Morbidity of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: Summary of early multi-institutional experience in Japan

AIM: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is being evaluated throughout the world. The aim of the present study is to report early multi-institutional experience of the procedure in Japan. METHODS: A total of 148 men who were diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at seven different institutions in Japan. Early complications (within 30 days postoperatively) and postoperative convalescence were reviewed retrospectively. The median age of patients was 68.0 years (range, 51-80). RESULTS: The median operative time was 403 minutes (range, 167-925; average, 427). Blood loss ranged from 50 to 5000 mL (median, 540; average, 856). A total of 66 complications were reported in 55 patients (37.2%). Intraoperative complications were noted in 25 of 148 patients (16.9%): 10 rectal injuries (6.8%); five bladder injuries (3.4%); five cases of subcutaneous emphysema (3.4%); two intestinal injuries (1.4%); one major vessel injury (0.7%); one ureteral injury (0.7%); and one obturator nerve injury (0.7%). Overall, 16 of 148 patients (10.8%) required open conversion or postoperative open surgical repair. The most common postoperative complications were anastomotic leakage (6.8%), wound-related complications (4.7%) and perineal pain (4.7%). The bladder catheter was removed on day 7 or earlier in 73 cases (49.3%). The median time to ambulation was 1 day (mean 1.4, range 1-5). Oral intake was started on postoperative day 1 in 67 patients (45.2%) and on postoperative day 2 in 65 (43.9%). CONCLUSION: Although laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is technically demanding, reduced blood loss and shorter convalescence periods can be expected from the procedure. Surgeons should be aware of the disturbingly high morbidity rate related to early experience. By mastering laparoscopic skills and sharing knowledge, surgeons could reduce the impact of the learning curve required to complete this procedure competently.     

Usefulness of diagnostic imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, prevention of urinary stone recurrence can be achieved by surgical removal of the enlarged parathyroid gland. To ensure the efficacy of surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization of the enlarged gland is important. In the present study, usefulness of diagnostic imaging for localization of the enlarged gland was investigated in primary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the findings of imaging studies and clinical records in 79 patients (97 glands) who underwent surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism at Chiba University Hospital between 1976 and 2000. The detection rates of accurate localization were investigated for imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thallium-201 and technetium-99m pertechnetate (Tl-Tc) subtraction scintigraphy and 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy, and analysed in relation to the size and weight of the gland and pathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The detection rates by US, CT, MRI, Tl-Tc subtraction scintigraphy and MIBI scintigraphy were 70%, 67%, 73%, 38% and 78%, respectively. The overall detection rate changed from 50% to 88% before and after 1987. The detection rate of MIBI scintigraphy was superior to Tl-Tc subtraction scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: In primary hyperparathyroidism, improvement of accurate localization of an enlarged parathyroid gland was demonstrated along with recent advances in imaging techniques including MIBI scintigraphy.     

Resistance index in benign prostatic hyperplasia using power doppler imaging and clinical outcomes after transurethral vaporization of the prostate

BACKGROUND: Using power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS), we investigate the change of resistance index (RI) before and after transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS: In all, 49 patients underwent transrectal PDUS before receiving TUVP, three were excluded because of cancer and three could not be followed up. The remaining 43 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were assessed before and 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, giving a mean duration of follow-up of 9.1 months. International prostate symptom scores (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) scores, postvoiding residual urine volumes (PVR) and maximum urinary flow rates (Qmax) were evaluated and total prostatic volume (TPV) and RI were measured using PDUS. RESULTS: Resistance index ranged from 0.64 to 0.91. The postoperative parameters except for RI, such as TPV, PVR, IPSS and QOL scores improved significantly at the follow-up assessment after surgery. The elevated RI decreased significantly 1, 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Resistance index significantly decreased after TUVP and IPSS and other urodymamics parameters improved. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that RI could evaluate the severity of BPH and the degree of intraprostatic pressure or bladder outlet obstruction.     

