Pancreatic cancer still represents a serious medical concern for which no adequate solution has thus far been found. Surgical resection, when possible, remains the primary treatment modality and can result in long-term cure. The value of more radical resection remains open to debate, despite the negative results of some recent randomized trials with standard vs. extended lymphadenectomy. More effective patient selection, more rational resection, and more compositive treatment should be emphasized in management strategies. In the future, appropriately designed randomized trials of standard vs. extended resections may confirm the benefit of extended surgical resections. In addition, well powered trials of adjuvant therapies strategies together with surgical resections may identify more effective combinations, which may improve the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; trends ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; methods

Surgery is the main curative treatment for gastric cancer. As surgical techniques continue to improve, the scope of radical resection and lymph node dissection has formed consensus and guidelines, so people's attention has gradually shifted to the quality of life (QOL) of patients after surgery. Postgastrectomy syndrome is a series of symptoms and signs caused by complications after gastrectomy, which can affect the quality of life of patients with gastric cancer after surgery. Gastrectomy and anastomosis are closely related to postgastrectomy syndrome. The selection of appropriate surgical methods is very important to the quality of life of patients after surgery. This article reviews the effects of gastrectomy procedures on postoperative quality of life of patients with gastric cancer and its evaluation methods.
Gastrectomy/methods* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision/adverse effects* ; Postgastrectomy Syndromes ; Quality of Life ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications*

Gastric cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies in China. D2 radical gastrectomy is the main treatment for advanced gastric cancer patients. With the advancement of laparoscopic technology, laparoscopic radical gastrectomy has been gradually developed in the world, and even popularized in China. There have been a lot of literature reports on the indications, the scope of lymph node dissection and the improvement of techniques of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Relevant guidelines or consensus for radical gastrectomy. The prevention and treatment of complications of gastrointestinal reconstruction for laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery is a major concern for gastrointestinal surgeons. Once complications occur in digestive tract reconstruction, it would increase the hospitalization cost, prolong the hospitalization stay of patients, delay follow-up chemotherapy, and even lead to postoperative death or other serious consequences. Therefore, it is of positive and far-reaching clinical significance to pay attention to the techniques of gastrointestinal reconstruction after laparoscopic radical gastric cancer surgery, to reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal reconstruction complications, and to detect and reasonably manage related complications in a timely manner. The Chinese expert consensus on prevention and treatment of complications related to digestive tract reconstruction after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer (2022 edition) has significance value for reducing the occurrence of gastrointestinal reconstruction complications. This manuscript mainly serves as the interpretation and supplement of this Consensus.
Humans ; Consensus ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; China

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to demonstrate the techiniqes of single-port laparoscopic transperitoneal infrarenal paraaortic lymphadenectomy as part of surgical staging procedure in case of early ovarian cancer and high grade endometrial cancer. METHODS: After left upper traction of rectosigmoid, a peritoneal incision was made caudad to inferior mesenteric artery. Rectosigmoid was mobilized, and then the avascular space of the lateral rectal portion was found by using upward traction of rectosigmoid mesentery. Inframesenteric nodes were removed without injury to the ureter and the left common iliac nodes were easily removed due to the upward traction of the rectosigmoid. The superior hypogastric plexus was found overlying the aorta and sacral promontory, and presacral nodes were removed at subaortic area. Peritoneal traction suture to right abdomen was needed for right para-aortic lymphadenectomy. After right lower para-aortic node dissection, operator was situated between the patient's legs. After upper traction of the small bowel, left upper para-aortic nodes were removed. To prevent chylous ascites, we used hemolock or Ligasure application (ValleyLab Inc.) to upper part of infrarenal and aortocaval nodes. RESULTS: Single-port laparoscopic transperitoneal infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy was performed without serious perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: Even though the technique of single-port surgery is still a difficult operation, the quality of single-port laparoscopic transperitoneal infrarenal para-aortic node dissection is excellent, especially mean number of para-aortic nodes. In cases of staging procedures for ovary and endometrial cancer, single-port transperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy is acceptable as an oncologic procedure.
Endometrial Neoplasms/diagnosis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects/methods ; Lymph Node Excision/adverse effects/*methods ; Neoplasm Staging/adverse effects/methods ; Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis/*pathology

