Impact of pancreatic fat infiltration on postoperative pancreatic fistula occurrence in patients undergoing invagination pancreaticojejunostomy

BACKGROUND

No studies to date have determined the impact of pancreatic fat infiltration on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) occurrence in patients undergoing invagination pancreaticojejunostomy (IV-PJ).

METHODS

The medical records of patients with a soft pancreas who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy followed by IV-PJ were reviewed . The pancreatic fat ratio on computed tomography (CT) images (I-PFR) was determined using preoperative CT and verified by histologic examination. The relationship between the I-PFR and POPF occurrence was determined. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on I-PFR value (fatty and non-fatty pancreas). Postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups, and specifically among patients who developed POPF.

RESULTS

Of 221 patients, POPF occurred in 67 (30.3%). I-PFR was positively correlated with histologic-calculated fat ratio (ρ = 0.517, p < 0.001). This index was shown to be an independent predictor of POPF. Based on an I-PFR cut-off value of 3.2%, 92 patients were classified in the fatty pancreas group. Subgroup analysis of the patients who developed POPF showed that incidence of abscess formation and hemorrhage tended to be higher in patients with fatty pancreas than in those with non-fatty pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic fat infiltration is highly associated with POPF and possibly causes subsequent serious complications in patients undergoing IV-PJ.

Aggressive and frequent resection of recurrences in retroperitoneal sarcoma contributes to long-term survival

PURPOSE

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis and is often undetected until it is significantly enlarged. While surgical resection remains the primary treatment, there is little research on its benefits, especially that concerning the reoperation of recurrent disease. This study investigated the impact of surgical procedures, especially reoperation of recurrent RPS, on prognosis.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 51 patients who underwent radical resection surgery (R0 status) for primary or recurrent RPS without distant metastasis. Patient outcomes and prognosis were defined in terms of the clinicopathologic factors and surgical techniques performed.

RESULTS

In all cases, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 28.2%, 5-year overall survival rate was 89.9%, and 5-year no residual liposarcoma rate was 54.3% after operation and re-reoperation. There was a statistically significant difference between the 5-year DFS rate and 5-year no residual liposarcoma rate due to frequent re-reoperation (p = 0.011). On univariate analysis of primary and recurrent lesions, the histological type and the number of organs involved were identified as statistically significant prognostic factors. Patients with well-differentiated liposarcomas had a statistically better prognosis than those with other cancer types (primary RPS, p = 0.028; recurrence, p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive and frequent resection of recurrent RPS with combined resection of adjacent organs contributes to long-term survival. The establishment of a surgical strategy for RPS will require a prospective study.

Ileal conduit necrosis after total pelvic exenteration for recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor

We report a case of ileal conduit necrosis after total pelvic exenteration for recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor adjacent to the prostate after abdominoperineal resection 10 years prior. With imatinib administration for 18 months, the local recurrence decreased in size but did not separate from the prostate. We performed urinary diversion with conventional total pelvic exenteration. Ileal conduit necrosis was suspected the following day and emergency surgery was performed. The serosa of the ileal conduit showed segmental necrosis extending about 10 cm from the orifice. The ureterointestinal anastomotic site was opposite the orifice and was not necrotic. We resected the necrotic ileum and reconstructed an ileal conduit. The patient was discharged without any symptoms 46 days after surgery for further adjustment to use of a urostomy.

Surgical Strategy for Rectovaginal Fistula After Colorectal Anastomosis at a High-volume Cancer Center According to Image Type and Colonoscopy Findings

BACKGROUND/AIM

The reported incidence of rectovaginal fistula is very low. Although some case reports have described surgical procedures, no systematic approach to the treatment of rectovaginal fistula according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings has been proposed. We present a comprehensive surgical strategy for rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis according to diagnostic image and colonoscopy findings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 11 patients who developed rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis. Rectovaginal fistula was classified into 4 types according to contrast enema images and colonoscopy findings, i.e., "Alone type", "Dead space type", "Anastomotic stricture type", and "Dead space and Anastomotic stricture type". The surgical strategies were "Diversion (Stoma)", "Percutaneous drainage", "Anastomotic stricture type", "Endoscopic balloon dilation", "Curettage of foreign bodies", "Simple full-thickness closure", "Split-thickness closure", "Pedicled flaps packing", and "Reanastomosis". The surgical strategy appropriate for each rectovaginal fistula type was investigated.

RESULTS

Among "Alone type" cases, 5 (71.4%) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)". "Alone type" cases (n=11) and all other cases (n=4) healed with "only Diversion (Stoma)" (n=5) or any other method (n=6) (p=0.022).

CONCLUSION

For treatment of rectovaginal fistula after colorectal anastomosis, less invasive treatment approaches should be attempted first.

Prognostic predictions based on pathological findings of peritoneal dissemination in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer without residual disease (R0 status)

PURPOSE

This study aimed to clarify the prognosis of patients after resection of stage IV colorectal cancer and synchronous peritoneal metastasis (no residual disease: R0 status) based on histopathologic findings.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were 26 patients who underwent radical resection of synchronous peritoneal metastases of stage IV colorectal cancer. Only patients with one synchronous peritoneal metastasis were included in this study. The peritoneal lesions were initially classified into two categories based on the presence or absence of adenocarcinoma on their surface: RM-negative or RM-positive. The lesions were subsequently classified as being of massive or diffuse type and of small (< 6 mm) or large (≥ 6 mm) type according to the maximum metastatic tumor dimension.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis revealed that massive type metastatic tumors were associated with a better disease-free survival (DFS; p = 0.047) and overall survival (OS; p = 0.033), than diffuse type tumors.

CONCLUSION

A detailed stratification of pathological findings could contribute remarkably to prognostic predictions for patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases.

Sewing needles in the abdominal cavity assumed to have been ingested and to have penetrated the GI tract 40 years ago: A case report

A 60-year old woman had been hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital for 40 years for schizophrenia. An X-ray was performed when she fell, which showed needles in the abdominal field. After additional examinations and questioning, the patient was diagnosed with needles in the abdominal cavity, which were assumed to have been ingested and to have perforated the GI tract 40 years ago. They were removed by laparoscopic surgery. The needles were found in the omentum and near the left ovary. There were no inflammatory reactions around them. There have been previous reports about the removal of intra-abdominal foreign bodies, but foreign body reaction occurred in most of the reports. Our case had the longest period from ingestion of the foreign bodies to their removal. Laparoscopy and intraoperative fluoroscopy are useful for removing intra-abdominal foreign bodies because of their ability to help discriminate between structures and to navigate in real time.

Studies on the synthesis of myriaporones: stereoselective synthesis of the C5-C13 fragment starting from D-glucose via regioselective reductive opening of methoxybenzylidene acetal

A stereoselective synthesis is described of the C5-C13 fragment (4) of myriaporone 4 (1) starting from D-glucose by a coupling of the C5-C9 aldehyde (5), prepared using a regioselective reductive ring-opening of methoxybenzylidene acetal, with the C10-C13 iodoolefin (6).