Impact of Frailty and Sarcopenia on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of frailty and sarcopenia in patients with gastric cancer is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively examine the impact of frailty and sarcopenia on the short- and long-term outcomes in elderly patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 246 patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent radical gastrectomy. Frailty and sarcopenia were assessed using the modified frailty index (mFI) and psoas muscle mass index (PMI), respectively.

RESULTS

There were 30 (12.2%) and 60 (24.4%) patients with High-mFI and Low-PMI, respectively. As the age increased, both sexes showed significant correlations with PMI and mFI (r = - 0.238, 0.322, P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). High-mFI and Low-PMI did not affect the short-term outcomes. However, High-mFI was an independent risk factor for non-home discharge (P = 0.004) and was a significant predictor of 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.76 and 2.26; P = 0.002 and 0.005, respectively) and 1-, 3- and 5-year non-cancer-specific survival (non-CSS) (HR = 4.88, 8.05, and 4.01; P = 0.017, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Low-PMI was a significant predictor of only 5-year OS (HR = 2.03, P = 0.003) and non-CSS (HR = 2.10, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty is significant predictor of non-home discharge and 1-, 3-, 5-year OS and 3- and 5-year non-CSS. Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of 5-year OS and non-CSS. Preoperative assessment of both frailty and sarcopenia can help surgeons to select adequate treatment strategies for the elderly population.

Impact of gastrectomy on body composition within 1 month in patients with gastric cancer

PURPOSE

The present study examined the changes in and risk factors for body composition (BC) during the first postoperative month when dynamic biological reactions occur.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 202 patients who underwent gastrectomy. The BC was assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analysis and evaluated within 1 month preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for BC change.

RESULTS

The mean reduction rate in BC at 1 month postoperatively was - 6.0, - 10.5, - 5.6, - 1.1, - 10.1, and + 1.2% for body weight, body fat, skeletal muscle, bone mineral, extracellular water/total body water, and the whole-body phase angle, respectively. A multiple regression analysis revealed that independent risk factors for weight loss were complications, operative time, and type of gastrectomy (P = 0.004, 0.011, 0.015, respectively), and those for skeletal muscle loss were complications and gastrectomy type (P = 0.002, 0.010, respectively). A segmental lean mass analysis revealed that the lower limbs were markedly reduced at 1 week postoperatively (- 8.0%), and these independent risk factors were the female sex and Stage II/III disease (P = 0.008, 0.036, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Detailed analyses of BC might help elucidate the mechanisms underlying postoperative physical changes, which might be useful for perioperative management.

What is necessary to shorten the operative time in initial introduction of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer?

INTRODUCTION

Robotic gastrectomy (RG) is a good alternative to laparoscopic gastrectomy, as it improves treatment outcomes and reduces the burden of technical difficulties; however, prolonged operative time may be a disadvantage. This study aimed to identify measures to shorten the operative time during the initial introduction of RG at an institution.

METHODS

We assessed 33 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction and divided them into three groups: laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG), robotic distal gastrectomy in the early phase (RDG-E), and in the late phase (RDG-L). Operative time, six technical steps, and junk time, including the roll-in/roll-out, docking/undocking, and instrument exchange times, were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

The median (range) overall operative times of LDG, RDG-E, and RDG-L were 248 (179-323), 304 (249-383), and 263 (220-367) min, respectively, but no significant differences were observed. For each surgical step of RG, RDG-L in suprapancreatic lymph node dissection was significantly shorter than that in RDG-E. The median (range) junk times of LDG, RDG-E, and RDG-L were 16.7 (12.7-26.4), 48.3 (38.6-67.7), and 42.0 (35.4-49.2) min, respectively. Junk time was significantly longer in RDG-L than in LDG (p = 0.003), but not significant between RDG-E and RDG-L. The learning curve effect of overall, console, and junk times were achieved in four cases of RDG.

CONCLUSION

Junk time is a major factor in prolonging RDG operative time. However, to reduce the time after initial introduction, measures to promote robot-specific standardization and more effective use of robotic instruments are essential.

Post-colostomy internal hernia of the stomach treated with laparoscopic gastropexy: a case report

Background

Internal hernias are formed by the protrusion of internal organs through an aperture formed congenitally or postoperatively. Internal hernias are most commonly associated with the small intestine. Only two cases of a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach have been reported. This hernia arises from the space between the lifted sigmoid colon and the left abdominal wall. In the two aforementioned cases, treatment comprised suturing of the sigmoid colon to the lateral abdominal wall and changing of the intraperitoneal route to an extraperitoneal one. Herein, we present a very rare case who underwent laparoscopic gastropexy for a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach.

