Smoking is a risk factor for postoperative ileus after radical resection in male patients

Most smokers are males, and smoking has been indicated as a risk factor for many cancers as well as postoperative complications after cancer surgery. However, little is known about whether smoking is a risk factor for postoperative ileus (POI) after radical rectal cancer resection in males. The aim of this study was to assess whether smoking is a risk factor for POI after radical resection in male rectal cancer patients.Data of 1486 patients who underwent radical resection for rectal cancer were extracted from the clinical medical system in our hospital and were statistically analyzed. POI was defined as nausea, vomiting or pain, failure to have bowel function for more than 4 days postoperatively, and absence of a mechanical bowel obstruction.The rate of POI was 12.79%. Univariate analysis showed that patients in the POI group were more likely to have a history of smoking and drinking and receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy and had a larger intraperitoneal chemotherapy dosage. In the multivariable analysis, smoking remained significantly associated with a higher incidence of POI (OR 2.238, 95% CI [1.545–3.240], P = .000). The results also showed that patients who received postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia had a lower incidence of POI.Male patients with a history of smoking who undergo elective radical resection for rectal cancer have an increased risk for POI complications.     

不同年龄组胃癌患者的临床病理特征和预后分析

目的探讨不同年龄组胃癌患者的临床病理特征和预后。方法回顾性分析大连医科大学附属第一医院1995年1月至2004年12月行手术治疗的1526例胃癌患者的临床资料,按不同年龄段将患者分为3组,A组:≤40岁,B组:40岁～70岁,C组:≥70岁。对全组和各分组的临床病理特征和预后等情况做统计分析。结果全组患者中男性患者占多数,临床表现以不同程度的腹痛和腹胀及腹部不适多见。胃癌的好发部位以胃窦多见。全组早期胃癌约10.6%,Borrmann分型中以Ⅲ型多见,病理学检查以低/未分化为主,TNM分期全组以Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期多见,手术切除率全组为96.4%。随着患者年龄的增长,术后并发症和死亡率也增加。各组间生存率比较经Logrank检验,差异无显著性。结论各年龄组胃癌患者在性别分布、临床表现、病理类型、手术并发症及围手术期死亡率有差异,在肿瘤的发生部位、大小、Borrmann分型、TNM分期、早期诊断、手术切除率及生存率方面无明显差异。因此,行手术治疗的各年龄组胃癌患者的预后无明显差异,手术及早期诊断是决定胃癌患者预后的重要因素。     

Systematic review of anastomotic complications of esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopic total gastrectomy

AIM: To investigate the anastomotic complications of esophagojejunostomy (EJS) after laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG), we reviewed retrospective studies.METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed for studies published from January 1, 1994 through January 31, 2015. The search terms included “laparoscopic,” “total gastrectomy,” and “gastric cancer.” First, we selected 16 non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LTG with open total gastrectomy (OTG) and conducted an updated meta-analysis of anastomotic complications after total gastrectomy. The Newcastle-Ottawa scoring system (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the non-RCTs included in this study. Next, we reviewed anastomotic complications in 46 case studies of LTG to compare the various procedures for EJS.RESULTS: The overall incidence of anastomotic leakage associated with EJS was 3.0% (30 of 984 patients) among LTG procedures and 2.1% (31 of 1500 patients) among OTG procedures in the 16 non-RCTs. The incidence of anastomotic leakage did not differ significantly between LTG and OTG (odds OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 0.86-2.33, P = 0.17, I² = 0%). Anastomotic stenosis related to EJS was reported in 72 (2.9%) of 2484 patients, and the incidence was 3.2% among LTG procedures and 2.7% among OTG procedures. The incidence of anastomotic stenosis related to EJS was slightly, but not significantly, higher in LTG than in OTG (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 0.94-2.54, P = 0.08, I² = 0%). The various procedures for LTG were classified into six categories in the review of case studies of LTG. The incidence of EJS leakage was similar (1.1% to 3.2%), although the incidence of EJS stenosis was relatively high when the OrVil^TM device was used (8.8%) compared with other procedures (1.0% to 3.6%).CONCLUSION: The incidence of anastomotic complications associated with EJS was not different between LTG and OTG. Anastomotic stenosis was relatively common when the OrVil^TM device was used.     

