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BackgroundThe standard treatment for stage IV gastric cancer is chemotherapy, but outcomes remain poor. The effectiveness of induction chemotherapy followed by surgery in selected patients who had a good response to chemotherapy is unclear.MethodsA total of 59 patients with stage IV gastric cancer received induction chemotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin. In each cycle, oral S-1 (80 mg/m2) was administered for 3 weeks, followed by a 2-week drug holiday. Intravenous cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered on day 8 after adequate premedication and hydration. If unresectable features resolved after chemotherapy, patients underwent curative (R0) resection. The safety and outcomes of this treatment combination were evaluated, and predictive factors for survival were determined.ResultsThirteen of 59 patients (22%) were eligible for R0 resection after induction chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed an overall median survival time of 13 months and a 3-year survival rate of 18.2%. Among patients who underwent R0 resection, the median survival time was 53 months and the 3-year survival rate was 53.8%. Multivariate analyses showed that negative para-aortic lymph nodes and undergoing R0 resection were independent predictors of survival.ConclusionsTreatment of stage IV gastric cancer with S-1 and cisplatin induction chemotherapy followed by R0 resection is safe and may improve survival compared with chemotherapy alone. Further study of this dual-modality therapy is warranted.

Background Laparoscopic surgery for GIST carries a risk of intraoperative tumor dissemination. To avoid tumor dissemination, we have utilized a ''non-touch'' method for surgical resection of GIST since 2000. Methods Forty-two patients with gastric GIST were treated at our institution between 2000 and 2012. Laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach was used as the standard procedure for tumors that were 2-5 cm in size. Tumors larger than 5 cm were treated with open surgery. Our non-touch procedure included a lesion-lifting method using traction sutures at the normal stomach wall around the tumor. Intraoperative gastroscopy was utilized to confirm the location of the tumor with laparoscopy. After lifting of the tumor, tumors with a clear operative margin were resected using a linear stapler. Tumors located at the posterior wall of the stomach or located near the esophagogastric junction were resected using traction sutures. Results Median operative time was 140 min and median blood loss was 0 ml. Postoperative course was uneventful excepting one patient who experienced postoperative bleeding. The median postoperative stay was 7 days. One patient developed liver metastasis after surgery. None of the patients had local recurrence or peritoneal recurrence case. Conclusion This non-touch lesion-lifting method was useful for the surgical management of gastric GIST.

A 47-year-old woman underwent curative resection of advanced gastric cancer, followed by continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP). She was readmitted to our hospital 6 months after the operation with a diagnosis of postoperative adhesional ileus. An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the small intestine, which had normal serosa, was folded and enveloped in thickened peritoneum like a "cocoon," suggesting sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP). Because of tight adhesion in the ileocecal region, resection of the membrane was performed only in the feasible areas, followed by side-to-side anastomosis between the ileum and ascending colon. The patient has remained well for 15 months since this operation with no radiological signs or laboratory findings of recurrence. When small bowel obstruction does not show improvement with conservative treatment, and if the possibility of peritoneal cancer recurrence is excluded by thorough examinations, it is important to perform laparotomy early to resolve the symptoms of bowel obstruction and restore the patient's quality of life.

Fibrin glue has been used as a hemostatic and adhesive agent for many years, but its efficacy in digestive surgery is still controversial. In this study, we evaluated the effect of fibrin glue on the healing of the small and large bowel anastomotic portions by measurement of the anastomotic bursting pressure. Further, the efficacy of fibrin glue in preventing intra-abdominal adhesion formation was assessed. Our results indicated that fibrin glue enhanced the resistance towards an elevation of intraluminal pressure in small bowel, but not in large bowel. Concomitantly, the glue did not significantly attenuate postoperative adhesion formation. A sealing action of fibrin glue might protect against bleeding and microleakage, resulting in beneficial effects on small bowel anastomosis.