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of identification and preservation of arm lymphatics (DEPART) in axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer to prevent arm lymphedema. Methods: A randomized controlled study method was used. Two hundred and sixty-five patients who underwent breast cancer surgery at the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from November 2017 to June 2018 were included, and the patients were randomly divided into ALND+ DEPART group (132 patients) and standard ALND group (133 patients) by random number table method. In the ALND+ DEPART group, indocyanine green and methylene blue were injected as tracers before surgery, and the arm sentinel nodes was visualized by staged tracing during intraoperative dissection of axillary lymph nodes. Partial frozen sections were made of arm lymph nodes >1 cm in length and hard and suspicious of metastasis, and arm lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels were selectively preserved. Patients in the standard ALND group underwent standard ALND. Objective and subjective indexes of arm lymphedema were evaluated by 5-point circumference measurement and Norman questionnaire. Results: Among 132 breast cancer patients in the ALND+ DEPART group, 121 (91.7%) completed DEPART. There were no statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, pathological type, dissection number of axillary lymph node, N stage, TNM stage, molecular typing, and regional radiotherapy between the ALND+ DEPART and standard ALND groups (P>0.05). At a median follow-up of 24 months, assessment by the 5-point circumference measurement showed that the incidence rates of lymphedema in the ALND+ DEPART and standard ALND groups were 5.0% (6/121) and 15.8% (21/133), respectively, with statistically significant differences (P=0.005). Assessment by the Norman questionnaire showed that the incidence rates of lymphedema in the ALND+ DEPART and standard ALND groups were 5.8% (7/121) and 21.8% (29/133), respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). No local regional recurrence was observed in either group during the follow-up period. Conclusion: For breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes, the administration of DEPART during ALND can reduce or avoid the occurrence of arm lymphedema without compromising oncology safety.
Arm/pathology* ; Axilla/pathology* ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision/methods* ; Lymph Nodes/surgery* ; Lymphatic Vessels/pathology* ; Lymphedema/surgery* ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the complications and oncologic outcomes of 210 cases of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) treated with laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with extended pelvic lymph node dissection (EPLND) and assess the feasibility and safety of this surgical technique.

METHODSFrom January, 2003 to March 2010, 210 patients with BUC underwent LRC with EPLND. The cases with positive lymph nodes or T3a disease received adjuvant chemotherapy after the operation. The complications and oncologic results were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean operative time was 105 min in these cases with a mean blood loss of 220 ml and a rate of perioperative blood transfusion of 20.5%. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 17.6, and 42 (20%) cases were found to have positive lymph nodes. Minor and major perioperative complications occurred in 19% and 5.3% of the cases, respectively. The 5-year estimated overall survival, cancer-specific survival, recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival rates were 73.8%, 83.3%, 81.8% and 90.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLRC with EPLND is a safe and feasible technique for management of BUC and can produce satisfactory oncologic results.

Cystectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the survival, complication and postoperative mortality after D(1) or D(2) lymph node dissection for gastric cancer.

METHODSAll the randomized clinical trials about nodal dissection for gastric cancer published within the last 20 years were collected. Quality assessment was done on each trial and relevant data were extracted from qualified trials. Meta-analysis was performed with the use of RevMan 4.2 (Cochrane) for statistic analysis.

RESULTSThree hundred and ninety-four trials were yielded at the initial search. Four trials, recruited 1316 cases of gastric cancer in total, were included after quality assessment. Results of Meta-analysis showed that standard D(2) dissection could effectively improve patients' long-term survival [RR 1.35, 95%CI(1.12-1.62), NNT=9] as compared with D(1) dissection. If splenectomy (or pancreatico-splenectomy) was involved, D(2) dissection only improved the clinical outcome of T(3)-staged cases [RR 1.80,95%CI(1.03-3.15), NNT=13]. D(2) dissection produced higher rates of postoperative complication [RR 1.72,95%CI(1.46-2.03), NNT=6] and mortality [RR 2.12,95%CI(1.39-3.25), NNT=21] than D(1) dissection.

CONCLUSIONSStandard D(2) dissection can increase the overall survival rate when compared with D(1) dissection. If splenectomy (or pancreatico-splenectomy) cases are involved,D(2) dissection can only improve the survival rate of T(3)-staged patients. D(2) dissection yields higher postoperative morbidity and mortality than D(1) dissection.

Gastrectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEVideo-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

METHODSThe results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters in the patients treated by VATS esophagectomy and those by conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy at our department from May 1, 2009 to July 30, 2013 were compared using SPSS 16.0 in order to investigate whether there was any significant difference between these two treatment modalities in the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-nine cases underwent VATS esophagectomy between May 1, 2009 and July 30, 2013, and another part 129 cases with the same preoperative cTNM stage treated by conventional esopahgectomy via right thoracotomy were selected in order to compare the results of lymph node dissection and perioperative complications as well as other parameters between those two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the sex, age, lesion locations and cTNM stage between these two groups. The total LN metastatic rate in the VATS esophagectomy group was 35.7% and that of the conventional esophagectomy group was 37.2% (P > 0.05). The total average number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.1 vs. 16.2 (P < 0.001). The average dissected LN stations was 3.2 vs. 3.6 (P = 0.038). The total average number of dissected LN along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.0 vs. 3.7 (P = 0.012). The total average number of dissected LN along the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was 2.9 vs. 3.4 (P = 0.231). However, there was no significant difference in the total average number of dissected LN in the other thoracic LN stations, and in the perioperative complications between the two groups. The total postoperative complication rate was 41.1% in the VATS group versus 42.6% in the conventional group (P = 0.801). The cardiopulmonary complication rate was 25.6% vs. 27.1% (P = 0.777). The death rate was the same in the two groups (0.8%). The VATS group had less blood infusion (23.2% vs. 41.8%, P = 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (15.9 days vs. 19.2 days, P = 0.049) but longer operating time (161.3 min vs. 127.8 min, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the learning curve stage of VATS esophagectomy, compared with the conventional esophagectomy, less LN number and stations can be dissected in the VATS group due to un-skillful VATS manipulation, especially it is more difficult in the LN dissection along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, it is more suitable to select patients with early esophageal cancer without obvious enlarged lymph nodes for VATS esophagectomy in the learning curve stage.

China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Nodes ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; adverse effects ; Thoracotomy

OBJECTIVETo analyze the differences in perioperative morbidity and lymph node dissection between minimally invasive esophageal carcinoma resection and open procedure.

METHODSFrom January to December 2011, 72 patients with esophageal cancer underwent surgery. Thirty-four patients underwent video-assisted esophagectomy, and 38 underwent open procedure. In the minimally invasive group, there were 7 thoraco-laparoscopic cases, 16 thoracoscopic cases, and 11 laparoscopic cases.

RESULTSThe early cases (T1-T2) were more common in the minimally invasive group than that in the open group [79.4%(27/34) vs. 55.3%(21/38), P<0.05]. The complication rate was 41.2%(11/34) in the open group and 42.1%(16/38) in the minimally invasive group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, the functional complication in minimally invasive group was significantly lower than that in open group [2.9%(1/34) vs. 28.9%(11/38), P<0.01], while technical complications (anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) were significantly more common( 38.2% vs. 10.5%, P<0.05). Lymph node group number in minimally invasive group was comparable with the open group (9.1 vs. 11.2, P>0.05), but the number of node in minimally invasive group was significantly lower (13.5±5.9 vs. 17.8±5.2, P<0.05). When stratified by time period, early 17 cases were associated with similar technical complication rate with the late 17 cases (P>0.05), while thoracic lymph node group number, number of node, and positive node were improved in the late phase (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMinimally invasive esophagectomy reduces functional morbidity, while technical complication including anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may be increased. Endoscopic lymph node dissection may be comparable to open surgery.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morbidity ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed that the reason for the low surgical resection rate of pancreatic carcinoma partly lies in its biological behavior, which is characterized by neural infiltration. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of radical pancreatoduodenectomy combined with retroperitoneal nerve, lymph, and soft-tissue dissection for carcinoma of the pancreatic head.

METHODSForty-six patients with pancreatic head cancer were treated in our hospital from 1995 to 2005. The patients were divided into two groups: radical pancreatoduodenectomy combined with retroperitoneal nerve, lymph and soft-tissue dissection (group A, n = 25) and routine Whipple's operation (group B, n = 21). There were no significant differences between the two groups in relation to age, gender and preoperative risk factors, and perioperative conditions, pathological data and survival rates were studied.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in tumor size, surgical procedure time, postoperative complications, and time of hospitalization. However, the number and positive rate of resected lymph nodes in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). The 1- and 3-year survival rate in group A were 80% and 53%, respectively, which was higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the survival rates between patients with and without nerve infiltration in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRadical pancreatoduodenectomy combined with retroperitoneal nerve, lymph and soft-tissue dissection, can effectively remove the lymph and nerve tissues that were infiltrated by tumor. Meanwhile, this method can reduce the local recurrence rate so as to improve the long-term survival of patients.

Cause of Death ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; mortality ; Retroperitoneal Space ; innervation ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate