Background In this matched-cohort study, we investigated the short-term outcome of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) compared with conventional minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy (MIE) in esophageal cancer patients. Methods One hundred eighty-nine patients with thoracic esophageal cancer scheduled to undergo thoracic esophagectomy between 2020 and 2021 were assigned to either RAMIE or MIE. Then, we retrospectively evaluated the postoperative surgical complications between two groups in a propensity-matched analyzation. Results Based on the propensity-matched score, 50 patients who underwent RAMIE or MIE were selected. Thoracic surgery time in RAMIE/MIE group were 233.1/173.3 min (p \ 0.01), respectively. No significant intergroup differences were observed regarding incisional anastomotic leakage (RAMIE group 4.0% vs. MIE group 6.0%) and pneumonia (RAMIE group 8.0% vs. MIE group 12.0%; p = 0.68). The respective incidences of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were 34.0 and 8.0% in the MIE and RAMIE groups, respectively (p \ 0.01). In the matched cohort, no differences were observed between the groups in the success accomplishment of the clinical management pathway (RAMIE group 94.0% vs. MIE group 88.0%). Conclusions Although patients who underwent RAMIE had longer operation times, the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was lower than with MIE. Further study in a prospective multi-institutional setting are required to confirm the superiority of RAMIE compared with MIE.

No abstract

Background: The first choice of an esophageal substitute after esophagectomy for cancer is the stomach. However, the colon must be considered for reconstruction in specific situations. The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency and clinical features of patients who underwent colon interposition in thoracic esophagectomy and to investigate the postoperative complications and survival. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study in the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan. Patients who underwent colon interposition after esophagectomy for cancer between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed. Results: Eighty-eight patients underwent esophagectomy with colon interposition; 53.2% received preoperative treatment and 52.3% underwent thoracoscopic surgery. Clavien-Dindo grade >III postoperative complications occurred in 42% of the patients; anastomotic leakage was the most common complication, occurring in 26.1% of the cases. Univariate analysis of the factors associated with Clavien-Dindo grade III complications.

Robot assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) has been reported to be potential advantages in previous reports. Here we demonstrate the difference between these two minimally invasive procedures and investigated the surgical results of RAMIE in comparison with MIE using propensity matched-cohort. Methods We investigated 154 cases of thoracic esophagectomy conducted between 2020/1 to 2021/1. Among these cases, we analyzed 30 cases of RAMIE in comparison with 30 cases of matched-cohort which conducted conventional thoracoscopic esophagectomy (MIE) in the prone. Then we evaluated the surgical results between two groups. Results There were no differences in age (69.2 vs 69.1 yo), gender (M:F = 24:6 vs 24:6), cStage (Stage I,II,III,IV:6,3,14,7 vs 8,3,14,5), and preoperative chemotherapy (70% vs 66.7%) between RAMIE and matched-cohort MIE. There was statistically significant difference in total time of thoracic phase (233.1 vs 173.3 min; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in postoperative events in RAMIE vs MIE (Clavien-Dindo Grade 1≧; Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) (16.7 vs 20.0%; p = 0.19). However, after the learning curve archived, seldom cases were diagnosed postoperative RLNP in RAMIE cases in comparison with MIE (p = 0.06). Conclusion We demonstrated the formalization of our procedure and surgical results of RAMIE. There were no significant differences in postoperative events between two groups. However RLNP was lower after the learning peak. Incidence of RLNP could be reduced in RAMIE.

Background Pancreatic juice is constantly activated by contaminated bile in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). Here, we report a case of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for a patient with PBM and sphincterotomized papilla, resulting in fatal pancreatic fistula. Case presentation A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and common bile duct stones. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed prior to surgery. The pancreatic duct was simultaneously visualized when the contrast agent was injected into the common bile duct. Sudden bleeding was observed from the abdominal drain on postoperative day (POD) 6. Emergent stent graft placement and coil embolization were performed for bleeding from the splenic artery. On POD 9, the drainage fluid changed to yellowish in color with bile contamination. For internal drainage of the digestive fluid, endoscopic retrograde biliary tube and pancreatic drainage tube were placed. On POD 24, second emergent coil embolization was performed for bleeding from the left gastric artery. On POD 25, open abdominal drainage was performed. On POD 32, third emergent coil embolization was performed for bleeding from the gastroduodenal artery. Subsequently, remnant pancreatic resection was performed. On POD 39, massive bleeding was again observed from the abdominal drain. Emergency arterial portography revealed bleeding in the right wall of the superior mesenteric vein. The patient died of hemorrhagic shock on the same day. Conclusions The extreme risk of severe pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy should be considered in patients with PBM and sphincterotomized papilla. In this extraordinary situation, surgeons should promptly decide whether to resect the remnant pancreas to prevent losing the patient.