Is it meaningful to add mesh reinforcement to laparoscopic fundoplication for esophageal hiatal hernias in the patients with high risk of hiatal hernia recurrence?

Background: While laparoscopic fundoplication is a standard surgical procedure for patients with esophageal hiatal hernias, the postoperative recurrence of esophageal hiatal hernias is a problem for patients with giant hernias, elderly patients, or obese patients. Although there are some reports indicating that reinforcement with mesh is effective, there are differing opinions regarding the use thereof. The aim of this study is to investigate whether mesh reinforcement is effective for laparoscopic fundoplication in patients with esophageal hiatus hernias.

The pathological conditions and surgical outcomes depending on the degree of hernia in the intra-thoracic stomach.

Background: In recent years, the number of patients requiring surgery for intra-thoracic stomach (ITS) has been increasing due to the effects of obesity and gibbus due to aging. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the degree of hernia on the pathological conditions and surgical outcomes in ITS patients.

Methods: ITS was defined as cases in which over 50% of the stomach had deviated into the mediastinum by esophagogastric fluoroscopy and/or computed tomography, with 65 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery as the initial surgery included.

Correlation between our symptom-based scoring system and the Eckardt score for assessing patients with esophageal achalasia.

Purpose: The Eckardt score (ES) is a famous scoring system used for assessing achalasia patients. We studied the correlation between our scoring system and the ES and examined the relationship between each score and the pathophysiology of achalasia.

Methods: The subjects were 143 patients with diagnosed achalasia.

Relationship between esophageal achalasia subtypes and esophageal clearance.

Background: The diagnosis and pathological evaluation of esophageal achalasia have been improved dramatically by the development of high-resolution manometry. It is currently known to be divided into three subtypes. However, the differences between subtypes in terms of esophageal clearance remain unclear.

Redo laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication versus rescue peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia after failed Heller myotomy: a single-institution experience.

Purpose: To compare the surgical outcomes of redo laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure and rescue peroral endoscopic myotomy for patients with failed Heller myotomy.

Methods: We identified patients who had undergone redo laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure or rescue peroral endoscopic myotomy from August 1996 to September 2019 and assessed the patients' characteristics, timed barium swallow results, symptom scores before/after surgery, surgical outcomes, and postoperative outcomes.

Results: Eleven patients underwent redo laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure, and 14 underwent rescue peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Is an objective evaluation essential for determining the therapeutic effect of laparoscopic surgery among patients with esophageal achalasia?

Background: Despite a high degree of satisfaction with laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD) for esophageal achalasia, some cases show no improvement in postoperative esophageal clearance. We investigated whether an objective evaluation is essential for determining the therapeutic effect of LHD.

Methods: We investigated the difference in symptoms, regarding esophageal clearance, using timed barium esophagogram (TBE), in 306 esophageal achalasia patients with high postoperative satisfaction who underwent LHD.

Risk factors for the occurrence of peptic esophagitis following laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery for esophageal achalasia.

Peptic esophagitis can occur as a complication of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD) among patients with esophageal achalasia. The goal of this study was to identify the characteristics of patients who have developed peptic esophagitis following LHD surgery along with the risk factors associated with the occurrence of peptic esophagitis. Among the 447 cases consisting of esophageal achalasia patients who underwent LHD as the primary surgery, we compared the patient background, pathophysiology, symptoms, and surgical outcomes according to whether or not peptic esophagitis occurred following surgery.

The patient characteristics of esophageal carcinoma following laparoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia.

Background: It is common knowledge that esophageal achalasia patients have a high risk of developing esophageal carcinoma. The present study assessed the characteristics of esophageal carcinoma patients following laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD) for esophageal achalasia.

Method: Among 622 cases which were esophageal achalasia patients and underwent LHD as the primary surgery, we compared the patient background, pathophysiology, symptoms, and surgical outcomes according to whether or not esophageal carcinoma occurred following surgery.

Effects of the preoperative IRP values on the pathophysiology of patients with esophageal achalasia and on the treatment outcome of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery.

Purpose: One diagnostic criterion of esophageal achalasia is that the integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) measured by high-resolution manometry (HRM) is at least 15 mmHg. Moreover, while the standard surgical treatment for esophageal achalasia is laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD), there have been insufficient investigations concerning the surgical outcomes from the perspective of the preoperative IRP value.

Methods: We split 121 cases in which LHD was performed as an initial treatment on patients with esophageal achalasia, into two categories according to the IRP median value, and performed a comparative investigation of the surgical outcomes with regard to the preoperative pathophysiology and symptoms.

Giant Hepatic Cyst: A Possible Cause of Inferior Vena Cava Syndrome.

An 80-year-old man was transferred to our institution with lower limb edema and worsening dyspnea following the administration of diuretic medication. Transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography revealed a giant hepatic cyst (176×190 mm) compressing his right atrium and inferior vena cava (IVC). Laparoscopic cyst deroofing combined with omental packing and subsequent tube drainage immediately alleviated all his symptoms.

