. In addition, we performed a literature review of rectal tubular adenoma with submucosal pseudoinvasion to obtain a deeper understanding of this disease.

CONCLUSION

The aim of this study was to improve awareness of this lesion for clinicians and pathologists to reduce misdiagnosis.

Acute appendicitis in the short term following radical total gastrectomy misdiagnosed as duodenal stump leakage: A case report

BACKGROUND

Common diseases after radical gastrectomy include cholecystitis and pancreatitis, but the sudden onset of acute appendicitis in a short period following radical gastrectomy is very rare, and its clinical symptoms are easily misdiagnosed as duodenal stump leakage.

CASE SUMMARY

This is a case report of a 77-year-old woman with lower right abdominal pain 14 d after radical resection of gastric cancer. Her pain was not relieved by conservative treatment, and her inflammatory markers were elevated. Computed tomography showed effusion in the perihepatic and hepatorenal spaces, right paracolic sulcus and pelvis, as well as exudative changes in the right iliac fossa. Ultrasound-guided puncture revealed a slightly turbid yellow-green fluid. Laparoscopic exploration showed a swollen appendix with surrounding pus moss and no abnormalities of the digestive anastomosis or stump; thus, laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. The patient recovered well after the operation. Postoperative pathology showed acute purulent appendicitis. The patient continued adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, completing three cycles of oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX regimen).

CONCLUSION

Acute appendicitis in the short term after radical gastrectomy needs to be differentiated from duodenal stump leakage, and early diagnosis and surgery are the most important means of treatment.

Malignant transformation of perianal tailgut cyst: A case report

BACKGROUND

Tailgut cyst is a congenital enterogenous cyst that rarely undergoes malignant transformation. Its clinical manifestations mainly correlate to the mass effect caused by the development of cysts and the infections that originate from these. Furthermore, the complete resection of this cyst is curative. We report our diagnostic and treatment experience with one case of malignant transformation of a perianal tailgut cyst, which was initially misdiagnosed as perianal abscess.

CASE SUMMARY

A 72-year-old woman visited our institution with complaints of a refractory nonhealing lesion on the right hip, which repeatedly broke and suppurated for more than 70 years, and aggravated in 4 mo. The patient was given a diagnosis of refractory perianal abscess with repeated incision and drainage procedures. Computed tomography of the pelvic cavity revealed a giant perianal cyst. Subsequent biopsy revealed a tumor with moderate-to-severe glandular epithelial dysplasia, and suggested that this was derived from the developmental cysts in the posterior rectal space. After further clarifying the nature and extent of the tumor by magnetic resonance imaging, total cystic resection was performed. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed the malignancy, dictating the investigators to add postoperative chemotherapy to the treatment regimen.

CONCLUSION

The malignant transformation of perianal tailgut cysts is very uncommon, and this should be differentiated from perianal abscess. Complete surgical removal is curative, and postoperative pathology may determine the necessity of additional postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which may be beneficial for preventing local recurrence and metastasis.

Development of a prediction model for enteral feeding intolerance in intensive care unit patients: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Enteral nutrition (EN) is essential for critically ill patients. However, some patients will have enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) in the process of EN.

AIM

To develop a clinical prediction model to predict the risk of EFI in patients receiving EN in the intensive care unit.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed. The enrolled patients’ basic information, medical status, nutritional support, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were recorded. The baseline data and influencing factors were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the model, and the bootstrap resampling method was used to conduct internal validation.

RESULTS

The sample cohort included 203 patients, and 37.93% of the patients were diagnosed with EFI. After the final regression analysis, age, GI disease, early feeding, mechanical ventilation before EN started, and abnormal serum sodium were identified. In the internal validation, 500 bootstrap resample samples were performed, and the area under the curve was 0.70 (95%CI: 0.63-0.77).

CONCLUSION

This clinical prediction model can be applied to predict the risk of EFI.

Real-time in vivo distal margin selection using confocal laser endomicroscopy in transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) allows patients with ultralow rectal cancer to be treated with sphincter-saving surgery. However, accurate delineation of the distal resection margin (DRM), which is essential to achieve R0 resection for low rectal cancer in TaTME, is technically demanding.

AIM

To assess the feasibility of optical biopsy using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) to select the DRM during TaTME for low rectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 43 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with low rectal cancer and scheduled for TaTME were prospectively enrolled from January 2019 to January 2021. pCLE was used to determine the distal edge of the tumor as well as the DRM during surgery. The final pathological report was used as the gold standard. The diagnostic accuracy of pCLE examination was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 86 pCLE videos of 43 patients were included in the analyses. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of real-time pCLE examination were 90.00% [95% confidence interval (CI): 76.34%-97.21%], 86.96% (95%CI: 73.74%-95.06%) and 88.37% (95%CI: 79.65%-94.28%), respectively. The accuracy of blinded pCLE reinterpretation was 86.05% (95%CI: 76.89%-92.58%). Furthermore, our results show satisfactory interobserver agreement (κ = 0.767, standard error = 0.069) for the detection of cancer tissue by pCLE. There were no positive DRMs (≤ 1 mm) in this study. The median DRM was 7 mm [interquartile range (IQR) = 5-10 mm]. The median Wexner score was 5 (IQR = 3-6) at 6 mo after stoma closure.

CONCLUSION

Real-time in vivo pCLE examination is feasible and safe for selecting the DRM during TaTME for low rectal cancer (clinical trial registration number: NCT04016948).

Microbial spectrum and drug resistance of pathogens cultured from gallbladder bile specimens of patients with cholelithiasis: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Bacterial infection is an important cause of cholelithiasis or gallstones and interferes with its treatment. There is no consensus on bile microbial culture profiles in previous studies, and identified microbial spectrum and drug resistance is helpful for targeted preventive and therapeutic drugs in the perioperative period.

AIM

To analyze the bile microbial spectrum of patients with cholelithiasis and the drug susceptibility patterns in order to establish an empirical antibiotic treatment for cholelithiasis-associated infection.

METHODS

A retrospective single-center study was conducted on patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis between May 2013 and December 2018.

