The effect of anticoagulation therapy on the surgical outcomes of minimally invasive major gastrointestinal surgery.

Background: The surgical outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy (ACT) are unknown. We investigated the effect of ACT on the surgical outcomes of minimally invasive major GI surgery, with a particular focus on postoperative bleeding and thromboembolic complications.

Methods: A total of consecutive 1290 patients undergoing elective minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) major GI surgery (esophagogastric and colorectal resection for malignancy) between 2014 and 2023 were enrolled.

Robotic Anatomical Liver Resection for Segment 7 Lesions Utilizing Saline-Linked Cautery (SLiC) Method.

Introduction Anatomical hepatectomy for segment 7 (S7) lesions is technically challenging due to their restricted accessibility and close proximity to the right hepatic vein, and the robotic approach for this challenging situation is currently not supported by conclusive data. Methods We present our novel technique of robotic anatomical hepatectomy for S7 lesions utilizing the saline-linked cautery (SLiC) method. Between 2022 and 2023, 10 robotic S7 subsectionectomy or right posterior sectionectomy were performed and included in the current study.

Gangrenous Cholecystitis Secondary to Pneumatosis Intestinalis and Portal Venous Gas: A Case Report.

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) and portal venous gas (PVG) are pathological conditions suggesting serious underlying diseases such as intestinal ischemia, intestinal wall infarction, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Therefore, early detection, comprehensive management, and timely treatment of the underlying disease are important for improving outcomes. We experienced a case of a patient who developed gangrenous cholecystitis secondary to PI and PVG.

Successful Multidisciplinary Treatment of Severe Pyogenic Liver Abscess Caused by Fish Bone: A Case Report.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a potentially fatal infection that can lead to sepsis and shock. Among the various causes of PLA, ingestion of foreign bodies such as fish bones is relatively rare. Unless there are specific symptoms such as painful swallowing, patients rarely remember having ingested foreign bodies, making it often difficult to identify the cause of PLA.

The Hanging Strap Method: A Safe and Easy-to-Use Surgical Technique for Surgeons-in-Training Performing Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Introduction Surgeons-in-training (SIT) perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); however, it is challenging to complete the procedure safely in difficult cases. We present a surgical technique during difficult LC, which we named the hanging strap method. Methods We retrospectively compared the perioperative outcomes between patients undergoing difficult LC with the hanging strap method (HANGS, n = 34), and patients undergoing difficult LC without the hanging strap method (non-HANGS, n = 56) from 2022 and 2024.

Spray-Type Adhesion Barrier Enhances Safety and Feasibility of Robotic Repeat Liver Resection: Initial Experience and Outcomes.

Background Although various types of adhesion barriers are widely utilized in liver surgery, the safety and feasibility of their use during repeat robotic liver resection (R-RLR) are still unknown. Methods Among the 68 patients undergoing RLR with the application of the spray-type adhesion barrier at Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan, between 2021 and 2023, 24 cases that underwent R-RLR were included in this study. The included patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent previous hepatectomy with the use of a spray-type adhesion barrier (R-RLR-B, n = 14) and those without its previous use (R-RLR-NB, n = 10).

An Efficient Saline-Linked Cautery (SLiC) Method for Robotic Liver Parenchymal Transection Using Simultaneous Activation of Saline-Linked Cautery and Robotic Suctioning: Detailed Technical Aspects and Short-Term Outcomes.

Introduction While there are several advantages to utilizing robotics in liver surgery compared to traditional open and laparoscopic approaches, the most challenging part of robotic liver resection (RLR) remains the liver parenchymal transection. This is primarily due to the constraints of the existing robotic tools and the absence of a standard procedure. This study presents detailed technical aspects of our novel saline-linked cautery (SLiC) method for RLR and assesses the short-term outcomes for both non-anatomical and anatomical RLRs.

Successful Multidisciplinary Treatment, Including Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Biological Therapy, for Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinomas Adjacent to Major Vessels: A Case Report.

Multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are currently being treated with multimodal therapy that includes liver resection and local therapy. Although the necessity of multimodal therapy for multiple HCCs is evident, treating them is extremely difficult due to the complex nature of multiple HCCs and the frequent occurrence of underlying liver damage. We encountered a case in which long-term tumor control was achieved through multidisciplinary treatment, including atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination biological therapy.

Successful Multimodal Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer With Extensive Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis Utilizing Chemotherapy Combined With Direct Oral Anticoagulant.

It is well known that portal vein thrombosis (PVT) sometimes occurs in pancreatic cancer (PC). However, no effective treatment plan for PVT in PC patients has yet been proposed. We experienced a successfully treated case of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (PC-BR) with extensive superior mesenteric vein thrombosis utilizing intensive chemotherapy combined with direct oral anticoagulant.

High expression of autotaxin is associated with poor recurrence-free survival in cholangiocarcinoma.

Background And Aim: Autotaxin (ATX) is an extracellular lysophospholipase D that catalyzes the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Recent accumulating evidence indicates the biological roles of ATX in malignant tumors. However, the expression and clinical implications of ATX in human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain elusive.

Long-Term Oncological Control by Repeated Minimally Invasive Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Exhibiting Atypical Marker Expression of CK7-CK20+: A Case Report.

There are few reports of repeated liver resections being performed multiple times for intrahepatic recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We performed five minimally invasive liver resections and two minimally invasive lung resections for ICC with metachronous intrahepatic recurrence and lung metastases. Pathological examination revealed that all resected tumors were moderately differentiated mass-forming ICC with immunohistochemical marker expression of CK7 negative and CK20 positive.