Characterization of distal colonic motility in early postoperative period and effect of colonic anastomosis

Under standardized conditions, the manometric motility of the distal colon following rectosigmoid anastomosis (N=11, median age 70 years, range 47–80), was compared to that following laparotomies not involving colonic anastomosis (N=9, 56 years, 32–65). Microtransducer probes were inserted peroperatively and colonic activity recorded continuously (median 96 hr, range 48–109 anastomotic and 75 hr, range 46–107 control group) employing an ambulatory system. Quantitative indices of motility were calculated with an automated analysis program. Total postoperative analgesic doses and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. The first return in the anastomotic group of isolated waveforms [median 1.8 hr, interquartile range (IQR) 1–3] and propagated waves (92 hr, 79–100), was comparable to the control group (4 hr, 1.8–7, and 73 hr, 72–101, respectively). Motor complexes, characterized by bursts of regular contractile activity at 3–5 cpm, returned faster in the control group (3 hr, 2–24 vs 24 hr, 19–30,P<0.05). Motility index was significantly depressed during the first 72 hr following surgery in the anastomotic group compared to controls (P<0.001). Flatus was passed at a median of 72 hr (IQR 45–79) in the control and 94 hr (81–105) in the anastomotic group (P=0.05). The presence of a left-sided colonic anastomosis has a major inhibitory effect on distal colonic motility, compared to nonanastomotic surgery of similar severity, in the early postoperative period.Funded by M.R.C. grant.     

Operative Stress Response Is Reduced After Laparoscopic Compared toOpen Cholecystectomy

Our objective was to determine the least invasive surgical procedure; to do this we compared postoperative pain, duration of ileus, and level of neurohormonal stress response after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC). Postoperative recovery of patients was faster after LC than OC but comparison of the neurohormonal stress response after laparoscopic and open surgical procedures revealed conflicting results. Forty-one consecutive patients with noncomplicated gallstones were randomized for LC (N = 25) and OC (N = 16). The stress level was evaluated in patients before surgery by the Hamilton anxiety scale. Postoperative pain was assessed by a visual analogic scale (VAS) pain score and by the amount of analgesic drugs (propacetamol) administered, while the duration of ileus was determined by the delay between surgery and the time to first passage of flatus as well by the colonic transit time (CTT) measured by radiopaque markers. Plasma concentrations of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), -endorphin (BE), neurotensin (NT), and aldosterone (Ald) were measured before and during surgery as well as 2 and 5 hr after the surgery (D0) and on the day following surgery (D1). Urinary cortisol (uCOR) and urinary catecholamine metabolites were assessed before surgery, during D0, and on D1. Patient characteristics, the duration of surgery, and the doses of anesthetic drugs were not different in LC and OC. In LC patients the VAS pain score and the doses of postoperative antalgics were lower (P < 0.05), the time to first passage of flatus was shorter (P < 0.001), and the CTT tended to be shorter (54 ± 12 hr vs 81 ± 17) compared to OC patients. Patients who required the highest doses of postoperative antalgics had the longest delay to first passage of flatus (P < 0.01). During surgery, all neurohormonal parameters increased compared to the preoperative period (P < 0.05), and only plasma NT concentrations were lower during LC than OC (P < 0.05). During the postoperative period, ACTH, BE, Ald, catecholamines, and uCOR concentrations were lower in LC than in OC (P < 0.05). Concentrations of hormonal parameters were higher when the duration of surgery increased (P < 0.05). A greater need for propacetamol to relieve pain was associated with a greater increase in BE, ACTH, and urinary catecholamine levels (P < 0.05–P < 0.005). When the time to first passage of flatus was delayed, levels of BE, ACTH, and catecholamines and NT concentrations were increased (P < 0.05–P < 0.005). In conclusion, LC is less invasive because this surgical procedure induces a shorter neurohormonal stress response than OC, even if the peroperative response is not different. Postoperative pain levels and the duration of ileus are associated with BE, ACTH, and catecholamine levels and NT concentrations, suggesting the importance of hormones in postoperative functional recovery.     

Treatment of over 20 mm gastric cancer by endoscopic submucosal dissection using an insulation-tipped diathermic knife

AIM： To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic submucosal dissection using an insulation-tipped diathermic knife （IT-ESD） for the treatment of patients with over 20 mm early gastric cancer （EGC）.
METHODS： A total of 112 patients with over 10 mm EGC were treated with IT-ESD at Sumitomo Besshi Hospital and Shikoku Cancer Center in the 5 year period from January 2002 to December 2006, including 40 patients with over 20 mm EGC. We compared patient backgrounds, the one-piece resection rate, complete resection （CR） rate, operation time, bleeding rate, perforation rate between patients with over 20 mm EGC [over 20 mm group （21-40 ram）] and the remaining patients （under 20 mm group）.
RESULTS： We found no significant difference in the rate of underlying cardiopulmonary disease （over 20 mm group vs under 20 mm group, 5.0% vs 5.6%）, one- piece resection rate （95% vs 96%）, CR rate （85% vs 89%）, operation time （72.3 rain vs 66.5 rain）, bleeding rate （50 vs 4.2%）, and perforation rate （0% vs 1.4%） between the 2 groups. Three patients in each group had submucosal invasion and two in each groups underwent additional surgery. CONCLUSION： There was no significant difference in the outcome resulting from IT-ESD between the 2 groups. Our study proves that IT-ESD is a feasible treatment for patients with over 20 mm mucosal gastric cancer although the long-term outcome should be evaluated in the future.     