RESULTS

This study included 185 patients, of whom 163 (88.1%) were diagnosed with gallstones and 22 (11.9%) were diagnosed with gallstones and common bile duct stones (CBDSs). Bile culture in 38 cases (20.5%) was positive. The presence of CBDSs (OR = 5.4, 95%CI: 1.3-21.9, P = 0.03) and longer operation time (> 80 min) (OR = 4.3, 95%CI: 1.4-13.1, P = 0.01) were identified as independent risk factors for positive bile culture. Gram-negative bacteria were detected in 28 positive bile specimens, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (19/28) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5/28) were the most frequently identified species. Gram-positive bacteria were present in 10 specimens. The resistance rate to cephalosporin in E. coli was above 42% and varied across generations. All the isolated E. coli strains were sensitive to carbapenems, with the exception of one imipenem-resistant strain. K. pneumoniae showed a similar resistance spectrum to E. coli. Enterococcus spp. was largely sensitive to glycopeptides and penicillin, except for a few strains of E. faecium.

CONCLUSION

The presence of common bile duct stones and longer operation time were identified as independent risk factors for positive bile culture in patients with cholelithiasis. The most commonly detected bacterium was E. coli. The combination of β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors prescribed perioperatively appears to be effective against bile pathogens and is recommended. Additionally, regular monitoring of emerging resistance patterns is required in the future.

Comprehensive abdominal composition evaluation of rectal cancer patients with anastomotic leakage compared with body mass index-matched controls

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a fatal complication in patients with rectal cancer after undergoing anterior resection. However, the role of abdominal composition in the development of AL has not been studied.

AIM

To investigate the relationship between abdominal composition and AL in rectal cancer patients after undergoing anterior resection.

METHODS

A retrospective case-matched cohort study was conducted. Complete data for 78 patients with AL were acquired and this cohort was defined as the AL group. The controls were matched for the same sex and body mass index (± 1 kg/m²). Parameters related to abdominal composition including visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), skeletal muscle area (SMA), skeletal muscle index (SMI), abdominal circumference (AC), anterior to posterior diameter of abdominal cavity (APD), and transverse diameter of abdominal cavity (TD) were evaluated based on computed tomography (CT) images using the following Hounsfield Unit (HU) thresholds: SFA: -190 to -30, SMA: -29 to 150, and VFA: -150 to -20. The significance of abdominal composition-related parameters was quantified using feature importance analysis; an artificial intelligence method was used to evaluate the contribution of each included variable.

RESULTS

Two thousand two hundred and thirty-eight rectal cancer patients who underwent anterior resection from 2010 to 2020 in a large academic hospital were investigated. Finally, 156 cases were enrolled in the study. Patients in the AL group showed longer operative time (225.03 ± 55.29 vs 207.17 ± 40.80, P = 0.023), lower levels of preoperative hemoglobin (123.32 ± 21.17 vs 132.60 ±1 6.31, P = 0.003) and albumin (38.34 ± 4.01 vs 40.52 ± 3.97, P = 0.001), larger tumor size (4.07 ± 1.36 vs 2.76 ± 1.28, P < 0.001), and later cancer stage (P < 0.001) compared to the controls. Patients who developed AL exhibited a larger VFA (125.68 ± 73.59 vs 97.03 ± 57.66, P = 0.008) and a smaller APD (77.30 ± 23.23 vs 92.09 ± 26.40, P < 0.001) and TD (22.90 ± 2.23 vs 24.21 ± 2.90, P = 0.002) compared to their matched controls. Feature importance analysis revealed that TD, APD, and VFA were the three most important abdominal composition-related features.

CONCLUSION

AL patients have a higher visceral fat content and a narrower abdominal structure compared to matched controls.

Metastatic lymph nodes and prognosis assessed by the number of retrieved lymph nodes in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of quantitative assessments of the number of retrieved lymph nodes (RLNs) in gastric cancer (GC) patients needs further study.

AIM

To discuss how to obtain a more accurate count of metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) based on RLNs in different pT stages and then to evaluate patient prognosis.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent GC radical surgery and D2/D2+ LN dissection at the Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2011 to May 2017. Locally weighted smoothing was used to analyze the relationship between RLNs and the number of MLNs. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyze the relationship between RLNs and hazard ratios (HRs), and X-tile was used to determine the optimal cutoff value for RLNs. Patient survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Finally, HRs and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models to analyze independent risk factors associated with patient outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 4968 patients were included in the training cohort, and 11154 patients were included in the validation cohort. The smooth curve showed that the number of MLNs increased with an increasing number of RLNs, and a nonlinear relationship between RLNs and HRs was observed. X-tile analysis showed that the optimal number of RLNs for pT1-pT4 stage GC patients was 26, 31, 39, and 45, respectively. A greater number of RLNs can reduce the risk of death in patients with pT1, pT2, and pT4 stage cancers but may not reduce the risk of death in patients with pT3 stage cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that RLNs were an independent risk factor associated with the prognosis of patients with pT1-pT4 stage cancer (P = 0.044, P = 0.037, P = 0.003, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A greater number of RLNs may not benefit the survival of patients with pT3 stage disease but can benefit the survival of patients with pT1, pT2, and pT4 stage disease. For the pT1, pT2, and pT4 stages, it is recommended to retrieve 26, 31 and 45 LNs, respectively.

Development of a warning score for early detection of colorectal anastomotic leakage: Hype or hope?

BACKGROUND

Colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL), a severe postoperative complication, is associated with high morbidity, hospital readmission, and overall healthcare costs. Early detection of CAL remains a challenge in clinical practice. However, some decision models have been developed to increase the diagnostic accuracy of this event.

AIM

To develop a score based on easily accessible variables to detect CAL early.

METHODS

Based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method, a predictive classification system was developed [Early ColoRectAL Leakage (E-CRALL) score] from a prospective observational, single center cohort, carried out in a colorectal division from a non-academic hospital. The score performance and CAL threshold from postoperative day (POD) 3 to POD5 were estimated. Based on a precise analytical decision model, the standard clinical practice was compared with the E-CRALL adoption on POD3, POD4, or POD5. A cost-minimization analysis was conducted, on the assumption that all alternatives delivered similar health-related effects.