Factors affecting the treatment outcomes of laparoscopic fundoplication for erosive reflux esophagitis: findings of esophageal pathological function tests.

Purpose: To identify the factors that affect laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) treatment efficacy in patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (e-GERD) esophagitis, based on the findings of multichannel intraluminal impedance pH (MII-pH) and high-resolution manometry (HRM).

Methods: The subjects were 102 patients with e-GERD diagnosed by endoscopy, who underwent LF as the initial surgery. To analyze the findings of MII-pH and HRM, the patients were divided into two groups: a cured group (CR), comprised of patients whose esophagitis was cured postoperatively; and a recurrence group (RE), comprised of patients who suffered recurrent esophagitis.

Optimal cutoff value of integrated relaxation pressure on the esophagogastric junction to detect outflow obstruction using starlet high-resolution manometry system.

Background: Achalasia and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) are idiopathic esophageal motility disorders characterized by impaired deglutitive relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). High-resolution manometry (HRM) provides integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) which represents adequacy of LES relaxation. The Starlet HRM system is widely used in Japan; however, IRP values in achalasia/EGJOO patients assessed with the Starlet system have not been well studied.

Therapeutic efficacy of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery for chest pain in patients with achalasia: a single institutional experience.

Background: Chest pain reduces the quality of life of patients with achalasia. Although laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD) is a standard surgical treatment for achalasia, its therapeutic efficacy for chest pain is not clear. The present study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of LHD for chest pain and tried to identify factors associated with the relief of chest pain.

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.

Effect of preoperative balloon dilation on treatment outcomes of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery for achalasia: a propensity score matched study.

Purpose: There is some debate about whether preoperative balloon dilation influences the outcomes of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery (LHD), with no consensus opinion as yet. Thus, we investigated if preoperative dilation influences the treatment outcomes of LHD for achalasia.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 526 patients with achalasia who underwent LHD as an initial treatment between August 1994 and February 2017.

Impact of preoperative balloon dilatation on outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in young patients with esophageal achalasia.

Background: Balloon dilatation is reportedly less effective for young patients with esophageal achalasia than for older patients. However, there is no consensus on the impact of prior balloon dilatation on outcomes of surgical treatment. This study investigated the significance of preoperative balloon dilatation on surgical outcomes in young patients with esophageal achalasia.

Learning curve for laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication for achalasia.

Purpose: Although laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication (LHD) is widely performed to address achalasia, little is known about the learning curve for this technique. We assessed the learning curve for performing LHD.

Methods: Of the 514 cases with LHD performed between August 1994 and March 2016, the surgical outcomes of 463 cases were evaluated after excluding 50 cases with reduced port surgery and one case with the simultaneous performance of laparoscopic distal partial gastrectomy.

Impact of esophageal flexion level on the surgical outcome in patients with sigmoid esophageal achalasia.

Purpose: Esophageal achalasia can be roughly divided into non-sigmoid and sigmoid types. Laparoscopic surgery has been reported to be less than optimally effective for sigmoid type. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the esophageal flexion level on the clinical condition and surgical outcomes of patients with sigmoid esophageal achalasia.

Early postoperative endoscopy for targeted management of patients at risks of anastomotic complications after esophagectomy.

Background: Early postoperative endoscopy after esophagectomy is assumed to be effective in detection and prediction of anastomotic complications, but overall effects of early postoperative endoscopy remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mucosal status assessed by early postoperative endoscopy could offer an approach to individualized management after esophagectomy.

Methods: Endoscopy was performed in 176 of 214 patients who underwent esophagectomy at either 1 week or 2 weeks postoperatively.

Gender differences in both the pathology and surgical outcome of patients with esophageal achalasia.

Background: Esophageal achalasia is a relatively rare disease that occurs usually in middle-aged patients. The laparoscopic Heller-Dor (LHD) procedure is the gold-standard surgical treatment for esophageal achalasia. There are many studies on the pathology and surgical outcome of esophageal achalasia from various perspectives, but there are no studies on gender differences in both the pathology and surgical outcome.

Data analyses and perspectives on laparoscopic surgery for esophageal achalasia.

In general, the treatment methods for esophageal achalasia are largely classified into four groups, including drug therapy using nitrite or a calcium channel blocker, botulinum toxin injection, endoscopic therapy such as endoscopic balloon dilation, and surgery. Various studies have suggested that the most effective treatment of esophageal achalasia is surgical therapy. The basic concept of this surgical therapy has not changed since Heller proposed esophageal myotomy for the purpose of resolution of lower esophageal obstruction for the first time in 1913, but the most common approach has changed from open-chest surgery to laparoscopic surgery.

Identification of risk factors for mucosal injury during laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia.

Background: Mucosal injury during myotomy is the most frequent complication seen with the Heller-Dor procedure for achalasia. The present study aimed to examine risk factors for such mucosal injury during this procedure.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent the laparoscopic Heller-Dor procedure for achalasia at a single facility.