Surgical results of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease with special reference to recurrence

Background

Surgical results of GERD have mainly been reported from the Western countries, with a few reports found in Japan. We examined the surgical results of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication and clarify the characteristics of recurrent cases.

Methods

The subjects included 375 patients who underwent laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication from June 1997 to December 2016 as the initial surgery. Patient characteristics, pathophysiology, and surgical results were examined. In addition, we compared the patient characteristics and pathophysiology of recurrent cases in comparison with non-recurrent cases.

Results

Age 59 (43–70) and male 211 (56.3%). The operation time was 141 min (113–180) and intraoperative complications were found to have onset in 13 subjects (3.5%). Dysphagia after surgery was found in 18 cases (4.8%). The A factor (the degree of hiatal hernia), P factor (the degree of esophagitis), and pH?<?4 holding time significantly improved after surgery compared with prior to surgery (p?<?0.001 for all), while the LES lengths and abdominal LES lengths were extended (p?<?0.001 for each). Recurrence was found in 48 patients (15.1%) among the 318 patients for whom we could confirm the presence or absence of recurrence. The A factor, P factor, and pH?<?4 holding time prior to surgery were, respectively, higher in the recurrence group (p?=?0.031, p?<?0.001, p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication for GERD could be performed safely, with a response rate as good as 85%. Compared with non-recurrent cases, preoperative clinical conditions such as esophageal hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, and acid reflux time were all advanced in recurrent cases.

     

Clinical course and long-term prognosis of Crohn's disease in Japan

The long-term outcome of Crohn's disease was reviewed in 74 patients who had a history of more than 10 years (range 10.8–27.3) since disease onset. The observation period was between 4.3 and 18.5 years, the mean and SD being 10.6±3.1 years. The means and SD of age at onset and final observation were 21±7 and 37±8 years, respectively. Fifty-eight of the 74 patients had not undergone bowel resection at the time of diagnosis; of these 58, 31 (53.4%) had an operation for the disease during the follow-up period. Thus, of the 74 patients, 47 (63.5%) (these 31, plus the 16 who had undergone bowel resection at the time of diagnosis) had an operation at least once during a follow-up period of 10 years or more. The cumulative operation rates 5, 10, and 15 years after onset in the 74 and 58 patients above were 18.9%, 6.9%, and 40.8%, and 34.8%, 49.1%, and 46.0%, respectively. The corresponding figures 5 and 10 years after diagnosis in all 74 patients and the 58 patients were 32.3% and 28.6% and 47.3% and 46.3%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of operation rate in relation to anatomical involvement. Cumulative reoperation rates 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after the first operation in the 31 patients who were operated on during the follow-up period were 3.4%, 6.9%, 25.5%, and 51.7%, respectively. Three patients died, the causes of death in one being directly related to Crohn's disease. The cumulative survival rate in all patients was compared with the expected survival rate in a sex- and age-matched general population. There was no significant difference between the two groups in survival rates in the-year period since onset. When the degree of satisfaction with quality of life in the previous 1 month and 1 year was evaluated by the patients themselves on an 11-point scale, in which a higher score indicated a better quality of life, about 30% of the patients had scores of 8–10. In the previous 1 year, 53% of the patients had been able to continue the same work, whereas 17% of the patients were not able to work. In conclusion, the prognosis for survival in Crohn's disease was very good; however, about 50% of patients required at least one surgical treatment during the 15-year followup period since onset, and about 70% of patients had some bowel or systemic symptoms, or emotional or social problems.     

Long-term administration of a low-molecular-weight heparin contributed to successful treatment in a patient with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma and venous thromboembolism

The case of a 16-year-old girl with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma who had thrombosis in the brachiocephalic, subclavian, and internal jugular veins at presentation is reported. MACOP-B chemotherapy plus radiation therapy could be the first-line strategy, but MACOP-B increases the risk of thrombosis. Although an effective method for initial treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients has not been established, recent studies revealed that the administration of a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was effective for secondary prevention of VTE. Therefore, the patient in this case was treated with MACOP-B plus rituximab followed by radiation therapy, and an LMWH was administered through the course of treatment. She achieved complete remission and never suffered from VTE. This case suggests that long-term administration of an LMWH contributes to the primary improvement and secondary prevention of VTE even in patients who are at high risk for thrombosis.     