RESULTS

In this study, 396 patients who underwent colorectal resection surgery with anastomosis, and 6.3% (n = 25) developed CAL. Most of the patients who developed CAL (n = 23; 92%) were diagnosed during the first hospital admission, with a median time of diagnosis of 9.0 ± 6.8 d. From POD3 to POD5, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the E-CRALL score was 0.82, 0.84, and 0.95, respectively. On POD5, if a threshold of 8.29 was chosen, 87.4% of anastomotic failures were identified with E-CRALL adoption. Additionally, score usage could anticipate CAL diagnosis in an average of 5.2 d and 4.1 d, if used on POD3 and POD5, respectively. Regardless of score adoption, episode comprehensive costs were markedly greater (up to four times) in patients who developed CAL in comparison with patients who did not develop CAL. Nonetheless, the use of the E-CRALL warning score was associated with cost savings of €421442.20, with most (92.9%) of the savings from patients who did not develop CAL.

CONCLUSION

The E-CRALL score is an accessible tool to predict CAL at an early timepoint. Additionally, E-CRALL can reduce overall healthcare costs, mainly in the reduction of hospital costs, independent of whether a patient developed CAL.

Development and future perspectives of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery for gastric cancer

In recent years, natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES), a novel minimally invasive surgical technique, has become a focus in the surgical field, and has been initially applied in gastric surgery in many national medical centers worldwide. In addition, this new surgical technique was launched in major hospitals in China. With an increasing number of patients who have accepted this new surgical technique, NOSES has provided new prospects for the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), which may achieve a better outcome for both patients and surgeons. More and more experts and scholars from different countries and regions are currently paying close attention to NOSES for the treatment of GC. However, there are only a few reports of its use in GC. This review focuses on the research progress in NOSES for radical gastrectomy in recent years. We also discuss the challenges and prospects of NOSES in clinical practice.

Assessment of tumor markers CA 19-9, CEA, CA 125, and CA 242 for the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one of the leading and aggressive cancers in this region of India. It is very difficult to diagnose in the early stage, as it lacks typical early signs and symptoms; thus, the diagnosis is often in the advanced stage, which ultimately leads to a poor 5-year survival outcome. Tumor markers including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 125, CA 242, and alpha fetoprotein are used as indicators in the diagnosis and prognosis of GBC.

AIM

To compare tumor marker levels between GBC and benign GB diseases (GBDs) and to assess the combined use of tumor markers to increase the diagnostic accuracy for GBC.

METHODS

Patients of either sex aged ≥ 18 years, with suspected GBC (GB polyp, irregular thick GB wall, GB mass, porcelain GB) on the basis of radiological imaging were included in this study. GB wall thickness using ultrasonography and tumor markers CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9, and CA 242 in all patients were recorded. All cases after surgical intervention were divided into two groups, GBC and benign GBD, according to histopathological examination findings. The cases were followed up and clinical findings, radiological findings, and levels of tumor markers were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were included in this study, of whom 80 patients had GBC and 120 patients had benign GBD. The median (interquartile range) age was 52.0 (41.0-60.0) years and the majority of patients (132, 66.0%) were women. Tumor markers including CA 19-9, CA 125, CEA, and CA 242 were significantly elevated in patients with GBC (P < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in tumor markers at 3 and 6 mo from baseline (P < 0.001). The mean survival of patients with normal and elevated levels of tumor markers CA 125, CA 19-9, and CEA was comparable; however lymph node metastasis and CA 242 expression level were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

Serum levels of tumor markers including CA 19-9, CA 125, CEA, and CA 242 were significantly associated with GBC. However, no significant association was observed between the presence of elevated levels of any tumor marker with respect to survival. Tumor marker assessment during follow-up may represent a treatment response.

Preoperative blood circulation modification prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with celiac trunk occlusion: Two case reports

BACKGROUND

Celiac trunk stenosis or occlusion is a common condition observed in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The risk of upper abdominal organ ischemia or failure increases if the blood circulation in the celiac arterial system is not maintained after the surgery.

CASE SUMMARY

We present two cases of elderly patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma and celiac trunk occlusion who underwent PD. We performed blood circulation modification preoperatively with transcatheter coil embolization of the arterial arcades of the pancreatic head via the superior mesenteric artery to develop collateral communication between the superior mesenteric artery and the common hepatic or splenic arteries to ensure arterial blood flow to the upper abdominal organs. The postoperative course was marked by delayed gastric emptying, but no major surgical complications, such as biliary or pancreatic fistula, or clinical, biochemical, or radiological evidence of ischemic disease, was observed.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative blood circulation modification may be a valid alternative procedure for elderly patients with celiac trunk occlusion who are ineligible for interventional or surgical revascularization.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin treatment in patients with chronic liver disease-related thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Chronic liver disease (CLD) related thrombocytopenia increases the risk of bleeding and poor prognosis. Many liver disease patients require invasive procedures or surgeries, such as liver biopsy or endoscopic variceal ligation, and most of them have lower platelet counts, which could aggravate the risk of bleeding due to liver dysfunction and coagulation disorders. Unfortunately, there is no defined treatment modality for CLD-induced thrombocytopenia. Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) is commonly used to treat primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombocytopenia caused by solid tumor chemotherapy; however, there are few reports on the use of rhTPO in the treatment of CLD-related thrombocytopenia.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of rhTPO in the treatment of patients with CLD-associated thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures.

METHODS

All analyses were based on the retrospective collection of clinical data of patients with CLD who were treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between June 2020 and December 2021. Fifty-nine male and 41 female patients with liver disease were enrolled in this study to assess the changes in platelet counts and parameters before and after the use of rhTPO for thrombocytopenia. Adverse events related to treatment, such as bleeding, thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, were also investigated.