Laparoscopic Liver Resection Utilizing a Water Jet Scalpel for Patients With Liver Fibrosis.

Introduction A variety of devices are utilized in order to resect liver parenchyma in laparoscopic liver resection. However, liver fibrosis makes hepatectomy problematic because the liver is rigid and prone to bleeding. The water jet scalpel, which dissociates the liver parenchyma with a jet stream has no thermal damage and is clinically utilized in liver resection, but its safety and efficacy during laparoscopic liver resection for patients with liver fibrosis remain unknown.

A Rare Case of Donor-Origin Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Background: Tumors may develop in the grafted liver after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma, most of which are hepatocellular carcinoma recurrences and are rarely of donor origin. We report a rare case of donor-origin intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a liver allograft after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: A man in his 60s underwent liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis.

An Efficient Method of Hepatoduodenal Ligament Taping for Pringle's Maneuver During Robotic Liver Resection.

Background and objective Pringle's maneuver is often applied to reduce bleeding during liver resection (LR), although the taping of the hepatoduodenal ligament (HL) is challenging and dangerous due to the lack of tactile perception in robotic liver resection (RLR). In this study, we describe a secure and easy HL taping method in RLR. Methods Twenty-seven cases that underwent RLR at our institution from April to November 2022 were examined.

The Impact of Modified Two-Surgeon Technique for Laparoscopic Liver Resection on the Training of Surgeons-in-Training.

Introduction Although laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has gained widespread acceptance over the last decade, it is associated with a much steeper learning curve than other laparoscopic procedures. We currently perform a modified two-surgeon technique for LLR. We assessed the effect of our LLR technique on the surgical outcome and the learning curve of surgeons-in-training when pure non-anatomical LLR was performed.

Intrahepatic Glissonean Approach for Robotic Anatomical Liver Resection of Segment 7 Using the Saline-Linked Monopolar Cautery Scissors (SLiC-Scissors) Method: A Technical Case Report With Videos.

Anatomical hepatectomy of segment 7 (S7) is technically difficult due to its difficult accessibility. Here, we present our experience of robotic anatomical S7 subsectionectomy of the liver employing the saline-linked cautery scissors (SLiC-Scissors) technique. After the right lobe was fully mobilized, dissection of the Glissonean pedicle and hepatic venous branch of S7, as well as the liver parenchymal transection, were safely performed using the SLiC-Scissors method.

Utility of serum autotaxin levels for predicting post hepatectomy liver failure in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of serum autotaxin, a novel liver fibrosis marker, for predicting post hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Autotaxin was measured in sera from 269 patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC. Correlations between autotaxin level, liver fibrosis stage (METAVIR F0-F4), and PHLF, as assessed by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery criteria, were analyzed.

Novel Liver Parenchymal Transection Technique Using Saline-linked Monopolar Cautery Scissors (SLiC-Scissors) in Robotic Liver Resection.

Introduction Although there are a number of benefits to using robotics in liver surgery over conventional open and laparoscopic approaches, liver parenchymal transection is still the most difficult aspect of robotic liver resection (RLR) due to the limitations of the currently available robotic instruments and the lack of a standardized method. Methods We present a novel method for transecting the liver parenchyma during RLR employing saline-linked monopolar cautery (SLiC) scissors (SLiC-Scissors method). Between September 2021 and April 2022, 10 RLRs were performed utilizing the SLiC-Scissors method for both anatomical and non-anatomical liver resections.

Clinically relevant model of oxaliplatin-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.

Aim: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) induced by oxaliplatin-including chemotherapies (OXCx) is associated with impaired hepatic reserve and higher morbidity after hepatic resection. However, in the absence of an appropriate animal experimental model, little is known about its pathophysiology. This study aimed to establish a clinically relevant reproducible model of FOLFOX-induced SOS and to compare the clinical/histopathological features between the clinical and animal SOS settings.

Novel Hemostatic Technique During Laparoscopic Liver Parenchymal Transection: Saline-Linked Electrocautery Combined With Wet Oxidized Cellulose (SLiC-WOC) Method.

Introduction: Although laparoscopic hepatectomy has the potential advantage of reducing intraoperative blood loss, it is more difficult to control bleeding laparoscopically compared to an open approach. We introduced a novel hemostatic technique, the saline-linked electrocautery combined with wet oxidized cellulose (SLiC-WOC) method, during laparoscopic hepatectomy where a combination of saline-linked electrocautery (SLiC) and wet oxidized cellulose (WOC) is used. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of employing the SLiC-WOC method for laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Bile Duct Regeneration with an Artificial Bile Duct Made of Gelatin Hydrogel Nonwoven Fabrics.

Although choledochojejunostomy is the standard technique for biliary reconstruction, there are various associated problems that need to be solved such as reflux cholangitis. Interposition with an artificial bile duct (ABD) to replace the resected bile duct maintains a physiological conduit for bile and may solve this problem. This study investigated the usefulness of an ABD made of gelatin hydrogel nonwoven fabric (GHNF).

Increased Expressions of Programmed Death Ligand 1 and Galectin 9 in Transplant Recipients Who Achieved Tolerance After Immunosuppression Withdrawal.

Programmed death 1 (PD1)/its ligand PD-L1 concomitant with T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3)/its ligand galectin 9 (Gal-9) and the forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) might be involved in tolerance after liver transplantation (LT). Liver biopsies from 38 tolerant, 19 nontolerant (including 16 samples that triggered reintroduction of immunosuppression [IS] and 19 samples after IS reintroduction), and 38 control LT patients were studied. The expressions of PD1, PD-L1, Gal-9, and FOXP3 were determined by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence (IF) staining.