Yusuke Watanabe

BACKGROUND: Accurate liver volume measurement is crucial for evaluating liver cyst severity and treatment efficacy in polycystic liver disease (PLD). Previous methods are impractical because they are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This study developed and validated two simplified CT imaging methods: the Bi-axial Simplified Measurement Method (BASiM) and the Quadri-dimensional Simplified Measurement Method (QDSiM). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 76 CT images from 26 PLD patients who underwent transarterial hepatic artery embolization (TAE). Images were obtained before TAE, 24 weeks after TAE and during the follow-up period. Liver volumes were measured using semi-automatic volumetry, BASiM, and QDSiM. BASiM calculates liver volume based on cranio-caudal, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral dimensions, while QDSiM divides the liver into left- and right-side sections. This study assessed inter-assessor reliability, measurement accuracy, volume change rate, and calculation times. RESULTS: BASiM demonstrated strong inter-assessor reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.991, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.986-0.994) superior to QDSiM (ICC: 0.851, 95% CI 0.205-0.949). Calibrated liver volumes using BASiM and QDSiM were consistent with semi-automatic volumetry (ICC: 0.924, 95% CI 0.858 to 0.957, and ICC: 0.934, 95% CI 0.806-0.970, respectively). BASiM showed better alignment with volume changes (ICC: 0.835, 95% CI 0.537-0.927) compared to QDSiM (ICC: 0.607, 95% CI 0.203-0.800) and required less measurement time (61 ± 4 s vs. 107 ± 9 s, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: BASiM provided superior reliability, accuracy, and efficiency for liver volume measurement in PLD, thus useful for the clinical management of PLD.

PURPOSE: Reduced-port surgery has been utilized in gastric cancer surgery but is not predominantly used due to its high technical difficulty. A new single-port surgical robot named da Vinci™ SP System (DVSP) was launched and eventually approved for clinical use in Japan in November 2022. We initiated robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using DVSP in March 2023. Here, we report our initial experiences and assessments of the feasibility and safety of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using DVSP. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 20 patients with gastric cancer who underwent robotic gastrectomy with DVSP from March 2023 to April 2024. The primary endpoint was the postoperative complication rate within 30 days postoperatively. Secondary endpoints were surgical outcomes, including intraoperative adverse events, operative time, blood loss, and the number of dissected nodes. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 6 (30.0%) were male. The median age was 74 years. Tumors in the middle to lower stomach were observed in 20 patients (100.0%), including 18 (90.0%) and 2 (10.0%) with clinical stages I and II diseases, respectively. All patients underwent distal gastrectomy. The postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II occurred in 3 (15%) patients. Intraoperative adverse events, including conversion to other approaches, were not observed. All patients underwent R0 resection. The median operative and console times were 289 and 240 min, respectively. The median blood loss was 11 mL with 50 dissected nodes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the safe performance of robotic distal gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy for clinical stage I/II gastric cancer using DVSP.

BACKGROUND: Telesimulation has been shown to be effective for teaching simple surgical techniques; however, its usefulness for teaching advanced skills remains unclear. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the impact of a telesimulation program on training for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: Novice trainees were randomly assigned to the intervention group or control group using a permuted block design. Intervention group participants received a 1-hour didactic telelecture and three 1-hour telesimulation sessions with a hernia specialist, whereas control group participants engaged in self-directed training using the same simulator and materials. Trainees' procedural videos, recorded before and after training, were assessed using the transabdominal preperitoneal checklist and the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills-Groin Hernia. Pre- and post-training tests were performed to evaluate knowledge of inguinal hernias and self-confidence in transabdominal preperitoneal procedures. RESULTS: Forty-three participants from 16 institutions in Japan were enrolled, with 22 and 19 in the intervention group and control group, respectively, completing the final analysis. Median post-test transabdominal preperitoneal checklist scores were 16 (interquartile range: 15-18.5) in the intervention group and 11 (interquartile range: 8.5-14.5) in the control group; intervention group participants significantly outperformed their counterparts (P < .001). However, comparison of pre- and post-test scores showed skill improvements in both groups (P < .001). Both groups also showed increased knowledge and confidence. CONCLUSION: The telesimulation program effectively enhanced the surgical skills of novice trainees in learning laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, demonstrating superiority over self-directed learning.

Concurrent direct and indirect inguinal, femoral, and obturator hernias are rare. This case report describes a rare case treated using the laparoscopic approach. A 68-year-old female patient presented with a moving left inguinal lump and pain. Physical examination and abdominal computed tomography scan revealed the coexistence of a left inguinal hernia or Nuck canal hydrocele and a left femoral hernia. The patient underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair, and all four orifices were covered with one mesh. The patient was discharged on the second postoperative day without any complications. The concurrent presence of four hernias on the same side is rare and has not been previously reported. The laparoscopic approach is useful in such cases because it allows visualization of multiple hernia orifices from the intra-abdominal cavity.

PURPOSE: Operations for malignant diseases of the bile duct, pancreas, and esophagus are the most invasive gastroenterological surgeries. The frequency of complications after these surgeries is high, which affects the postoperative course and mortality. In patients who undergo these types of surgeries, continuous monitoring of the perioperative central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) is possible via a central venous catheter. We aimed to investigate the relationship between continuously monitored perioperative ScvO2 values and postoperative complications. METHODS: The medical records of 115 patients who underwent highly invasive gastroenterological surgeries and ScvO2 monitoring from April 2012 to March 2014 were analyzed. Sixty patients met the inclusion criteria, and their ScvO2 levels were continuously monitored perioperatively. The relationship between ScvO2 levels and major postoperative complications, defined as Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III, was examined using uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Thirty patients developed major postoperative complications. The adequate cut-off value derived from receiver operating curves of the postoperative average ScvO2 levels for predicting major complications was 75%. Multivariate analysis revealed that low average postoperative ScvO2 levels (p = 0.016) and blood loss ≥ 1000 mL (p = 0.039) were significant predictors of major postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Low perioperative ScvO2 values were associated with an increased risk of major postoperative complications. Continuous ScvO2 monitoring will help prevent postoperative complications.