RESULTS

Among the enrolled patients, 78 (78%) showed a platelet count increase after rhTPO use, while 22 (22%) showed no significant change in platelet count. The mean platelet count after rhTPO treatment in all patients was 101.53 ± 81.81 × 10⁹/L, which was significantly improved compared to that at baseline (42.88 ± 16.72 × 10⁹/L), and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In addition, patients were further divided into three subgroups according to their baseline platelet counts (< 30 × 10⁹/L, 30-50 × 10⁹/L, > 50 × 10⁹/L). Subgroup analyses showed that the median platelet counts after treatment were significantly higher (P < 0.001, all). Ninety (90%) patients did not require platelet transfusion partially due to an increase in platelet count after treatment with rhTPO. No serious adverse events related to rhTPO treatment were observed. Overall, rhTPO demonstrated good clinical efficacy for treating CLD-associated thrombocytopenia.

CONCLUSION

rhTPO can improve platelet count, reduce the risk of bleeding, and decrease the platelet transfusion rate, which may promote the safety of invasive procedures and improve overall survival of patients with CLD.

Disturbed passage of jejunal limb near esophageal hiatus after overlapped esophagojejunostomy following laparoscopic total gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Overlapped esophagojejunostomy (OEJ) is a secure purely laparoscopic reconstruction after laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). However, long-term surgical results have not been documented well.

AIM

In this paper, we report unusual patients who manifested jejunal limb stricture near the esophageal hiatus without anastomotic stenosis during long-term observation after surgery.

METHODS

From April 2009 until May 2020, we retrospectively reviewed 211 patients underwent LTG following by OEJ for gastric carcinoma and took a standard surveillance program. We aimed to characterize a novel complicated disorder observed in these patients to assist treatment and prevention.

RESULTS

Five patients (2.4%) had unusual jejunal limb stricture after LTG and OEJ, occurring at a mean of 10 mo after initial radical LTG. All five patients had disturbed oral intake and marked weight loss, and two had aspiration pneumonia. Various diagnostic modalities and intraoperative findings in each patient revealed an intact anastomosis, bent or tortuous jejunal limb resulting from loose fibrous adhesions on the left crus at the esophageal hiatus and no cancer recurrence. All five patients were successfully treated by reoperation for adhesiolysis, division of the left crus and rearrangement of the jejunal limb.

CONCLUSION

Disturbed passage through the jejunal limb near the hiatus can occur after some types of OEJ following LTG. We speculate that it may result from a short remnant esophagus, excessive mobilization of the jejunal limb that permits bending or tortuosity and adhesions on the left crus at the hiatus. Prevention for this complication is possible during the original LTG procedure.

Diagnosis, severity stratification and management of adult acute pancreatitis–current evidence and controversies

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease spectrum ranging from mild to severe with an unpredictable natural course. Majority of cases (80%) are mild and self-limiting. However, severe AP (SAP) has a mortality risk of up to 30%. Establishing aetiology and risk stratification are essential pillars of clinical care. Idiopathic AP is a diagnosis of exclusion which should only be used after extended investigations fail to identify a cause. Tenets of management of mild AP include pain control and management of aetiology to prevent recurrence. In SAP, patients should be resuscitated with goal-directed fluid therapy using crystalloids and admitted to critical care unit. Routine prophylactic antibiotics have limited clinical benefit and should not be given in SAP. Patients able to tolerate oral intake should be given early enteral nutrition rather than nil by mouth or parenteral nutrition. If unable to tolerate per-orally, nasogastric feeding may be attempted and routine post-pyloric feeding has limited evidence of clinical benefit. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram should be selectively performed in patients with biliary obstruction or suspicion of acute cholangitis. Delayed step-up strategy including percutaneous retroperitoneal drainage, endoscopic debridement, or minimal-access necrosectomy are sufficient in most SAP patients. Patients should be monitored for diabetes mellitus and pseudocyst.

Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between resected ampullary carcinoma and carcinoma of the second portion of the duodenum

BACKGROUND

Few studies compared the oncological and biological characteristics between ampullary carcinoma (AC) and cancer of the second portion of the duodenum (DC-II), although both tumors arise from anatomically close locations.

AIM

To elucidate differences in clinicopathological characteristics, especially the patterns of lymph node metastasis (LNM), between AC and DC-II.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 80 patients with AC and 27 patients with DC-II who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 1998 and December 2018 in two institutions. Clinicopathological factors, LNM patterns, and prognosis were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The patients with AC and DC-II did not exhibit significant differences in 5-year overall survival (66.0% and 67.1%, respectively) and 5-year relapse-free survival (63.5% and 62.2%, respectively). Compared to the patients with DC-II, the rate of preoperative biliary drainage was higher (P = 0.042) and the rates of digestive symptoms (P = 0.0158), ulcerative-type cancer (P < 0.0001), large tumor diameter (P < 0.0001), and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.0019) were lower in the patients with AC. The LNM rates were 27.5% and 40.7% in patients with AC and DC-II, respectively, without significant difference (P = 0.23). The rates of LNM to hepatic nodes (N-He) and pyloric nodes (N-Py) were significantly higher in patients with DC-II than in those with AC (metastasis to N-HE: 18.5% and 5% in patients with DC-II and AC, respectively; P = 0.0432; metastasis to N-Py: 11.1% and 0% in patients with DC-II and AC, respectively; P = 0.0186)

CONCLUSION

Although there were no significant differences in the prognosis and recurrence rates between the two groups, metastases to N-He and N-Py were more frequent in patients with DC-II than in those with AC.

Clinical value of extended lymphadenectomy in radical surgery for pancreatic head carcinoma at different T stages

BACKGROUND

As the lymph-node metastasis rate and sites vary among pancreatic head carcinomas (PHCs) of different T stages, selective extended lymphadenectomy (ELD) performance may improve the prognosis of patients with PHC.