Effect of complication grade on survival following curative gastrectomy for carcinoma

AIM: To elucidate the potential impact of the grade of complications on long-term survival of gastric cancer patients after curative surgery.METHODS: A total of 751 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2002 and December 2006 in our center were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into four groups: no complications, Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications, according to the following classification systems: T92 (Toronto 1992 or Clavien), Accordion Classification, and Revised Accordion Classification. Clinicopathological features were compared among the four groups and potential prognostic factors were analyzed. The Log-rank test was used to assess statistical differences between the groups. Independent prognostic factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Stratified analysis was used to investigate the impact of complications of each grade on survival.RESULTS: Significant differences were found among the four groups in age, sex, other diseases (including hypertension, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), body mass index (BMI), intraoperative blood loss, tumor location, extranodal metastasis, lymph node metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) was significantly influenced by the complication grade. The 5-year OS rates were 43.0%, 42.5%, 25.5% and 9.6% for no complications, and Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications, respectively (P < 0.001). Age, tumor size, intraoperative blood loss, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and complication grade were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. With stratified analysis, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and intraoperative blood loss were independent prognostic factors for Grade I complications (P < 0.001, P = 0.031, P = 0.030). Age and lymph node metastasis were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS of gastric cancer patients with Grade II complications (P = 0.034, P = 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss, TNM stage, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS of gastric cancer patients with Grade III complications (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, P < 0.001). There were significant differences among patients with Grade I, Grade II and Grade III complications in TNM stage II and III cancer (P < 0.001, P = 0.001).CONCLUSION: Complication grade may be an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer following curative resection. Treatment of complications can improve the long-term outcome of gastric cancer patients.     

A prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate effect of chewing gum on postoperative ileus in elderly patient after hip fracture

Factors related to developing postoperative ileus (POI) vary from pharmacologic, inflammatory, hormonal, metabolic, gastrointestinal physiology, neurologic, to psychological factors. Although orthopedic-related incidence of postoperative ileus is about 10%, these studies are limited to spine surgery and pelvic surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of POI and to analyze effect of chewing gum on POI and bowel function in elderly patients after hip fracture surgery.A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Elderly patients with hip fracture who underwent surgery from March 2017 to June 2018 were eligible to participate. Patients were excluded if they had a mastication disability, impaired cognitive function, previous history of gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease and low oxygen saturation, hip arthroplasty with causes other than hip fractures, acetabular fractures, periprosthetic fractures, or pathological fractures. Patients with consciousness problem by excessive anesthesia were also excluded. Patients were classified into 2 groups by randomization. Group I received sugar-free gum and were encouraged to chew 6 hours following surgery until the first intestinal gas is released. Group II was given the same postoperative procedure and encouraged to consume water after 6 hours.After applying exclusion criteria, 74 patients were finally included. Thirty-one patients were classified to Group I and 43 patients were classified to the Group II. Prevalence of POI in all patients with hip fracture was 63.5% (47/74). Prevalence of POI in Group I was statistically significant lower than that in Group II (Group I: 41%, Group II: 79.1%, P = .01)The prevalence of POI in elderly patients with hip fracture was 63.5%. Chewing gum had a significant effect on reduction of POI in elderly patients with hip fractures.     

Is it beneficial to perform surgical resection in elderly patients more than 80 years old with advanced gastric cancer?

Objectives: With the aging population, the number of elderly patients diagnosed with gastric cancer is increasing. However, determining treatment strategies for elderly patients with gastric cancer is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of surgical treatment on elderly patients aged ≥80 years with advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: A total of 147 elderly patients who were diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer from August 2001 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. We compared the clinicopathological features and prognoses of 94 elderly patients (80–85 years) and 53 extreme-elderly patients (≥86 years) according to treatment modalities.

Results: In the elderly group, the 3-year overall survival (OS) rates of the surgical resection group and supportive care group were 42.1% and 4.0%, respectively (p?<?.001). In the extreme-elderly group, the 3-year OS rates of the surgical resection group and supportive care group were 36.4% and 8.0%, respectively (p?=?.028). The post-operative mortality rate of the elderly group and extreme-elderly group was 5.6% and 9.1%, respectively. In the analysis of risk factors associated with survival, surgical resection was a significantly good prognostic factor in the elderly group (hazard ratio [HR]?=?0.277; p?=?.003) compared with supportive care. In the extreme-elderly group, surgical resection was associated with good prognosis but did not reach statistical significance (HR?=?0.491; p?=?.099).

