PURPOSE: Senior surgeons prefer open gastrectomy (OG), while young surgeons prefer laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of LG performed by a senior surgeon who was an expert in OG during his learning period, by comparing them with LGs performed by a young surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A senior surgeon performed 50 curative gastrectomies with laparoscopy (LG-S group) from March 2015 to August 2016. A young surgeon's initial 50 LGs comprised the LG-Y group. Clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between the LG-S and LG-Y groups. RESULTS: D2 lymphadenectomy was more frequently performed in the LG-S group than in the LG-Y group (P=0.029). The operation time and number of retrieved lymph nodes did not significantly differ between the 2 surgeons (P=0.258 and P=0.410, respectively). Postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complication rate were similar between 2 groups (P=0.234 and P=1.000, respectively). Similarly, significant decreases in operation time with increasing case numbers were observed for both surgeons, whereas the number of retrieved lymph nodes increased significantly in the LG-Y group but not in the LG-S group. CONCLUSIONS: The LG outcomes when performed by the senior surgeon were comparable to those when performed by the young surgeon, despite performing more extended lymphadenectomies. Senior surgeons who are experts in OG should not refrain from performing LG.
Gastrectomy* ; Laparoscopy ; Learning ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Postoperative Complications ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surgeons

Familial adenomatous polyposis and Gardner's syndrome originate from a chromosomal abnormality, and their incidence is very rare. These diseases frequently have a familial tendency, but 10-20% do not. We experienced two cases of familial adenomatous polyposis. One had a familial tendency and was only a colonic abnormality in a 25-year-old man. The other, a 25-year-old woman had not familial tendency and lesions were consisted of colonic polyposis, a desmoid tumor of abdominal wall, and congenital hypertrophy of both retinal pigmented epithelia. We report these cases with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Wall ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Colon ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Gardner Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Retinaldehyde

BACKGROUND: Among malignant diseases, gastric cancer remains a major cause of death in Korea. Many variables are considered to be important to the prognosis of patients with gastric carcinomas. METHODS: The authors evaluated the 5-year survival rates and analyzed the prognostic factors in 448 patients with gastric cancer who had under gone a gastric resection during the period between Dec. 1984 and Dec. 1992. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 50.5%, and the survival rates according to the stage were stage Ia, 97.4%; Ib, 56.5%; II, 48.4%; IIIa, 41.6%; IIIb, 7.1%; and stage IV, 14.3%. Univariate analysis was used to relate prognostic factors, such as tumor size, gross type, depth of invasion, lymph node involvement, positive lymph node ratio, distant metastasis, complications, the surgical curability, and the TNM stage, with the survival of the patients. In a multivariate analysis using 11 variables, the TNM stage was the most significant prognostic factor. Besides the TNM stage, the depth of invasion, a lymph node involvement, a positive lymph node ratio, and complications were considered as independent prognostic factors influencing survival. CONCLUSIONS: The current TNM staging system appears to be a reasonable one, and the TMN stage of the tumor at the time of surgery is the most important prognostic factor.
Cause of Death ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Stomach Diseases ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

We report two cases of post-extubation negative pressure pulmonary edema in otherwise healthy patients. The patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy under general anesthesia and developed negative pressure pulmonary edema immediately after extubation. All cases fully resolved within 24 hours with supplementary oxygen. The literature suggests that post-extubation pulmonary edema occurs more frequently than is generally thought, with a frequency of 0.05-0.1% in all anesthesia, and is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. Most cases occur in the early post-operative period, and this is potentially life-threatening condition. Therefore, anesthesiologist and surgeon are well placed to witness, investigate and manage this condition.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Appendectomy ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Edema ; Wit and Humor as Topic