AIM

To investigate the effect of ELD on the long-term prognosis of patients with PHC of different T stages.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 216 patients with PHC who underwent surgery at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2021. The patients were divided into extended and standard lymphadenectomy (SLD) groups according to extent of lymphadenectomy and into T1, T2, and T3 groups according to the 8^th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s staging system. Perioperative data and prognoses were compared among groups. Risk factors associated with prognoses were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates in the extended and SLD groups were 69.0%, 39.5%, and 26.8% and 55.1%, 32.6%, and 22.1%, respectively (P = 0.073). The 1-, 2- and 3-year disease-free survival rates in the extended and SLD groups of patients with stage-T3 PHC were 50.3%, 25.1%, and 15.1% and 22.1%, 1.7%, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.025); the corresponding OS rates were 65.3%, 38.1%, and 21.8% and 36.1%, 7.5%, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.073). Multivariate analysis indicated that portal vein invasion and lymphadenectomy extent were risk factors for prognosis in patients with stage-T3 PHC.

CONCLUSION

ELD may improve the prognosis of patients with stage-T3 PHC and may be of benefit if performed selectively.

Topological approach of liver segmentation based on 3D visualization technology in surgical planning for split liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Split liver transplantation (SLT) is a complex procedure. The left-lateral and right tri-segment splits are the most common surgical approaches and are based on the Couinaud liver segmentation theory. Notably, the liver surface following right tri-segment splits may exhibit different degrees of ischemic changes related to the destruction of the local portal vein blood flow topology. There is currently no consensus on preoperative evaluation and predictive strategy for hepatic segmental necrosis after SLT.

AIM

To investigate the application of the topological approach in liver segmentation based on 3D visualization technology in the surgical planning of SLT.

METHODS

Clinical data of 10 recipients and 5 donors who underwent SLT at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Before surgery, all the donors were subjected to 3D modeling and evaluation. Based on the 3D-reconstructed models, the liver splitting procedure was simulated using the liver segmentation system described by Couinaud and a blood flow topology liver segmentation (BFTLS) method. In addition, the volume of the liver was also quantified. Statistical indexes mainly included the hepatic vasculature and expected volume of split grafts evaluated by 3D models, the actual liver volume, and the ischemia state of the hepatic segments during the actual surgery.

RESULTS

Among the 5 cases of split liver surgery, the liver was split into a left-lateral segment and right tri-segment in 4 cases, while 1 case was split using the left and right half liver splitting. All operations were successfully implemented according to the preoperative plan. According to Couinaud liver segmentation system and BFTLS methods, the volume of the left lateral segment was 359.00 ± 101.57 mL and 367.75 ± 99.73 mL, respectively, while that measured during the actual surgery was 397.50 ± 37.97 mL. The volume of segment IV (the portion of ischemic liver lobes) allocated to the right tri-segment was 136.31 ± 86.10 mL, as determined using the topological approach to liver segmentation. However, during the actual surgical intervention, ischemia of the right tri-segment section was observed in 4 cases, including 1 case of necrosis and bile leakage, with an ischemic liver volume of 238.7 mL.

CONCLUSION

3D visualization technology can guide the preoperative planning of SLT and improve accuracy during the intervention. The simulated operation based on 3D visualization of blood flow topology may be useful to predict the degree of ischemia in the liver segment and provide a reference for determining whether the ischemic liver tissue should be removed during the surgery.

Performing robot-assisted pylorus and vagus nerve-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: A case series of initial experience

BACKGROUND

Pylorus and vagus nerve-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) is a function-preserving surgery for early gastric cancer (GC) that has gained considerable interest in the recent years. The operative technique performed using the Da Vinci Xi robot system is considered ideal for open and laparoscopic surgery.

AIM

To introduce Da Vinci Xi robot-assisted PPG (RAPPG)-based operative procedure and technical points as well as report the initial experience based on the clinical pathology data of eight cases of early GC.

METHODS

Da Vinci Xi robot-assisted pylorus and vagus nerve-preserving gastrectomy (RAPPG) was performed for 11 consecutive patients with middle GC from December 2020 to July 2021. Outcome measures were postoperative morbidity, operative time, blood loss, number of lymph nodes harvested, postoperative hospital stay, time to first flatus, time to diet, and resection margins.

RESULTS

Eight of the 11 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with early GC were enrolled in a retrospective study to assess the feasibility and safety of RAPPG. The mean operative time, mean blood loss, mean number of lymph nodes harvested, length of preserved pylorus canal, distal margin, and proximal margin were 330.63 ± 47.24 min, 57.50 ± 37.70 mL, 18.63 ± 10.57, 3.63 ± 0.88 cm, 3.50 ± 1.31 cm, and 3.63 ± 1.19 cm, respectively. None of the cases required conversion to laparotomy. Postoperative complications occurred in two (25.0%) patients. Postoperative complications were hyperamylasemia and gastric stasis in one case and incision infection in the other. Time to first flatus was 3.75 ± 2.49 d after the operation, and postoperative hospital stay was 10.13 ± 4.55 d.

CONCLUSION

The core technique in the Da Vinci Xi RAPPG is lymph node dissection and the anatomic method of the nerve. Robotic surgical procedures are feasible and safe. With the progress of surgical technology, optimization of medical insurance structure, and emergence of evidence-based medicine, automated surgery systems will have a broad application in clinical treatment.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease in the sigmoid colon in patient with severe colonic fibrosis and obstruction: A case report

BACKGROUND

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated condition characterized by abundant IgG4 positive plasma cells and fibrosis in the affected tissues. It affects most parts of the body; however, there are not many reports on IgG4-RD involving the colon.

CASE SUMMARY

A 50-year-old man complaining of intermittent fever for more than two years was referred to our hospital. Based on various investigations before surgery, we diagnosed him with chronic perforation of the sigmoid colon caused by inflammatory change or tumor. IgG blood tests before the operation suggested IgG4-RD, and postoperative pathology confirmed this prediction.

CONCLUSION

We present a patient with IgG4-RD with colon involvement, which is an uncommon site. This report will expand the understanding of IgG4-RD in unknown tissues.

