Background/Aim: We investigated the impact of the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) on esophageal cancer survival and recurrence after curative treatment. Patients and Methods: This study included 122 patients who underwent curative surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2017. The risk factors for the overall survival (OS) and recurrencefree survival (RFS) were identified. Results: An ACCI of 5 was regarded as the optimal critical point of classification considering the survival rates. The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 64.2% and 54.4% in the low-ACCI group, respectively, and 42.3% and 29.2% in high-ACCI group, respectively (p=0.035). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 50.2% and 43.6% in the low-ACCI group, respectively, and 28.5% and 21.3% in high-ACCI group, respectively (p=0.021). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that ACCI was a significant independent risk factor for both the OS and RFS. Conclusion: ACCI is a risk factor for survival in patients who undergo curative treatment for esophageal cancer. An effective plan for the perioperative care and surgical strategy should be developed according to ACCI. Esophageal cancer is the seventh-most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. An 2783 This article is freely accessible online.

BackgroundThe short-term outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted surgery for colorectal cancer (LAC) have not been fully evaluated in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to compare the short term surgical outcomes of LAC between the patients older than 75 years and those with non-elderly patients.MethodsThis retrospective multi-institutional study selected patients who underwent LAC between April 2013 and March 2014 at Yokohama City University Hospital and its related general hospitals. The patients were categorized into two groups: elderly patients (>75 years of age: group A) and non-elderly patients (<75 years of age: group B). Surgical outcomes and post operative complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsA total of 237 patients were evaluated in the present study. Eighty-four patients were classified into group A, and 153 into group B. Preoperative clinicopathological outcomes demonstrated no significant differences except for the ASA score. When comparing the surgical outcomes between group A and group B, the rate of conversion to open procedure (3.6% vs 5.2%, P = 0.750), median operation time (232 min vs 232 min, P = 0.320), median blood loss (20 ml vs 12 ml, P = 0.350). The differences were not significantly different in the surgical outcomes. The incidences of > grade 2 post operative surgical complications were similar between two groups ((19.0% vs 15.7%, p = 0.587). No mortality was observed in this study. The length of postoperative hospital stay was also similar (10 days vs 10 days, p = 0.350).ConclusionsThe present study suggested that LAC is safe and feasible, regardless of the age of the patient, especially for elderly patients who may be candidates for colon cancer surgery.

Background: We investigated the clinical influence of anastomotic leak (AL) on esophageal cancer survival and recurrence after curative surgery. Patients and Methods: This study included 122 patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer between 2008 and 2018. The patients were classified into those with AL and those without. The risk factors for overall (OS) and recurrence-free (RFS) survival were identified. Results: AL was found in 44 out of the 122 patients (36.1%). The respective OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 43.9% and 40.2% in the AL group and 63.9% and 53.2% in the non-AL group, which were significantly different (p=0.0049). In contrast, the respective RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 44. 8% and 29.8%, and 44.9% and 42.4%, which were not significantly different (p=0.2306). A multivariate analysis showed that AL was a significant independent risk factor for both poorer OS and RFS in patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer. Conclusion: To improve survival of patients with esophageal cancer, the surgical procedure, perioperative care and surgical strategy must be carefully planned in order to prevent AL.

Background/Aim: Postoperative pneumonia after esophageal cancer can lead to additional pain, prolonged hospital stay, and respiratory failure. These adverse events might lead to early recurrence and/or death. We investigated the influence of postoperative pneumonia on the esophageal cancer survival and recurrence after curative surgery. Patients and Methods: This study included 122 patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer between 2008 and 2018. The patients were classified into: i) those with postoperative pneumonia (pneumonia group) and ii) those without postoperative pneumonia (non-pneumonia group). The risk factors for the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. The rate of postoperative pneumonia was measured by the revised Uniform Pneumonia Score. Results: Postoperative complications were found in 34 of the 122 patients (27.9%). The OS rate at 5 years following surgery was 28.2% in the pneumonia group and 55.1% in the non-pneumonia group (p=0.006). The RFS rate at 5 years after surgery was 18.9% in the pneumonia group and 49.2% in the non-pneumonia group (p=0.061). A multivariate analysis showed that postoperative pneumonia was a significant independent risk factor for OS. Conclusion: The development of postoperative pneumonia was a risk factor for a decreased overall survival in patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer. The surgical procedure, perioperative care and surgical strategy should be carefully planned in order to avoid postoperative pneumonia.

Background This study aimed to investigate the short-term and oncological impact of the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System (ESSQS) by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery on the operator performing laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer. Methods This retrospective cohort study was based on medical records from a multicentre database. A total of 417 patients diagnosed with stage II/III colon and rectosigmoid cancer treated with curative resection were divided into two groups according to whether they were operated on by qualified surgeons (Q group, n=352) or not (NQ group, n=65). Through strict propensity score matching, 98 cases (49 in each group) were assessed. Results Operative time was significantly longer in the NQ group than in the Q group (199 vs. 168 min, p=0.029). The amount of blood loss, post-operative complications, and duration of hospitalisation were similar between both groups. No mortality was observed. One conversion case was seen in the NQ group. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 86.6% in the NQ group and 88.2% in the Q group, which was not statistically significant (log-rank p=0.966). Conclusion Direct operation by ESSQS-qualified surgeons contributed to a shortened operation time. Under an organised educational environment, almost equivalent safety and oncological outcomes are expected regardless of the surgeon’s qualifications.