Placement of Nasogastric Tubes in Pancreaticoduodenectomy Patients: Switching from Immediate Intraoperative Removal to Avoiding Unnecessary Perioperative Use.

Background: The placement of nasogastric tubes (NGTs) in abdominal surgery has been adopted for decades to attenuate ileus and prevent aspiration pneumonia. In the recent era, the guidelines recommend not using NGT routinely, and even in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), immediate removal of NGT in operating rooms (ORs) was suggested. However, the clinical outcome and safety of abandoning NGT during the pre-PD and intra-PD periods remain unknown.

Pancreatic neck transection using a harmonic scalpel increases risk of biochemical leak but not postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: The effect of a harmonic scalpel on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) has not been addressed. This study assessed the effect of pancreatic neck transection using a harmonic scalpel on rate and severity of POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent PD at National Taiwan University Hospital between July 2015 and March 2019.

The effect of performing two pancreatoduodenectomies by a single surgical team in one day on surgeons and patient outcomes.

Background: The centralization of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has been shown to improve patient outcomes. The scheduling of two PDs in one day is one option to shorten the waiting time for patients referred to high volume centers. The effect on the surgical team or patient outcomes of such an approach have not previously been explored.

Lymphatic vessel remodeling and invasion in pancreatic cancer progression.

Background: The lymphatic system is involved in metastasis in pancreatic cancer progression. In cancer staging, lymphatic spread has been used to assess the invasiveness of tumor cells. However, from the endothelium's perspective, the analysis downplays the peri-lesional activities of lymphatic vessels.

Biomaterial substrate-derived compact cellular spheroids mimicking the behavior of pancreatic cancer and microenvironment.

Pancreatic stromal cells especially pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in the progression of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the exact interaction between cancer cells and PSCs remains to be elucidated in order to develop more effective therapeutic approaches to treat PDAC. The microenvironment of PDAC shows higher hyaluronan (HA) levels, which is associated with poor prognosis of PDAC patients.

Total gastrectomy improves glucose metabolism on gastric cancer patients: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Total gastrectomy (TG) is potentially curative for upper gastric cancer (GC) and includes both stomach removal and enteral bypass reconstruction. Therefore, similar to bariatric surgery, TG may contribute to a change in glucose metabolism.

Objectives: The aim of this population-based study was to determine if there are any changes in glucose metabolism after TG in patients with GC.