Cecocutaneous fistula diagnosed by computed tomography fistulography: A case report

BACKGROUND

Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) is an abnormal communication between the skin and the gastrointestinal tract and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. To diagnose ECF, X-ray fistulography and abdominal computed tomography (CT) with intravenous or oral contrast are generally used. If the anatomic details obtained from CT are insufficient, CT fistulography may help diagnose and determine the extent of the abnormal channel. However, CT fistulography is seldom performed in patients with insufficient evidence of a fistula.

CASE SUMMARY

A 35-year-old man with a prior appendectomy presented with purulence over the abdominal wall without gastrointestinal tract symptoms or a visible opening on the abdominal surface. His history and physical examination were negative for nausea, diarrhea, muscle guarding, and bloating. Local abdominal tenderness and redness over a purulent area were noted, which led to the initial diagnosis of cellulitis. He was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of cellulitis. We performed a minimal incision on the carbuncle to collect the pus. The bacterial culture of the exudate resulted positive for Enterococcus sp. ECF was thus suspected, and we arranged a CT scan for further investigation. CT images before intravenous contrast administration showed that the colon was in close contact with the abdominal wall. Therefore, we conducted CT fistulography by injecting contrast dye into the carbuncle during the CT scan. The images showed an accumulation of the contrast agent within the subcutaneous tissues, suggesting the formation of an abscess. The contrast dye tracked down through the muscles and peritoneum into the colon, delineating a channel connecting the subcutaneous abscess with the colon. This evidence confirmed cecocutaneous fistula and avoided misdiagnosing ECF without gastrointestinal tract symptoms as cellulitis. The patient underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with re-anastomosis of the ileum and transverse colon.

CONCLUSION

CT fistulography can rule out ECF in cases presenting as cellulitis if examinations are suggestive.

Long-term efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy with long injection needle for internal hemorrhoids

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoids are a common anal condition and can afflict an individual at any age. Epidemiological survey results in China show that the prevalence of anorectal diseases is as high as 50.1% among which 98.08% of patients have hemorrhoid symptoms.

AIM

To assess long-term efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy (CAES) with long injection needle for internal hemorrhoids.

METHODS

This study was retrospective. Data from patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids treated with CAES using endoscopic long injection needle from April 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Patients were telephoned and followed at two time points, December 2020 and 2021, to evaluate the improvements in symptoms, complications, recurrence, and satisfaction.

RESULTS

Two hundreds and one patients with internal hemorrhoids underwent CAES with the long needle. The first median follow-up was performed 33 mo post-operatively. Symptoms improved in 87.5% of patients after the first CAES. Efficacy did not decrease with treatment time extension. Fifty-four patients underwent colonoscopy after the first CAES treatment of which 21 underwent CAES again, and 4 underwent hemorrhoidectomy. At the first follow-up, 62.7% of patients had both improved hemorrhoid grades and symptoms, and 27.4% had a significant improvement in both parameters. At the second follow-up, 61.7% of the patients showed satisfactory improvement in their hemorrhoid grade and symptoms when compared with pre-surgery values. 90% of patients reported CAES was painless, and 85% were satisfied/very satisfied with CAES treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The present study based on the largest sample size reported the long-term follow-up of the treatment for internal hemorrhoid with the CAES using endoscopic long injection needle. Our findings demonstrate that CAES should be a micro-invasive endoscopic technology yields satisfactory long-term efficacy and safety.

Can DKI-MRI predict recurrence and invasion of peritumoral zone of hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization?

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been performed as a palliative treatment for patients with HCC. However, HCC is easy to recur after TACE. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has clinical potential in evaluating the TACE treatment effect for patients with liver cancer. However, traditional MRI has some limitations.

AIM

To explore the clinical potential of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in predicting recurrence and cellular invasion of the peritumoral liver zone of HCC after TACE.

METHODS

Seventy-six patients with 82 HCC nodules were recruited in this study and underwent DKI after TACE. According to pathological examinations or the overall modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) criterion, 48 and 34 nodules were divided into true progression and pseudo-progression groups, respectively. The TACE-treated area, peritumoral liver zone, and far-tumoral zone were evaluated on DKI-derived metric maps. Non-parametric U test and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used to evaluate the prediction performance of each DKI metric between the two groups. The independent t-test was used to compare each DKI metric between the peritumoral and far-tumoral zones of the true progression group.

RESULTS

DKI metrics, including mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (DA), radial diffusivity (DR), axial kurtosis (KA), and anisotropy fraction of kurtosis (Fak), showed statistically different values between the true progression and pseudo-progression groups (P < 0.05). Among these, MD, DA, and DR values were higher in pseudo-progression lesions than in true progression lesions, whereas KA and FAk values were higher in true progression lesions than in pseudo-progression lesions. Moreover, for the true progression group, the peritumoral zone showed significantly different DA, DR, KA, and FAk values from the far-tumoral zone. Furthermore, MD values of the liver parenchyma (peritumoral and far-tumoral zones) were significantly lower in the true progression group than in the pseudo-progression group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

DKI has been demonstrated with robust performance in predicting the therapeutic response of HCC to TACE. Moreover, DKI might reveal cellular invasion of the peritumoral zone by molecular diffusion-restricted change.

Reconstructing the portal vein through a posterior pancreatic tunnel: New choice for portal vein thrombosis during liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Thrombectomy and anatomical anastomosis (TAA) has long been considered the optimal approach to portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver transplantation (LT). However, TAA and the current approach for non-physiological portal reconstructions are associated with a higher rate of complications and mortality in some cases.

AIM

To describe a new choice for reconstructing the portal vein through a posterior pancreatic tunnel (RPVPPT) to address cases of unresectable PVT.

METHODS

Between August 2019 and August 2021, 245 adult LTs were performed. Forty-five (18.4%) patients were confirmed to have PVT before surgery, among which seven underwent PV reconstruction via the RPVPPT approach. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical procedure and postoperative complications of these seven recipients that underwent PV reconstruction due to PVT.