胰十二指肠切除术在高龄患者中的应用(英文)

目的评估胰十二指肠切除术在75岁以上高龄患者中应用的指征和结果。方法回顾性分析72例在2002-01～2006-12进行胰十二指肠切除术患者的临床资料,将其中18例75岁及以上的高龄患者与54例小于75岁的患者的术前、术中、术后的临床资料和病理结果等情况进行归纳、对比分析。结果两组患者在性别、术前合并症、术中出血量、手术时间、术后并发症、死亡率、ICU留观时间和住院时间等方面无统计学差异;高龄组患者中没有输入新鲜冷冻血浆,而非高龄组患者术中平均输入(1.33±2.54)单位新鲜冷冻血浆(P<0.001);高龄组没有发生术后出血的并发症,两组腹腔内感染率均为4%;高龄组患者再次开腹手术率为0%,而非高龄组为6%(P>0.05),两组均未出现死亡病例。高龄组胆管癌所占比例明显高于非高龄组(55.6%vs 25.9%,P=0.021)。结论 75岁以上高龄患者和小于75岁的患者一样能够耐受胰十二指肠切除术,并能从中获益;高龄的壶腹周围肿瘤患者中,胆管癌的发病率最高,提示在对高龄人群进行体检或疾病筛查时,要高度重视对胆道系统的详细检查。     

Lung Cancer in Chromate Workers--Analysis of 11 Cases

We have experienced 11 cases of lung carcinoma in workers ata chromate factory during the past 14 years. All patients weremales. The age of onset ranged from 41 to 68 years. Ten of the11 were heavy smokers. The time of exposure to chromate wasfrom 17 to 29 years and the average was 23.9 years. Seven patientshad perforation of their nasal septa. The primary sites of thecancers were from the lobar to the subsegmental bronchi. Therewere nine squamous cell carcinomas and three small cell carcinomas.Four squamous cell carcinomas were hilar type early stage cancersand two of them were found in one patient at the same time.The chromium content of the lung tissue in the seven patientstested was from 13.9 to 2,368.4 µg/g of dry tissue andwas higher than that of lung cancer or non-lung cancer caseswithout chromate exposure. There was no severe dysplasia ofthe bronchial epithelium in these 11 patients.     

Re-Evaluation of Clinical Parameters in Relation to Estrogen Receptor Assay in Predicting Response to Major Endocrine Ablation Therapy in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

The response to major endocrine ablation therapy (adrenalectomywith oophorectomy and its modifications) was evaluated fromcombining the variable of the presence or absence of the estrogenreceptor (ER) in tumors, and 11 other clinical variables in64 patients with advanced breast cancer. The variables usedin computation were the age and menopausal status of the patients,the disease-free interval, the performance status, the site(s)of metastases (local chest wall, lymph node, bone, lung, andliver), urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids (17-KS), and the17-KS/17-OHCS ratio in urine. The probability of regressionin the therapy was computed with Cox's linear logistic regressionmodel. The single most important factor that contributed tothe probability of regression was shown to be the presence orabsence, not the concentration, of ER. In analyzing 38 patientswith ER-positive tumors, the presence and amount of the livermetastases, and of the bone metastases, and the 17-KS/17-OHCSratio in urine were all shown to be significant in giving theprobability. Even when the results of ER assay of the tumorswere not included in the computation, a formula of the probabilityof regression could be constructed from these three factors.It is suggested that in addition to the ER assay of breast cancertissues, some biological characteristics of the patients mayhave significant relationships to the response to endocrinetherapy.     

Intramolecular sulfhydryl-catalyzed structural alteration of bovine plasma albumin–N-A isomerization*

The N-A isomerization of bovine plasma albumin (BPA) (the intramolecular sulfhydryl-disulfide exchange reaction) is not a two-state but a multi-state reaction as shown in the following equation N ± A₁ + mH⁺ ± A₂ + nH⁺ ± where N and A₁ are the N- and A(aged)-forms, respectively. The N-A isomerization was strongly suppressed by increasing the ionic strength, especially by divalent cations, such as Ca²⁺. The N-A isomerization was completely suppressed in the presence of 20 mM sodium caprylate and 40 mM N-acetyltryptophan. This suppression of the intramolecular sulfhydryl-disulfide exchange reaction might be due to the reduction of the structural fluctuation of BPA.