Conclusions: These results suggest that elderly patients aged 80–85 years with advanced gastric cancer could expect a better prognosis with surgical resection. However, extreme-elderly patients aged ≥86 years should consider the risks and benefits of surgical treatment.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a prophylactic and treatment against ileus and recurrent intestinal obstruction soon after surgery to relieve adhesive intestinal obstruction

Background and Aim:  Nonoperative management of cases of adhesive intestinal obstruction would be ideal, especially for patients who have recently undergone surgery to relieve the same condition. We aimed to examine whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of postoperative paralytic ileus and recurrent adhesive intestinal obstruction soon after surgery, to relieve adhesive intestinal obstruction, because of its unique mechanisms in these contexts.
Methods:  A total of 133 patients were enrolled in the present study. We examined non– per os periods, hospital stay, and clinical course according to the postoperative course of the 133 patients.
Results:  After surgical intervention, 75 patients left the hospital without morbidity. Nineteen patients were successfully administered prophylactic HBO therapy to facilitate intestinal motility and to prevent paralytic ileus. The remaining 39 patients suffered from postoperative paralytic ileus or early recurrence of obstruction during the same hospitalization period. The patients who underwent prophylactic HBO therapy had significantly shorter non– per os periods and hospital stays after surgery than those who were not initially given HBO therapy ( P  < 0.05). Similarly, there were significant differences in duration of hospital stay after surgery between patients with HBO therapy as treatment and those who received other conservative therapies ( P  < 0.05).
Conclusions:  HBO therapy may have a prophylactic effect on postoperative paralytic ileus and may be of therapeutic benefit in the management of early recurrent adhesive intestinal obstruction following surgery to relieve adhesive intestinal obstruction.     

The use of alvimopan for postoperative ileus in small and large bowel resections

Transient ileus is a normal physiologic process after surgery. When prolonged, it is an important contributor to postoperative complications, increased length of stay and increased healthcare costs. Efforts have been made to prevent and manage postoperative ileus; alvimopan is an oral, peripheral μ-opioid receptor antagonist, and the only currently US FDA-approved medication to accelerate the return of gastrointestinal function postoperatively.     

Return of interdigestive motor complex after abdominal surgery

Gastrointestinal mechanical activity was studied in 13 patients after different surgical procedures in a fasted and fed state and after pharmacological stimulation. Mechanical activity was recorded by means of a multipressure sensor probe placed intraoperatively into the jejunum. Abdominal surgery abolished normal motility only for a short period of time. The time for the reappearance of regular recurring activity fronts varied with the type of the surgical procedure from 3 hr after cholecystectomy to the sixth postoperative day after colon resection. The fed pattern occurred after the first postoperative interdigestive motor complex in all experiments. Stimulation was observed with ceruletid, which induced contractile activity in the small intestine during postoperative ileus. No coordinated caudad propagating activity was observed. The postoperative interdigestive motor complex did not correlated in time with the first passage of flatus and stool in our patients. Thus, the restoration of motility in the small intestine did not coincide with the clinical relief from the so-called physiological postoperative ileus.     

Risk factors to predict severe postoperative pancreatic fistula following gastrectomy for gastric cancer

AIM:To allow the identification of high-risk postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)patients with special reference to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula(ISGPF)classification.METHODS:Between 1997 and 2010,1341 consecutive patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Department of Digestive Surgery,Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine,Japan.Based on the preoperative diagnosis,total or distal gastrectomy and sufficient lymphadenectomy was performed,mainly according to the Japanese guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer.Of these,35 patients(2.6%)were diagnosed with Grade B or C POPF according to the ISGPF classification and were treated intensively.The hospital records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively.RESULTS:Of 35 patients with severe POPF,17(49%)and 18(51%)patients were classified as Grade B and C POPF,respectively.From several clinical factors,the severity of POPF according to the ISGPF classification was significantly correlated with the duration of intensive POPF treatments(P=0.035).Regarding the clinical factors to distinguish extremely severe POPF,older patients(P=0.035,65 years≤vs<65 years old)and those with lower lymphocyte counts at the diagnosis of POPF(P=0.007,<1400/mm3vs 1400/mm3≤)were significantly correlated with Grade C POPF,and a low lymphocyte count was an independent risk factor by multivariate analysis[P=0.045,OR=10.45(95%CI:1.050-104.1)].CONCLUSION:Caution and intensive care are required for older POPF patients and those with lower lymphocyte counts at the diagnosis of POPF.