RESULTS

During the procedure, PVT was found in all the seven cases with significant adhesion to the vascular wall and could not be dissected. The portal vein proximal to the superior mesenteric vein was damaged in one case when attempting thrombolectomy, resulting in massive bleeding. LT was successfully performed in all patients with a mean duration of 585 min (range 491-756 min) and mean intraoperative blood loss of 800 mL (range 500-3000 mL). Postoperative complications consisted of chylous leakage (n = 3), insufficient portal venous flow to the graft (n = 1), intra-abdominal hemorrhage (n = 1), pulmonary infection (n = 1), and perioperative death (n = 1). The remaining six patients survived at 12-17 mo follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The RPVPPT technique might be a safe and effective surgical procedure during LT for complex PVT. However, follow-up studies with large samples are still warranted due to the relatively small number of cases.

Drain fluid biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula: A narrative review

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) has continued to compromise patient recovery post-pancreatectomy despite decades of research seeking to improve risk prediction and diagnosis. The current diagnostic criteria for CR-POPF requires elevated drain fluid amylase to present alongside POPF-related complications including infection, haemorrhage and organ failure. These worrying sequelae necessitate earlier and easily obtainable biomarkers capable of reflecting evolving CR-POPF. Drain fluid has recently emerged as a promising source of biomarkers as it is derived from the pancreas and hence, capable of reflecting its postoperative condition. The present review aims to summarise the current knowledge of CR-POPF drain fluid biomarkers and identify gaps in the field to invigorate future research in this critical area of clinical need. These findings may provide robust diagnostic alternatives for CR-POPF and hence, to clarify their clinical utility require further reports detailing their diagnostic and/or predictive accuracy.

Blood index panel for gastric cancer detection

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

AIM

To develop a blood index panel that may improve the diagnostic value for discriminating gastric cancer and gastric polyps.

METHODS

Thirteen tumor-related detection indices, 38 clinical biochemical indices and 10 cytokine indices were examined in 139 gastric cancer patients and 40 gastric polyp patients to build the model. An additional 68 gastric cancer patients and 22 gastric polyp patients were enrolled for validation. After area under the curve evaluation and univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Five tumor-related detection indices, 12 clinical biochemical indices and 1 cytokine index showed significant differences between the gastric cancer and gastric polyp groups. Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 724, phosphorus (P) and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) were included in the blood index panel, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the index panel was 0.829 (0.754, 0.905). After validation, the AUC was 0.811 (0.700, 0.923). Compared to the conventional index CA724, the blood index panel showed significantly increased diagnostic value.

CONCLUSION

We developed an index model that included CA724, P and IMA to discriminate the gastric cancer and gastric polyp groups, which may be a potential diagnostic method for clinical practice.

Study of preoperative diagnostic modalities in Chinese patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnifying endoscopy (ME) reliably determine indications for endoscopic resection in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). ME is widely accepted for predicting the invasion depth of superficial esophageal cancer with satisfying accuracy. However, the addition of EUS is controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of ME vs EUS for invasion depth prediction and investigate the influencing factors in patients with SESCC to determine the best diagnostic model in China.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with suspected SESCC who completed both ME and EUS and then underwent endoscopic or surgical resection at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2018 and December 2021. We evaluated and compared the diagnostic efficiency of EUS and ME according to histological results, and investigated the influencing factors.

RESULTS

We included 152 lesions from 144 patients in this study. The diagnostic accuracies of ME and EUS in differentiating invasion depth were not significantly different (73.0% and 66.4%, P = 0.24); both demonstrated moderate consistency with the pathological results (ME: kappa = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.68, P < 0.01; EUS: kappa = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.34-0.57, P < 0.01). ME was significantly more accurate in the diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial (HGIN) or carcinoma in situ (odds ratio [OR] = 3.62, 95%CI: 1.43-9.16, P = 0.007) subgroups. Using a miniature probe rather than conventional EUS can improve the accuracy of lesion depth determination (82.3% vs 49.3%, P < 0.01). Less than a quarter of circumferential occupation and application of a miniature probe were independent risk factors for the accuracy of tumor invasion depth as assessed by EUS (< 1/4 circumferential occupation: OR = 3.07, 95%CI: 1.04-9.10; application of a miniature probe: OR = 5.28, 95%CI: 2.41-11.59, P < 0.01). Of the 41 lesions (41/152, 27.0%) that were misdiagnosed by ME, 24 were corrected by EUS (24/41, 58.5%).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative diagnosis of SESCC should be conducted endoscopically using white light and magnification. In China, EUS can be added after obtaining patient consent. Use of a high-frequency miniature probe or miniature probe combined with conventional EUS is preferable.

Central pancreatectomy for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors in the neck and body of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

For tumors in the neck and body of the pancreas, distal pancreatectomy (DP) has been the standard surgical procedure for the last few decades and central pancreatectomy (CP) is an alternative surgical option. Whether CP better preserves remnant pancreatic endocrine and exocrine functions after surgery remains a subject of debate.

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CP compared with DP for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors in the neck and body of the pancreas.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 296 patients who underwent CP or DP for benign and low-malignant neoplasms at the same hospital between January 2016 and March 2020. Perioperative outcomes and long-term morbidity of endocrine/exocrine function were prospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in overall morbidity or clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula between the two groups (P = 0.055). Delayed gastric emptying occurred more frequently in the CP group than in the DP group (29.4% vs 15.3%; P < 0.005). None of the patients in the CP group had new-onset or aggravated distal metastasis, whereas 40 patients in the DP group had endocrine function deficiency after surgery (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of diarrhea immediately after surgery, but at postoperative 12 mo, a significantly higher number of patients had diarrhea in the DP group than in the CP group (0% vs 9.5%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CP is a generally safe procedure and is better than DP in preserving long-term pancreatic endocrine and exocrine functions. Therefore, CP might be a better option for treating benign or low-grade malignant neoplasms in suitable patients.

Feasible management of median arcuate ligament syndrome in orthotopic liver transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND

In orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients, median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is considered a risk factor for hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT), which is dreadful for OLT recipients. Different alternative surgical procedures have been proposed to overcome the impact of MALS on transplantation, but clinical evidence is still scarce.

AIM

To evaluate the feasible surgical management of MALS to reduce complications in OLT patients.