Case presentation

Our patient, a 67-year-old woman, was undergoing chemoradiation for rectal cancer and planned to undergo abdominoperineal resection. However, tumor perforation resulted in a high fever and a right gluteal abscess; therefore, a sigmoid colostomy was performed through the intraperitoneal route in the left lower abdomen. One month after the surgery, the patient presented to our emergency room with vomiting, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Computed tomography revealed a markedly distended stomach caused by the obstruction of the pylorus secondary to the colostomy; laparoscopic gastropexy was performed subsequently and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusions

This is the first report on the laparoscopic gastropexy treatment of a post-sigmoid colostomy internal hernia of the stomach; our findings may help physicians manage such hernias.

Clinical Significance of Serum Antithrombin III Activity After Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

As antithrombin III (AT-III) is produced in the hepatocytes, its serum activity decreases at the time of liver failure, in addition to ischemia reperfusion injury, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Here, we examined whether the serum AT-III value after hepatectomy could be a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Of 141 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC, data for 101 patients in whom serum AT-III activity was measured on the first postoperative day were extracted. Patients with serum AT-III activity > 50% and ≤ 50% were assigned to high value (72 cases) and low value (29 cases) groups, respectively. We examined the clinical and prognostic differences between these two groups.

Results

The average age of enrolled patients (83 men and 18 women) was 68.0 years. The 5-year overall survival rate was 88% and 60% in the high and low value groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the 2-year relapse-free survival rate was 71% and 54% in the high and low value groups, respectively (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

This is the first study to demonstrate that serum AT-III levels on the first postoperative day may serve as a prognostic factor in HCC patients.

The prognostic significance of combined geriatric nutritional risk index and psoas muscle volume in older patients with pancreatic cancer

Background

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), originally developed as a nutritional assessment tool to evaluate mortality and morbidity in older hospitalized patients (i.e., those aged ≥65 years), is regarded as a prognostic factor in several cancers. Body composition is also an important consideration when predicting the prognosis of patients with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the GNRI and psoas muscle volume (PMV) for survival outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated the prognostic significance of the GNRI and PMV in 105 consecutive patients aged ≥65 years who underwent pancreatectomy for histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer. The patients were divided into high (GNRI > 98) and low GNRI groups (GNRI ≤98), and into high (PMV > 61.5 mm³/m³ for men and 44.1 mm³/m³ for women) and low PMV (PMV ≤ 61.5 mm³/m³ for men and 44.1 mm³/m³ for women) groups.

Results

Both the 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly greater among patients in the high GNRI group than among patients in the low GNRI group. Similarly, both the 5-year OS and RFS rates were significantly greater among patients in the high PMV group than among patients in the low PMV group. Patients were stratified into three groups: those with both high GNRI and high PMV; those with either high GNRI or high PMV (but not both); and those with both low GNRI and low PMV. Patients with both low GNRI and low PMV had a worse 5-year OS rate, compared with patients in other groups (P <  0.001). The C-index of the combination of the GNRI and PMV for predicting 5-year OS was greater than the C-indices of either the GNRI or PMV alone. Multivariate analysis revealed that the combination of the GNRI and PMV was an independent prognostic factor in patients aged ≥65 years with pancreatic cancer (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

The combination of the GNRI and PMV might be useful to predict prognosis in patients aged ≥65 years with pancreatic cancer.

Decreased mean platelet volume predicts poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer

Background

Decreased mean platelet volume (MPV) predicts poor prognosis in some cancers. However, its significance as a prognostic indicator in pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 91 PC patients who underwent pancreatectomy were included in this study. MPV and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were measured within 1 week before surgery.

Results

We divided patients into MPV^high (≥ 8.65; n = 40), MPV^low (< 8.65; n = 51), CA19-9^high (≥ 66.3; n = 47), and CA19-9^low (< 66.3; n = 44) groups based on the optimal cut-off values determined from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were significantly lower in the MPV^low than in the MPV^high group (16.9% and 56.3%, respectively; P = 0.0038), and the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates in the MPV^low group and MPV^high group were 20.5% and 62.2%, respectively (P = 0.0031). Multivariate analysis identified MPV as an independent prognostic indicator for both OS and DSS. The patients were then divided into groups A (MPV^high and CA19-9^low), B (MPV^high and CA19-9^high), C (MPV^low and CA19-9^low), and D (MPV^low and CA19-9^high), with 5-year OS rates of 73.2%, 40.4%, 25.8%, and 10.3%, respectively (P = 0.0002), and 5-year DSS rates of 80.8%, 44.9%, 27.3%, and 16.4%, respectively (P = 0.0003).

Conclusions

Classification based on MPV and CA19-9 might be useful for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with PC.

Sarcopenia as a prognostic factor in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer: a retrospective study

Background

Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor in various cancers. However, the impact of sarcopenia in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer remains unclear. This study evaluated the prognostic significance of sarcopenia in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Seventy-four patients who developed postoperative recurrence of pancreatic cancer after undergoing pancreatectomies were enrolled. Sarcopenia in these patients was defined according to the psoas muscle index (PMI) measured via computed tomography at the third vertebra.

