The purpose of this study was to clarify the current nutritional management of patients receiving home-care services after discharge from Nagano Matsusiro General Hospital and to mull over the future nutritional management in their home.
  A questionnaire survey about nutrition was conducted on 53 home nursing care receivers and rehabilitation program participants.
  Patients with a body mass index of less than 18.5 (low BMI patients) accounted for 39.6%, and the total energy intake was predicted to be lower than necessary for these patients. Therefore, we deemed that it was necessary to calculate their nutritional requirements and evaluate their nutritional status.
  Nutritional evaluation was made in 84.9% of the patients. Weight was seldom measured, especialy among the enteral feeding groups.
  Not measuring weight is known to be related to an unfavorable outcome and hospitalization. Therefore, we thought it necessary to perform somatometry using a nutrition assessment kit, calculate nutritional requirements, and evaluate the nutritional status for risk reduction. Of the 44 patients who were taking food orally, 34.1% had dysphagia, and for 40% of them, there was no specific coping strategy.
  This indicated that dysphagia was not considered to be a major problem. A significantly large number of dysphagia cases were found among low BMI patients.
  For these patients, intervention by a speech therapist, as well as instruction about the risk of aspiration and choking, should be considered.
  There were significantly many a number of users of nutritional supplements among the low BMI patients, but 84.6% of them used products categorized as health foods. This suggested a lack of appropriate information about nutritional supplements. Accurate information should be provided to these patients.
  For nutritional management of home care patients, we concluded that intervention by multiple specialists (including dietitians, speech therapists, and dental hygienists) was necessary. The nutritional support team (NST) should intervene in cooperation with these specialists.

The optimal timing of cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis in patients with severe brain complication remains unclear. We present here the successful surgical treatment of a case of infected mitral endocarditis with intractable heart failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and cerebral infarction with hemorrhage. A 37 year-old woman who received chemotherapy for breast cancer developed mitral infective endocarditis perhaps caused by infection of the implanted central venous access device and was referred to our hospital for an emergency operation. On admission, she had a mild fever and showed motor aphasia and right-sided hemiplegia. Brain CT scan findings revealed a cerebral infarction in the area of the left middle cerebral artery and a cerebral hemorrhage in the right occipital lobe. Echocardiography showed severe mitral regurgitation with huge mobile vegetation. Chest X-ray revealed severe pulmonary congestion and laboratory data showed DIC. After the mitral valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve following complete excision of infected tissue, she was extubated on the first postoperative day with dramatic improvement of infectious signs and heart failure. Postoperative brain CT showed a new small brain hemorrhage, but no aggravation of the preoperative cerebral lesion. After she underwent surgical drainage for brain abscess on the 15th postoperative day, her postoperative course was uneventful. Even though this report is limited to a single case, only aggressive and prompt surgical intervention could relieve the intractable conditions in such a patient with extremely high risk.

Background: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy requires a lot of disposable products. So we compared the cost between laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy and open surgery.Patients and methods: For comparison we used five cases each of open distal gastrectomy (ODG), laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG), open total gastrectomy (OTG) and laparoscopy assisted total gastrectomy (LATG). In this study, we defined the profit of gastrectomy as below and we used the list price for all products. Profit of gastrectomy=Fee for gastrectomy-(Costs of all single use products-Demandable fee for single-use products)Results: Mean profits of ODG and LADG were 278,756.2 yen and 190,292.8 yen. The difference was 88,463.4 yen. Mean profits of OTG and LATG were 395,922.6 yen and 330,653.6 yen. The difference was 65,269 yen. Mean hospital charges, mean length of hospital stay, mean hospital charges per day of ODG, LADG, OTG and LATG were 1,390,464 yen, 21.4 days, 65,140.0 yen and 1,484,254.0 yen, 18.8 days, 80,805.4 yen and 1,956,664.0 yen, 24.4 days, 82,397.1 yen and 1,686,936.0 yen, 18.4 days, 91,894.8 yen, respectively.Conclusion: The turnover of laparoscopic gastrectomy was higher than open gastrectomy, but, the profit was lower because of high costs of disposable products. Hospital charges were not higher but the charge per day was higher because of a shorter hospital stay.
Gastrectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Hospitals ; Mean ; Financial cost