Impact on mortality and incidence of end-stage renal disease of education and treatment at a diabetes center among patients with type 1 diabetes: comparison of two subgroups in the Japanese DERI cohort

The aim of this study was to compare mortality and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes who had attended a diabetes center with those who had not. The cohort consisted of a total of 1430 patients diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 18 years or younger, and between 1965 and 1979. This population-based cohort in Japan was subdivided into two groups: patients who had visited a large diabetes center in Tokyo (n=162) and those who had not (n=1212). Mortality and incidence of ESRD were compared between the two subgroups as of January 1, 1990. Crude mortality was 1.95 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 0.49-5.06) for those who had visited the center and 6.05 (4.86-7.41) for those who had not. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that the patients who had visited the center were three times less likely to die (hazard ratio: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10-0.98) than those who had not. Crude incidence of ESRD was 1.32 (0.22-4.09) and 5.86 (4.65-7.26) for those who had visited the center and for those who had not, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the patients who had visited the center were five times less likely to develop ESRD (hazard ratio: 0.19, 0.05-0.78) than those who had not. Education and treatment of type 1 diabetes with an integrated management system under specialists and a multidisciplinary team appears to be associated with a better prognosis.     

Injury to the tricuspid valve and membranous atrioventricular septum caused by huge calcified right ventricular myxoma: report of a case.

A 64-year-old female, admitted because of severe dyspnea on exertion and facial edema, showed echocardiographic findings of a large tumor in the right ventricle (RV). Echocardiography revealed a cardiac mass extending from the RV across the tricuspid valve into the right atrium, synchronized with the cardiac cycle, and severe tricuspid regurgitation was apparent. The mass was removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. It measured 7 x 5 x 5 cm with diffuse superficial calcification and arose from the posterior wall of the RV, just under the tricuspid valve ring, with a short pedicle. During the same procedure, after the successful excision of the tumor, small atrial and ventricular septal defects were found that had been caused by the tumor and these were closed directly. The tricuspid valve was repaired with valvuloplasty, chordoplasty and annuloplasty. The microscopic findings were of typical myxoma; however, a right ventricular myxoma protruding into the right atrium is exceedingly rare.     

Fulminant amoebic colitis with perforation successfully treated by staged surgery: a case report

Radical surgery for fulminant amoebic colitis leads to extremely high mortality; however, resective surgery is mandatory if a patient develops massive fecal peritonitis. We herein report an extremely rare case of fulminant amoebic colitis with multiple perforations, which was successfully treated by staged surgical procedures. A 48-year-old man who had been treated with predonisolone under a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was admitted. Biopsy specimens from the colonic mucosa revealed Entamoeba histolytica. On the day of diagnosis, he developed severe abdominal pain and underwent emergency laparoptomy, showing total colonic gangrene with multiple perforations associated with massive fecal peritonitis. Subtotal colectomy, mucous fistula of the rectosigmoid, and ileostomy were performed. He recovered well although disseminated intravascular coagulopathy developed postoperatively. As the middle and upper part of rectum was found to be severely stenotic 4 months after surgery, we performed proctectomy, ileal pouch anal canal anastomosis, and diverting ileostomy, which was reversed 6 months later. The patient has been well with satisfactory anal function 37 months after the initial surgery. This case suggests that (1) early and accurate diagnosis of amoebiasis is important to avoid surgical intervention, and (2) staged surgery including total colectomy should be considered as one of the treatment choices even in patients with total necrotizing amoebic colitis. Received: July 3, 2001 / Accepted: December 14, 2001 Acknowledgments. We gratefully thank Dr. Takeo Iwama, Director of the Department of Surgery, Kyoundo Hospital, Sasaki Research Institute, for useful advice. Reprint requests to: H. Ishida     

Pharmacokinetic analysis of coronary sinus retroinfusion in pigs

Summary Myocardial availability of drug, using metoprolol as a tracer, in acutely ischemic myocardium in the area of the left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery was compared following standard intravenous (IV) administration and after coronary sinus retroinfusion. Seven open-chest farm pigs were subjected to a 21-minute occlusion of the LCX coronary artery. All animals received simultaneous IV tritium-labeled metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg) and unlabeled metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg) retrogradely into the coronary sinus. The drug administration was starded after 1 minute of coronary artery occlusion and continued for 5 minutes. Intravenously administered metoprolol resulted in a higher peak plasma concentration of metoprolol (382±52 nmol/l) than coronary sinus retroinfusion (276±47 nmol/l). The nonischemic myocardial metoprolol concentration was of similar magnitude (393–454 pmol/g), whether infused IV or into the coronary sinus. Coronary sinus retroinfusion, however, resulted in a substantial accumulation of metoprolol in the ischemic myocardium (2887–5863 pmol/g). Coronary sinus retroinfusion resulted in a pronounced and specific accumulation in the ischemic myocardium in the territory of the LCX coronary artery.