Results

The mean PMIs at the time of recurrence were 4.47 ± 1.27 cm²/m² for men and 3.26 ± 0.70 cm²/m² for women. Of the 74 patients, 65 (87.8%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia with low PMI. The 2-year post-recurrence survival curve in the sarcopenia group was significantly worse than that in the non-sarcopenia group (P = 0.034). Multivariate analysis revealed that sarcopenia at the time of recurrence was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.043) along with a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.004), early recurrence (P = 0.001), and chemotherapy after recurrence (P = 0.005) in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, the area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of sarcopenia and time to recurrence for predicting 2-year survival was 0.763, which was much higher than that of sarcopenia alone (AUC = 0.622).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia is a useful prognostic factor in patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer. The combination of sarcopenia and time of recurrence may more accurately predict post-recurrence survival than can sarcopenia alone.

Combined prognostic nutritional index ratio and serum amylase level during the early postoperative period predicts pancreatic fistula following pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the range of change in prognostic nutritional index (PNI) during the early postoperative period as a predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively analyzed for 192 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate perioperative variables. PNI^P3-Pre ratio represented the range of change in PNI from before surgery to postoperative day (POD) 3, PNI^P1-Pre ratio represented the range of change in PNI from before surgery to POD 1, and PNI^P3-P1 ratio represented the range of change in PNI from POD 1 to POD 3.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (AUC) for PNI^P3-P1 for prediction of POPF following pancreaticoduodenectomy was 0.683 (P <  0.001), which was highest among PNI ratios and higher than PNI on POD 3. The AUC for serum amylase level on POD 1 was 0.704 (P <  0.001), which was superior to the corresponding AUC on POD 3. The AUC for the combination of PNI^P3-P1 ratio and serum amylase level on POD 1 for prediction of POPF was higher than the AUC of either indicator alone (0.743, P <  0.001). The combination of PNI^P3-P1 ratio and serum amylase level on POD 1 was an independent predictor of POPF following pancreaticoduodenectomy (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of the range of change in PNI from POD 1 to POD 3 and serum amylase levels on POD 1 may be useful for prediction of POPF following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Avoidance of bile duct injury during laparoscopic liver cyst fenestration using indocyanine green: A case report

By administering ICG test immediately before laparoscopic liver cyst fenestration, the biliary tract can be easily identified and intraoperative bile duct damage and postoperative bile fistula formation can be avoided, as demonstrated in this case.

Laparoscopically-Assisted Repair of a Small Bowel Perforation Secondary to Multiple Metastases of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma

We present a very rare case of a laparoscopically-assisted repair of a small bowel perforation secondary to multiple metastases of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma from the posterior mediastinum. A 46-year-old man presented with middle to upper abdominal pain during chemotherapy for lung metastases from undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Computed tomography revealed intra-abdominal free air, and emergency laparoscopy was performed. Consequently, a perforation was detected in the jejunum, and partial jejunal resection was performed by mini-laparotomy. Pathological examination demonstrated an ulcerated tumor with perforation and four additional tumors in the resected jejunum. Pathological examination also revealed undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in all five tumors. To our knowledge, our case is the first report of a laparoscopically-assisted repair of a small bowel perforation secondary to metastasis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Although the perforation site was unclear preoperatively, laparoscopic observation readily identified the lesion in this patient. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery could be performed successfully with mini-laparotomy following laparoscopic observation. Laparoscopic techniques for the small intestine are viable options, even in acute and uncommon situations, and small bowel perforation secondary to metastasis should be considered in patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and acute abdomen.

Prognostic Impact of Pre- and Post-operative P-CRP Levels in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) levels reflect ongoing inflammation and/or tissue damage, and studies suggest that platelets play a role in tumor invasion and metastasis. P-CRP is defined as the multiplied product of serum CRP and platelet levels. Here the prognostic value of pre- and post-operative P-CRP levels in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients was assessed.

Methods

This retrospective study used data from 107 consecutive PC patients who had undergone either pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy. Clinicopathological parameters and pre/post-operative laboratory data derived from patient records were used for analyses. P-CRP was defined as the product of peripheral thrombocyte count (/uL) × serum CRP level (mg/dL) divided by 10⁴; the optimal P-CRP cut-off value was defined using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

PC patients were classified as either P-CRP^Low (< 1.782; n = 49) or P-CRP^High (≥ 1.782; n = 58), based on the cut-off value of 1.782. Univariate analysis revealed that performance status, clinical stage, pathological T and N stages, P-CRP, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) significantly affected overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that independent risk factors for OS were pathological N stage, P-CRP, and CA19-9. Additionally, 103 PC patients for whom postoperative data were available were classified into four groups (P-CRP^Low-Down, P-CRP^Low-Up, P-CRP^High-Down and P-CRP^High-Up), based on preoperative P-CRP and postoperative trend of P-CRP, and we found that prognosis, in terms of OS, was significantly different among these groups (P = 0.012).

