PurposeTotally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG) is unpopular because reconstruction is difficult. In fact, esophagojejunostomy is the most difficult surgical technique in TLTG. We adopted functional end-to-end anastomosis for esophagojejunostomy to simplify the procedure. The present study assesses the feasibility and surgical outcomes of TLTG with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy.MethodsWe assessed the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of 65 consecutive patients who underwent TLTG with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy at Tonan Hospital between January 2006 and August 2011.ResultsThe mean surgical duration was 271.5 ± 64.7 min, and the mean blood loss was 85.2 ± 143.2 g. One patient (1.5 %) was converted to open surgery, and two patients (3.1 %) required reoperation due to ileus because of an internal hernia and jejunojejunostomy leakage. No reoperation was associated with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy. The mean hospital stay was 21.4 ± 13.5 days. Ten patients (15.4 %) developed postoperative complications, of which three (4.6 %) were anastomotic stenosis associated with functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy. All of these were resolved by endoscopic dilation.ConclusionFunctional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy in TLTG is safe and feasible.

We have developed a combined laparoscopic and luminal endoscopic surgery technique for resection of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) that can be performed without excessive resection of the stomach. In a multicenter retrospective study we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for gastric SMT resection. Between October 2007 and December 2011, 126 patients with gastric SMTs underwent LECS at 8 institutions. Patient demographics, tumor histopathologic characteristics, and operative and follow-up data were reviewed.16 tumors (12.7 %) were located in the upper third of the stomach, 88 (69.8 %) in the middle third, 5 (4.0 %) in the lower third, and 17 (13.5 %) at the esophagogastric junction. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) operation time for LECS was 190.2 (66.8) min, with a mean estimated blood loss of 15.1 (38.6) mL. In 2 cases (1.6 %), the procedure was converted to open surgery because of intra-abdominal adhesions or stenosis. Morbidity was found in 6 cases (4.8 %), including 2 leakage, 2 gastric stasis, 1 fever, and 1 cystitis. Histologically, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was found in 86 (68.3 %) cases. The median follow-up period was 54.7 months; no local or distant tumor recurrence was observed and all patients were alive. LECS proved to be a safe and feasible procedure for the resection of gastric SMTs, with a reasonable operation time, low bleeding, and an acceptable complication rate in this multicenter study in Japan.

A short-term treatment of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a circulating hormone of cardiac origin, is reported to improve cardiac performance in patients with chronic heart failure. However, clinical usefulness of long-term administration of ANP in patients with congestive heart failure has not been reported. We studied 36 patients with severe acute heart failure who resisted various therapy. Hemodynamic parameters were measured before and 48 h after initiating ANP infusion (n = 18) or normal saline (n = 18). Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (23-->13 mm Hg), mean right atrial pressure (10-->5 mm Hg), systemic vascular resistance (2,169-->1,307 dyn x s x cm(-5)) and pulmonary vascular resistance (318-->136 dyn x s x cm(-5)) decreased significantly, whereas cardiac index (1.9-->2.6 L/min/m2) and urine volume (1,692-->2,560 ml/day) increased during long-term ANP infusion (before-->48 h). Moreover, in eight patients with long-term ANP infusion, these hemodynamic effects were maintained at 7 days after initiating ANP infusion. Vasodilating, pulmonary vasorelaxant, and diuretic activities of ANP are maintained without tolerance, and thus long-term ANP infusion is clinically useful in patients with severe acute heart failure.

Background and study aims A delayed perforation can often occur after endoscopic treatment for duodenal neoplasms and cause fatality due to leakage of pancreatic and bile juices. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for duodenal neoplasms (D-LECS) in a multicenter retrospective study. Patients and methods The clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of 206 patients with duodenal neoplasms in whom D-LECS had initially been attempted at one of 14 institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of the 206 patients, 63 (31%), 128 (62%), and 15 patients (7%) had lesions at the bulb, second portion, and third portion of the duodenum, respectively. The rates of en bloc and R0 resections during D-LECS were 96% and 95%, respectively. Intraoperative and delayed perforations occurred in 9 (4.3%) and 5 patients (2.4%), respectively. No recurrent cases were observed in this study. The risks of postoperative complications were surgical duration of ≥3 h. Conclusions The results of the present study revealed that D-LECS was performed with oncological feasibility with technical safety.

No excessive increases in airway pressure or clear circulatory depressions were observed because of artificial pneumothorax under two-lung ventilation in thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in the prone position. These results suggest that artificial pneumothorax under two-lung ventilation is beneficial for maintaining stable hemodynamics and oxygenation in thoracoscopic esophagectomy in prone position.