METHODS

Data for 288 consecutive patients who underwent OLT at The First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2017 and July 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical management of median arcuate ligament (MAL) and modifications to the arterial anastomosis were recorded. The perioperative and long-term prognosis of MALS recipients were noted. Detailed preoperative and postoperative data of patients were analyzed in a descriptive manner.

RESULTS

Eight patients with MALS were included in this study. The first patient with MALS received no intervention during the primary surgery and developed postoperative HAT. Salvage liver transplantation with MAL division was successfully performed. Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) preservation with splenic artery ligation was performed on three patients, only GDA preservation was performed on two patients, and no intervention was performed on two patients. No patient developed HAT after surgery and postoperative recovery was satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

The preservation of collateral circulation between the superior mesenteric artery and celiac trunk via the GDA with or without splenic artery ligation is a safe and feasible alternative to MAL division.

Laparoscopic appendectomy, stump closure and endoloops: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the main indications for urgent surgery. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has shown advantages in terms of clinical results and cost-effectiveness, even if there is still controversy about different devices to utilize, especially with regards to the endoloop (EL) vs endostapler (ES) when it comes to stump closure.

AIM

To compare safety and cost-effectiveness of EL vs ES.

METHODS

From a prospectively maintained database, data of 996 consecutive patients treated by LA with a 3 years-follow up in the department of Emergency General Surgery - St Orsola University Hospital, Bologna (Italy) were retrieved. A meta-analysis was performed in terms of surgical complications, in comparison to the international literature published from 1995 to 2021.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed no evidence regarding wound infections, abdominal abscesses, and total post-operative complications, in terms of superiority of a surgical technique for the stump closure in LA.

CONCLUSION

Even when AA is complicated, the routine use of EL is safe in most patients.

Retrorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a tailgut cyst: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Tailgut cysts are defined as congenital cysts that develop in the rectosacral space from the residue of the primitive tail. As a congenital disease, caudal cysts are very rare, and their canceration is even rarer, which makes the disease prone to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. We describe a case of caudal cyst with adenocarcinogenesis and summarize in detail the characteristics of cases with analytical value reported since 1990.

CASE SUMMARY

A 35-year-old woman found a mass in her lower abdomen 2 mo ago. She was asymptomatic at that time and was not treated because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Two weeks ago, the patient developed abdominal distension and right waist discomfort and came to our hospital. Except for the high level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen, the medical history and laboratory tests were not remarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-defined, slightly lobulated cystic-solid mass with a straight diameter of approximately 10 cm × 9 cm in the presacral space, slightly high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging, and moderate signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging. The mass was completely removed by laparoscopic surgery. Histopathological examination showed that the lesion was an intestinal mucinous adenocarcinoma, and the multidisciplinary team decided to implement postoperative chemotherapy. The patient recovered well, the tumor marker levels returned to normal, and tumor-free survival has been achieved thus far.

CONCLUSION

The case and literature summary can help clinicians and researchers develop appropriate examination and therapeutic methods for diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease.

Personal predictive model based on systemic inflammation markers for estimation of postoperative pancreatic fistula following pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) is a serious life-threatening complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Our research aimed to develop a machine learning (ML)-aided model for PF risk stratification.

AIM

To develop an ML-aided model for PF risk stratification.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected 618 patients who underwent PD from two tertiary medical centers between January 2012 and August 2021. We used an ML algorithm to build predictive models, and subject prediction index, that is, decision curve analysis, area under operating characteristic curve (AUC) and clinical impact curve to assess the predictive efficiency of each model.

RESULTS

A total of 29 variables were used to build the ML predictive model. Among them, the best predictive model was random forest classifier (RFC), the AUC was [0.897, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.370–1.424], while the AUC of the artificial neural network, eXtreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, and decision tree were between 0.726 (95%CI: 0.191–1.261) and 0.882 (95%CI: 0.321–1.443).

CONCLUSION

Fluctuating serological inflammatory markers and prognostic nutritional index can be used to predict postoperative PF.

Predictors of difficult endoscopic resection of submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer at the esophagogastric junction

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic resection approaches, including endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), have been widely used for the treatment of submucosal tumors (SMTs) located in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, compared to SMTs located in the esophagus or stomach, endoscopic resection of SMTs from the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is much more difficult because of the sharp angle and narrow lumen of the EGJ. SMTs originating from the muscularis propria (MP) in the EGJ, especially those that grow extraluminally and adhere closely to the serosa, make endoscopic resection even more difficult.

AIM

To investigate the predictors of difficult endoscopic resection for SMTs from the MP layer at the EGJ.

METHODS

A total of 90 patients with SMTs from the MP layer at the EGJ were included in the present study. The difficulty of endoscopic resection was defined as a long procedure time, failure of en bloc resection and intraoperative bleeding. Clinicopathological, endoscopic and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis of independent risks for piecemeal resection, long operative time, and intraoperative bleeding were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

According to the location and growth pattern of the tumor, 44 patients underwent STER, 14 patients underwent EFTR, and the remaining 32 patients received a standard ESD procedure. The tumor size was 20.0 mm (range 5.0–100.0 mm). Fourty-seven out of 90 lesions (52.2%) were regularly shaped. The overall en bloc resection rate was 84.4%. The operation time was 43 min (range 16–126 min). The intraoperative bleeding rate was 18.9%. There were no adverse events that required therapeutic intervention during or after the procedures. The surgical approach had no significant correlation with en bloc resection, long operative time or intraoperative bleeding. Large tumor size (≥ 30 mm) and irregular tumor shape were independent predictors for piecemeal resection (OR: 7.346, P = 0.032 and OR: 18.004, P = 0.029, respectively), long operative time (≥ 60 min) (OR: 47.330, P = 0.000 and OR: 6.863, P = 0.034, respectively) and intraoperative bleeding (OR: 20.631, P = 0.002 and OR: 19.020, P = 0.021, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic resection is an effective treatment for SMTs in the MP layer at the EGJ. Tumors with large size and irregular shape were independent predictors for difficult endoscopic resection.