PURPOSE: Although nonerosive and erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have similar symptom severity, nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is considered a milder type of GERD and gastroenterologists have hesitated to refer these patients for antireflux surgery. The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes of antireflux surgery between patients with NERD and erosive reflux disease (ERD). METHODS: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria of this study among a total of 117 patients who underwent antireflux surgery from November 2012 to October 2017. According to preoperative endoscopy, patients were classified into NERD group (minimal changes or no esophagitis) and ERD group. Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between NERD and ERD. RESULTS: There were 26 patients in NERD group and 44 patients in ERD group. The male:female ratio was higher in the ERD group than in the NERD group (P = 0.044). Preoperative symptoms, response to acid suppressive medication, acid exposure on pH monitoring study, and esophageal manometry results were similar in the 2 groups. Reflux on barium esophagography was more frequently observed in ERD (77.3%) than in NERD (50.0%, P = 0.019). At 6 months after surgery, complete resolution and partial improvement of GERD symptoms were similar in the 2 groups (80.8% and 15.4%, respectively, in NERD vs. 88.6% and 2.3%, respectively, in ERD; P = 0.363). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is equally beneficial to patients with NERD and ERD. Antireflux surgery should not be avoided for GERD patients without mucosal breaks on endoscopy as the evidence of erosive esophagitis.
Barium ; Endoscopy ; Esophagitis ; Fundoplication ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Manometry

The role of surgical intervention in patients with diabetic gastroparesis is unclear. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with a history of recurrent episodes of vomiting and long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not reveal any findings of reflux esophagitis or obstructive lesions. A gastric emptying time scan showed prolonged gastric emptying half-time (344 minutes) indicating delayed gastric emptying. Laboratory tests revealed elevated fasting serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c, 12.9%) and normal fasting C-peptide and insulin levels. We performed Roux-en-Y reconstruction after subtotal gastrectomy to treat gastroparesis and improve glycemic control, and the patient showed complete resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms postoperatively. Barium swallow test and gastric emptying time scan performed at follow-up revealed regular progression of barium and normal gastric emptying. Three months postoperatively, his fasting serum glucose level was within normal limits without the administration of insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs with a reduced HbA1c level (6.9%). Long-limb Roux-en-Y reconstruction after subtotal gastrectomy may be useful to treat severe diabetic gastroparesis by improving gastric emptying and glycemic control.
Adult ; Barium ; Blood Glucose ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastroparesis ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Residual stones after biliary tract surgery are a formidable task for the surgeon. Choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis are more common in East Asia, including Korea, compared with the West, and retained and recurrent stones remain a major problem after the surgical treatment of biliary tract stones; thus, various attempts to reduce the rate of retained and recurrent stones are important in the treatment of biliary tract stones. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was done on 815 cases of patients with biliary tract stones who had undergone an operation at the Department of Surgery, Chung-ng University Hospital, during the 13 years from January 1984 to December 1996. RESULTS: The male-to-female sex ratio was 1 : 2, and the most common age group was the 7th decade. The most common symptoms and physical findings were right upper quadrant pain in 620 cases (76.1%), and right upper quadrant tenderness in 511 cases (62.1%). The most common laboratory findings were elevated alkaline phosphatase (88.3%), followed by elevated sGPT and elevated sGOT. Bile cultures and sensitivity tests were done in 815 cases and were positive in 682 cases (83.7%). The most common bacteria were E.coli in 252 cases (37.0%). The locations of the stones were gallbladder (GB) and common bile duct (CBD) in 420 cases (51.5%), the CBD in 160 cases (19.6%), the CBD and intrahepatic duct (IHD) in 108 cases (13.3%). The most common operative procedure was a cholecystectomy with T-ube insertion, 525 cases (64.4%). Postoperative complications developed in 208 cases (25.6%), and the most common postoperative complication was wound infection, 72 cases (8.8%). The operative mortality was 2.9%, and most common cause of death was sepsis (10 cases). CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that interventional therapy, as an initial treatment for residual stones, is a satisfactory treatment where possible. If there are residual stones in spite of the interventional therapy, a reoperation or hepatectomy is required.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bacteria ; Bile ; Biliary Tract* ; Cause of Death ; Cholecystectomy ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Far East ; Gallbladder ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Sex Ratio ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Wound Infection

