Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Factors Which Affect Direction of Lymphatic Drainage

World Journal of Surgery - We started performing sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) using infrared ray electronic endoscopy (IREE) with indocyanine...     

Balloon Venoplasty for Liver Failure Due to Stenosis of the Left Hepatic Vein After Right Tri-Segmentectomy

A 41-year-old male patient with hepatitis B underwent right tri-segmentectomy and total caudate lobectomy for a huge hepatocellular carcinoma associated with complete occlusion of the inferior vena cava with thrombosis of the infrahepatic inferior vena cava due to tumor compression. Five months later, he was readmitted for ascites and hyperbilirubinemia. Venography revealed stenosis and tortuosity of the left hepatic vein and the inferior vena cava, for which balloon angioplasty of the left hepatic vein and the inferior vena cava was performed using an 8-mm and 10-mm balloon, respectively. The left hepatic venous pressure decreased from 65 mmHg to 25 mmHg after dilatation. The patient made a satisfactory recovery thereafter and remains well with normal liver functions and without ascites. Balloon angioplasty may be useful for liver failure due to hepatic vein stenosis after hepatic resection.     

Preoperative imaging of the lung sentinel lymphatic basin with computed tomographic lymphography: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Preoperative localization of the sentinel node basin would guide selective lymph node dissection. We tried to identify these nodal stations with indirect computed tomographic lymphography using a conventional extracellular contrast agent, iopamidol. METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients scheduled to undergo anatomic resection of suspected lung cancer, without lymphadenopathy, were given a peritumoral injection of undiluted iopamidol under computed tomography guidance, and lymphatic migration was assessed by multidetector-row helical computed tomography. RESULTS: There were no complications such as bleeding, pneumothorax, or allergic reactions. Enhanced nodes were detected in all but 1 patient who had diffuse lymph nodal calcification. Enhanced nodes were identified at 32 ipsilateral intrathoracic nodal stations (20 hilar stations and 12 mediastinal stations). The average length of the longer axis of the enhanced nodes was 4.8 mm (range, 3 to 8 mm), and the average attenuation of the enhanced nodes was 132 (range, 46 to 261) Hounsfield units. In 9 patients with confirmed lung cancer, enhanced nodes appeared at 26 nodal stations, and all apparent enhanced nodes were identified as actual lymph nodes at appropriate position during lymphadenectomy. None of the resected lymph nodes had metastatic involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect computed tomographic lymphography with the peritumoral injection of iopamidol effectively depicts the drainage nodes unless they are diffusely calcified. Although further study is required, this method could guide selective lymph node dissection.     

Prosthetic alignment and sizing in computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty

We implanted 60 posterior stabilized total knee prostheses (P.F.C. Sigma, DePuy, Warsaw, USA). In 30 cases, we used a CT-free navigation system (Vector Vision, Brain LAB, Heimstetten, Germany), and in 30 matched-paired controls, we used a conventional manual implantation. We compared postoperative long-leg radiographs in the two groups. The results revealed a significant difference in favor of navigation. In addition, we compared the preoperative anteroposterior dimension of the femoral condyle with the postoperative value. While there were no significant differences in the preoperative anteroposterior dimension of the femoral condyle between the two groups, the postoperative value in the navigation group was significantly larger than that of the preoperative value. Therefore, surgeons using navigation systems should guard against the possibility of oversizing when determining the size of the femoral component.

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Résumé Nous avons implanté 60 prothèses totales postéro-stabilisées du genou (P.F.C. Sigma, DePuy). Dans 30 cas nous avons utilisé un système de navigation sans scanner (Vector vision R, Laboratoire du Cerveau, Heimstetten, Allemagne) et dans 30 contrôles appairés nous avons utilisé une implantation manuelle habituelle. Nous avons comparé les grandes radiographies postopératoires des membres inférieurs dans les deux groupes. Les résultats ont révélé une différence notable en faveur de la navigation. De plus nous avons comparé la dimension antéro-postérieure du condyle fémoral avant lintervention avec la valeur postopératoire. Tandis quil ny avait pas de différence notable dans la dimension antéro-postérieure préopératoire du condyle fémoral entre les deux groupes, la valeur postopératoire dans le groupe de la navigation était nettement plus grande que la valeur préopératoire. Par conséquent les chirurgiens qui utilisent des systèmes de navigation doivent prendre garde à ne pas implanter un composant fémoral sur-dimensionné.

     

Near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring cerebral ischemia during selective cerebral perfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To minimize the neurological complications following cardiovascular surgery, it is essential to prevent an occurrence of cerebrovascular embolism and to detect and solve cerebral malperfusion without delay in the operating theater. Although we have introduced near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring for the purpose of detecting cerebral malperfusion, no criterion has been available. We searched for this criterion by examining the relationship of sustained drop in the regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) of the frontal lobes to the occurrence of neurological events. METHODS: The 59 consecutive patients undergoing aortic surgery with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) were examined. The rSO2 was monitored throughout the surgery and the durations of drops in rSO2 to below 55% and those below 60% were determined for each patient. The durations of rSO2 drop and other surgery-related parameters were compared between the patients in whom neurological events occurred and those without such events. RESULTS: A total of 16 cases (27.1%) presented with neurological events. Newly developed cerebral infarction was documented in 6 of these 16 cases. Operation time and the durations for which rSO2 dropped were significantly longer for the 16 patients with neurological events than for the 43 patients without events (Op time: 546.8 versus 448.1 min, P=0.0064; rSO2 below 60%: 141.2 versus 49.8 min, P=0.0032; rSO2 below 55%: 66.6 versus 10.6 min, P=0.0011), while there was no significant difference in age, bypass time, aortic clamping time, SCP time, and circulatory arrest time between the two groups. In the 3 patients with infarcts suggestive to hypoperfusion, sustained decrease in rSO2 was observed, while it was not significant in the remaining 3 patients with infarcts suggestive to embolism. Among the 53 patients without infarction, transient neurological events occurred more frequently in patients with sustained drop in rSO2 below 55% for over 5 min (44.4% versus 5.7%, P=0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: A sustained drop in rSO2 during aortic surgery is closely related to the occurrence of neurological events following surgery. We recommend that recovery of drop in rSO2 below 55% should be addressed without delay. However, use of NIRS is limited for detecting embolic events or hypoperfusion in the basilar region.     

Hepatectomy with portal vein resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: audit of 52 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE: To better determine the role of portal vein resection and its effect on survival, as well as to appreciate the impact of portal vein invasion on prognosis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Hepatectomy with portal vein resection is sometimes performed for locally advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, the significance of microscopic invasion of the portal vein has not been determined. METHODS: Medical records of 160 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent macroscopically curative hepatectomy with (n = 52) or without portal vein resection (n = 108) were reviewed. Invasion of the portal vein was assessed histologically on the surgical specimen, and results were correlated with clinicopathologic features and survival. RESULTS: Surgical mortality, including all hospital deaths, was similar in patients who did and did not undergo portal vein resection (9.6% vs. 9.3%), but the primary tumor was more advanced in patients who underwent portal vein resection. Histologically, no invasion was found in 16 (30.8%) of resected portal veins. However, dense fibrosis adjacent to the portal vein was common, and the mean distance between the leading edge of cancer cells and the adventitia of the portal vein was 437 +/- 431 mum. The prognosis was worse in patients with than without portal vein resection (5-year survival, 9.9% vs. 36.8%; P < 0.0001). The presence or absence of microscopic invasion of the resected portal vein did not influence survival (16.6 months in patients with microscopic invasion vs. 19.4 months in those without; P = 0.1506). Multivariate analysis identified histologic differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and macroscopic portal vein invasion as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Microscopic invasion of the portal vein may be misdiagnosed clinically in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, the distance between tumor and adventitia is so narrow that curative resection without portal vein resection is unlikely to be possible. Gross portal vein invasion has a negative impact on survival, and hepatectomy with portal vein resection can offer long-term survival in some patients with advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma.     

Combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting with in situ arterial grafts for porcelain aorta.

Patients with porcelain aorta carry a high risk of cerebral as well as systemic embolism during cardiac surgery. Here we describe a case of severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease combined with the circumferentially calcified aorta. The patient was a 77-year-old man who successfully received four coronary artery bypass grafts with in situ arterial grafts without clamping the aorta and aortic valve replacement. Aortic valve replacement and two distal coronary artery anastomoses to the left circumflex artery and obtuse marginal branch were performed under cardiac arrest during hypothermic perfusion with endoaortic balloon occlusion, followed by partial endarterectomy and closure of the aorta buttressed with bovine pericardium under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. While rewarming, the other two distal coronary anastomoses to the left anterior descending artery and diagonal branch were done on the beating heart in order to minimize cardiac arrest time. On-pump beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be useful especially for combined complex cardiac surgery.     

Influence of stability on range of motion after cruciate-retaining TKA

BACKGROUND: A loosely balanced total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is reported to produce a good postoperative range of motion (ROM), but too much laxity is thought to be the cause of persistent pain and worsened functionality. METHODS: The anteroposterior and mediolateral laxity values were measured to evaluate the influence of stability after cruciate-retaining (CR) TKA on ROM and the modified Knee Society score at 4-8 years after the operation. Twenty-one knees in 15 patients with an average age of 68 years who had undergone a CR TKA for osteoarthrosis were examined. The mean preoperative and postoperative ROM was 124 degrees and 112 degrees, respectively. The mean anteroposterior and mediolateral laxity values were 9.7 mm and 10.6 degrees, respectively. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the postoperative ROM and laxity or between the modified Knee Society score and laxity. A loosely balanced TKA did not produce a good postoperative ROM. No parameters suggested that lax knees showed a higher pain score and lower functional score than stable knees.     

Clinicoanatomical studies on the dorsal subsegmental bile duct of the right anterior superior segment of the human liver

BACKGROUND: The dorsal subsegmental intrahepatic bile duct in the right anterior superior segment (B8c) sometimes joins the posterior sectorial duct. In such cases it can be misidentified as the right posterior superior segmental duct (B7). However, there are no published studies on the confluent pattern of B8c. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied B8c in the resected liver of 107 patients (65 with bile duct carcinoma and 42 with gallbladder carcinoma) who had undergone right hepatectomy or more extensive right-sided liver resection. RESULTS: B8c was identified in all cases. It joined the right posterior sectorial duct or B7 in 18 cases (16.8%). In 12 cases B8c joined independently the posterior sectorial duct or B7. In 6 cases B8c joined the posterior sectorial duct after making the common duct with the lateral subsegmental duct in the anterior superior or anterior inferior segment (B8b or B5c). CONCLUSIONS: B8c does not join the anterior sectorial bile duct in every sixth case.     

Basic and clinical studies of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteoma using a standard electrosurgical generator

 For percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteoma for pain management, we used a standard electrosurgical generator instead of the radiofrequency generator system. First, we used the standard electrosurgical generator to determine the diameter of the coagulated area of normal femurs and humeruses of dogs under general anesthesia and to detect damage to normal tissue around the bone. We then used a standard electrosurgical generator to perform percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the osteoid osteoma. All three patients were almost pain-free within the first 24 h after the procedure, and they were discharged the day after the operation, being hospitalized for only 2 days. We thus confirmed that percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using a standard electrosurgical generator produced results similar to those achieved with the radiofrequency generator system. Received: August 19, 2002 / Accepted: January 11, 2003 RID="*" ID="*" Offprint requests to: A. Takeda