Infectious endocarditis associated with Streptococcus bovis, which is rare in Japan, is a frequently reported complication of gastrointestinal tumors, especially in colon cancer. We report a patient who was successfully treated for the S. bovis-induced infectious endocarditis complication in colon cancer. A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for detailed examination of high fever of unknown origin, that had lasted for 2 months. S. bovis was identified in the venous blood culture. An echocardiogram showed severe aortic valve regurgitation of the third degree and vegetation on the aortic valve. We therefore diagnosed infectious endocarditis. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoid colon cancer. After endoscopic mucosal resection of the lesion, the aortic valve was replaced. The postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged from the hospital 36 days post operatively.

Infectious endocarditis associated with Streptococcus bovis, which is rare in Japan, is a frequently reported complication of gastrointestinal tumors, especially in colon cancer. We report a patient who was successfully treated for the S. bovis-induced infectious endocarditis complication in colon cancer. A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for detailed examination of high fever of unknown origin, that had lasted for 2 months. S. bovis was identified in the venous blood culture. An echocardiogram showed severe aortic valve regurgitation of the third degree and vegetation on the aortic valve. We therefore diagnosed infectious endocarditis. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoid colon cancer. After endoscopic mucosal resection of the lesion, the aortic valve was replaced. The postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged from the hospital 36 days post operatively.

We report a case of tricuspid infective endocarditis with peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm. A 31-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug abuse was admitted to our institution. Echocardiography showed severe tricuspid valve insufficiency and large vegetation (10 mm) attached to the tricuspid valve. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a right peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm. We operated because of the large amount of vegetation. Before the operation, we performed coil embolization for peripheral pulmonary aneurysm. During the operation, we removed the posterior leaflet with vegetation, and performed tricuspid valve repair. The postoperative course was uneventful. Postoperative echocardiography did not show any tricuspid valve insufficiency or vegetation.

Purpose: Feeding catheter jejunostomy is a useful access route for early enteral nutrition during esophageal cancer surgery. However, it may lead to postoperative bowel obstruction associated with feeding jejunostomy (BOFJ). To prevent BOFJ, we introduced feeding catheter duodenostomy via the round ligament in 2018. This study aimed to compare the incidence of BOFJ and postoperative body weight changes between feeding catheter jejunostomy and duodenostomy. Methods: A total of 109 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer at Kochi Medical School Hospital between March 2013 and November 2020 were included. Preoperative patient characteristics (age, sex, preoperative weight, body mass index, cancer stage, and preoperative treatment), surgical outcomes (operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications [wound infection, pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, BOFJ]), and body weight changes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery were compared between the jejunostomy (J) and duodenostomy (D) groups. Results: The D group consisted of 35 patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding age, sex, weight, body mass index, cancer stage, operative time, postoperative complications, or duration of tube placement. However, the D group had a significantly lower rate of preoperative chemotherapy (45.7% vs. 78.4%, P=0.001) and lower operative blood loss (120 mL vs. 150 mL, P=0.046) than the J group. All 12 cases of BOFJ occurred in the J group. Furthermore, the D group experienced a significantly lower weight loss ratio at 1 month postoperatively (93.9% vs. 91.8%, P=0.039). Conclusion In thoracoscopic esophagectomy, feeding duodenostomy may prevent bowel obstruction and reduce early postoperative weight loss without increasing operative time compared with feeding catheter jejunostomy.