To clarify the mechanisms of stone formation in gallbladder and in common bile duct, the bile composition, such as cholesterol, total bile acid, major bile acids, phospholipid, protein and calcium, from patients with gallbladder stones, common bile duct stones and control groups were analyzed for comparison. The control group consisted of patients who had neither biliary stone nor biliary tract disease. The results obtained are as follows; 1. In the mean concentrations of bile cholesterol and protein from each disease group, no statistically significant difference of these compositions was observed according to sorts of stone(p > 0.05). 2. In the cholesterol stone group the mean concentration of total bile acid of bile from gallbladder stone group was higher than that of common bile duct stone group (p < 0.05). In the pigment stone group, T/D ratio of bile from gallbladder stone group tended to be higher than that of CBD stone group. But these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.09). 3. In the pigment stone groups, the mean concentration of bile phospholipid from gallbladder stone group was significantly higher than that of CBD stone group (p < 0.05). 4. The mean concentration of bile protein from gallbladder stone group was higher than that of CBD stone group in the pigment stone group (p < 0.05). 5. The mean concentration of bile calcium was significantly higher in gallbladder stone group than that in CBD stone group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supersaturation of cholesterol in bile may not be sufficient to explain cholesterol gallstone formation. The increase in total bile acid especially LCA, DCA, CDCA may be involved in cholesterol gallbladder stone formation, whereas pigment gallbladder stone formation is thought to be related to decreased T/D ratio of bile which means high dihydroxycholanic acid of bile. Additionally, the results suggest that phospholipid, protein and calcium contribute to pigment gallbladder stone formation by playing great roles in forming matrix as nucleus in pigment stone, but further investigation may be needed to detect calcium ion critical for calcium crystal formation.
Bile Acids and Salts ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract Diseases ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Common Bile Duct* ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Humans

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) has become a popular treatment option for early gastric cancer, information about postoperative complications is limited in the literature and their risk factors vary among investigators. We analyzed the complications and their risk factors of LAG. METHODS: We performed LAGs in 92 gastric cancer patients from July 2006 to December 2009. LAG indication was gastric cancer preoperatively diagnosed as cT1N0. Clinical and operative data and perioperative complications were retrospectively reviewed. According to the surgical experience, cases were divided into early (1~40) and late (41~92) groups because operative times stabilized after the 40th case. RESULTS: There were no open conversion or mortality cases. Complications occurred in 11 patients. Two of them were non-surgical complications: postoperative delirium and cerebral infarction. Surgical complications were ischemic necrosis of transverse colon, duodenal stump leakage, anastomotic bleeding, leakage and stenosis. Univariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis, and comorbidities were related to complication rate (P=0.000, P=0.032). Multivariate analysis proved that lymph node metastasis was the most important risk factor of complication (P=0.001). Surgical experience was not related to complication rate (12.5% in early period and 11.5% in late period, P=1.000). CONCLUSION: Complication rate of LAG was acceptable (11.9%). According to this study, unexpected lymph node metastasis is thought to be the most important risk factor for complications of LAG. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish lower complication rates in this procedure with careful patient selection through accurate preoperative evaluation.
Anastomotic Leak ; Cerebral Infarction ; Colon, Transverse ; Comorbidity ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Delirium ; Gastrectomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Operative Time ; Patient Selection ; Postoperative Complications ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

We experienced a case of synchronously occurring multiple leiomyosarcoma in the jejunum and stomach. The presented case was a 75-year-old man with signs of panperitonitis. We performed a subtotal gastrectomy, a segmental resection of the jejunum and a Roux-en-Y anastomosis. Histologic examination of the resected specimen revealed a high-grade leiomyosarcoma having a high-grade mitosis and pleomorphism. Although it showed high malignancy potential, it was less than 5 cm in size. Also, it was a synchronously occurring multiple leiomyosarcoma having a sparing lesion in the duodenum and showed a lymphatic metastasis. In that point of view, it had many unusual aspects.
Aged ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Duodenum ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intestine, Small* ; Jejunum ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mitosis ; Stomach*