Conclusion

Pre- and post-operative P-CRP values are a potential predictor of prognosis in PC patients.

Impact of postoperative mean arterial pressure on the incidence of postoperative complications after hepatic resection for primary liver malignancy

PURPOSE

We conducted this study to evaluate the impact of the postoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) on surgical complications after hepatic resection.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were 199 patients who underwent hepatic resection for primary liver malignancy between 2004 and 2013. A clinically relevant postoperative complication was defined as a Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complication.

RESULTS

Based on an MAP cut-off value of 81.1 mmHg, the patients were grouped as follows: low MAP on both postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2 (continuously low MAP), normal MAP on both PODs 1 and 2 (normal MAP), and others (transiently low MAP). The continuously low MAP group had the highest incidence of complications and the normal MAP group had the lowest incidence of complications compared with the expected incidence for this cohort (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that both a continuously and transiently low MAP were independent predictors of postoperative complications (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively). Among the subtypes of complications, a low MAP had a significant relationship with ascites/pleural effusion and respiratory complications (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A low MAP on POD 1 and/or 2 is an independent predictor of postoperative complications.

Utility and Limitation of Preoperative Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed to be a surrogate marker of inflammation and immunological status and to have prognostic value in various malignancies. This study was conducted to clarify the prognostic significance of preoperative NLR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We enrolled 135 patients with histologically-proven HCC who underwent initial curative hepatectomy. Based on the median NLR values, patients were divided into: NLR ≥ 2.0 (NLR-high, n = 69) and NLR < 2.0 (NLR-low, n = 66).

Results

In univariate analysis, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 59.8 % ± 6.7% and 75.6% ± 6.5% (P = 0.028) in the NLR-high and NLR-low groups, respectively. Furthermore, the 5-year disease specific survival rates were 68.6% ± 6.7%, and 81.2 ± 6.4% (P = 0.048) in the NLR-high and NLR-low groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results showed that high NLR was an independent predictor for OS in hepatectomy-treated HCC, suggesting that NLR may be a novel prognostic biomarker for HCC. On the other hand, NLR also has a limitation to predict postoperative prognosis of HCC patients by itself.

Post-operative albumin-bilirubin grade predicts long-term outcomes among Child-Pugh grade A patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection

BACKGROUND

Although Child-Pugh grade A patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are candidates for curative resection, some may have a poor prognosis. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, a measure of liver function based on albumin and bilirubin, has the potential to detect Child-Pugh grade A HCC patients with poor prognosis. Because components of the ALBI grade can be measured easily even after surgery, we explored the predictive values of ALBI in patient prognosis after HCC resection.

METHODS

In this retrospective case-control study, we included 136 HCC patients who underwent curative resection between January 2004 and December 2013 at our hospital. ALBI grade was calculated from laboratory data recorded the day before surgery and at post-operative day 5.

RESULTS

Pre- and post-operative ALBI grade predicted patients' long-term outcomes (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001, respectively, for overall survival, and P = 0.012 and P = 0.015, respectively, for recurrence-free survival). Post-operative ALBI grade was associated with patients' surgical factors of repeated hepatic resection (P = 0.012), intra-operative bleeding (P = 0.006), and surgery duration (P = 0.033). Furthermore, post-operative ALBI grade, rather than pre-operative ALBI grade, was an independent predictive factor of long-term outcome of Child-Pugh grade A patients with HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-operative ALBI grade is useful to predict the prognosis in patients after HCC resection.

Indirubin, a Constituent of the Chinese Herbal Medicine Qing-Dai, Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Murine Colitis

Background

Indirubin, a constituent of the Chinese herbal medicine "Qing-Dai," has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of indirubin for ameliorating colonic inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

Mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute and chronic colitis were treated with indirubin in their diet. Clinical and histologic changes were evaluated. In addition, colon levels of interleukin-6, a critical pro-inflammatory mediator, was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

In the model of acute colitis, indirubin treatment improved the loss of body weight. Histology of colonic tissue revealed that indirubin treatment improved the histology grading of colitis (P = 0.02), the extent of submucosal fibrosis (P = 0.018), the number of mucosal toluidine blue-positive cells (P = 0.004) and colon length (P = 0.01). In the model of chronic colitis, indirubin treatment had no significant effect on pathologic findings except for colon length (P = 0.003). However, indirubin administration significantly reduced colon levels of interleukin-6 in the chronic-colitis model (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study clearly showed that oral intake of indirubin can improve murine DSS-induced colitis (which mimics human inflammatory bowel disease).