Purpose: Feeding catheter jejunostomy is a useful access route for early enteral nutrition during esophageal cancer surgery. However, it may lead to postoperative bowel obstruction associated with feeding jejunostomy (BOFJ). To prevent BOFJ, we introduced feeding catheter duodenostomy via the round ligament in 2018. This study aimed to compare the incidence of BOFJ and postoperative body weight changes between feeding catheter jejunostomy and duodenostomy. Methods: A total of 109 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer at Kochi Medical School Hospital between March 2013 and November 2020 were included. Preoperative patient characteristics (age, sex, preoperative weight, body mass index, cancer stage, and preoperative treatment), surgical outcomes (operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications [wound infection, pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, BOFJ]), and body weight changes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery were compared between the jejunostomy (J) and duodenostomy (D) groups. Results: The D group consisted of 35 patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding age, sex, weight, body mass index, cancer stage, operative time, postoperative complications, or duration of tube placement. However, the D group had a significantly lower rate of preoperative chemotherapy (45.7% vs. 78.4%, P=0.001) and lower operative blood loss (120 mL vs. 150 mL, P=0.046) than the J group. All 12 cases of BOFJ occurred in the J group. Furthermore, the D group experienced a significantly lower weight loss ratio at 1 month postoperatively (93.9% vs. 91.8%, P=0.039). Conclusion In thoracoscopic esophagectomy, feeding duodenostomy may prevent bowel obstruction and reduce early postoperative weight loss without increasing operative time compared with feeding catheter jejunostomy.

Purpose: Feeding catheter jejunostomy is a useful access route for early enteral nutrition during esophageal cancer surgery. However, it may lead to postoperative bowel obstruction associated with feeding jejunostomy (BOFJ). To prevent BOFJ, we introduced feeding catheter duodenostomy via the round ligament in 2018. This study aimed to compare the incidence of BOFJ and postoperative body weight changes between feeding catheter jejunostomy and duodenostomy. Methods: A total of 109 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer at Kochi Medical School Hospital between March 2013 and November 2020 were included. Preoperative patient characteristics (age, sex, preoperative weight, body mass index, cancer stage, and preoperative treatment), surgical outcomes (operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications [wound infection, pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, BOFJ]), and body weight changes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery were compared between the jejunostomy (J) and duodenostomy (D) groups. Results: The D group consisted of 35 patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding age, sex, weight, body mass index, cancer stage, operative time, postoperative complications, or duration of tube placement. However, the D group had a significantly lower rate of preoperative chemotherapy (45.7% vs. 78.4%, P=0.001) and lower operative blood loss (120 mL vs. 150 mL, P=0.046) than the J group. All 12 cases of BOFJ occurred in the J group. Furthermore, the D group experienced a significantly lower weight loss ratio at 1 month postoperatively (93.9% vs. 91.8%, P=0.039). Conclusion In thoracoscopic esophagectomy, feeding duodenostomy may prevent bowel obstruction and reduce early postoperative weight loss without increasing operative time compared with feeding catheter jejunostomy.

Purpose: Feeding catheter jejunostomy is a useful access route for early enteral nutrition during esophageal cancer surgery. However, it may lead to postoperative bowel obstruction associated with feeding jejunostomy (BOFJ). To prevent BOFJ, we introduced feeding catheter duodenostomy via the round ligament in 2018. This study aimed to compare the incidence of BOFJ and postoperative body weight changes between feeding catheter jejunostomy and duodenostomy. Methods: A total of 109 patients who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer at Kochi Medical School Hospital between March 2013 and November 2020 were included. Preoperative patient characteristics (age, sex, preoperative weight, body mass index, cancer stage, and preoperative treatment), surgical outcomes (operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications [wound infection, pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, BOFJ]), and body weight changes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery were compared between the jejunostomy (J) and duodenostomy (D) groups. Results: The D group consisted of 35 patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding age, sex, weight, body mass index, cancer stage, operative time, postoperative complications, or duration of tube placement. However, the D group had a significantly lower rate of preoperative chemotherapy (45.7% vs. 78.4%, P=0.001) and lower operative blood loss (120 mL vs. 150 mL, P=0.046) than the J group. All 12 cases of BOFJ occurred in the J group. Furthermore, the D group experienced a significantly lower weight loss ratio at 1 month postoperatively (93.9% vs. 91.8%, P=0.039). Conclusion In thoracoscopic esophagectomy, feeding duodenostomy may prevent bowel obstruction and reduce early postoperative weight loss without increasing operative time compared with feeding catheter jejunostomy.