Delayed gastric emptying is a syndrome of gastric motility disorder with slow gastric emptying as the main sign, provided that mechanical factors such as intestinal obstruction and anastomotic stricture are excluded. The incidence of delayed gastric emptying after colon cancer surgery is 1.4%, mainly after transverse colon cancer surgery. Most of the studies on delayed gastric emptying are case reports, lacking systematic studies. The diagnoses and treatments can be draw on the experience of delayed gastric emptying after pancreatic surgery. Our retrospective study indicated that the incidence of delayed gastric emptying after surgery for transverse colon cancer was 4.0%, higher than that for other colon cancer. Patients who underwent gastrocolic ligament lymph node dissection were at higher risk than those who did not (3.6% vs. 0.8%). Gastrocolic ligament lymph node dissection and stress are causative factors for delayed gastric emptying after surgery for transverse colon cancer. We add the gastrografin test upon the diagnostic criteria of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery, which is simple and practical. Nasogastric tube decompression, enteral nutrition combined with parenteral nutrition, glucocorticoids, and prokinetic agents can cure most patients with postoperative delayed gastric emptying. All the patients with postoperative delayed gastric emptying were cured in our studies. Strict indications for gastrocolic ligament lymph node dissection (patients with cT3-4 and cN+) may decrease the occurrence of delayed gastric emptying after surgery for transverse colon cancer.
Colon, Transverse/surgery* ; Colonic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastroparesis/surgery* ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Retrospective Studies

Splenic flexure colon cancer occurs at a relatively lower rate than colon cancer of other sites. It is also associated with more advanced disease and higher rate of acute obstruction. The splenic flexure receives blood supply from both superior and inferior mesenteric arteries (SMA and IMA), and therefore has lymphatic drainage to both areas. The blood supply is also highly variable, causing difficulties in determining the main feeding vessels and the main direction of lymph drainage. Few studies with limited cases focused on this specific tumor site with respect to the patterns of lymph node spread, especially the main lymph node status and the value of its dissection. The lack of information limits the development of a consensus on the extent of surgical resection and lymphadenectomy. Adequate mobilization of the colon facilitates a sufficient length of bowel resection and the high ligation of feeding arteries from both SMA and IMA. Further evidence on the chnoice of procedures and the extent of lymph node dissection need multicenter collaboration, with the use of modern techniques, including CT 3D reconstruction of the colon and angiography, as well as intraoperative fluorescent real-time imaging of lymph nodes.
Colon, Transverse/surgery* ; Colonic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision/methods* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior/surgery*

Objective: At present, surgeons do not know enough about the mesenteric morphology of the colonic splenic flexure, resulting in many problems in the complete mesenteric resection of cancer around the splenic flexure. In this study, the morphology of the mesentery during the mobilization of the colonic splenic flexure was continuously observed in vivo, and from the embryological point of view, the unique mesenteric morphology of the colonic splenic flexure was reconstructed in three dimensions to help surgeons further understand the mesangial structure of the region. Methods: A total of 9 patients with left colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical resection with splenic flexure mobilization by the same group of surgeons in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled. The splenic flexure was mobilized using a "three-way approach" strategy based on a middle-lateral approach. During the process of splenic flexure mobilization, the morphology of the transverse mesocolon and descending mesocolon were observed and reconstructed from the embryological point of view. The lower margin of the pancreas was set as the axis, and 4 pictures for each patient (section 1-section 4) were taken during middle-lateral mobilization. Results: The median operation time of the splenic flexure mobilization procedure was 31 (12-55) minutes, and the median bleeding volume was 5 (2-30) ml. One patient suffered from lower splenic vessel injury during the operation and the bleeding was stopped successfully after hemostasis with an ultrasound scalpel. The transverse mesocolon root was observed in all 9 (100%) patients, locating under pancreas, whose inner side was more obvious and tough, and the structure gradually disappeared in the tail of the pancreatic body, replaced by smooth inter-transitional mesocolon and dorsal lobes of the descending colon. The mesenteric morphology of the splenic flexure was reconstructed by intraoperative observation. The transverse mesocolon was continuous with a fan-shaped descending mesocolon. During the embryonic stage, the medial part (section 1-section 2) of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon were pulled and folded by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Then, the transverse mesocolon root was formed by compression of the pancreas on the folding area of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon. The lateral side of the transverse mesocolon root (section 3-section 4) was distant from the mechanical traction of the SMA, and the corresponding folding area was not compressed by the tail of the pancreas. The posterior mesangial lobe of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon were continuous with each other, forming a smooth lobe. This smooth lobe laid flat on the corresponding membrane bed composed of the tail of pancreas, Gerota's fascia and inferior pole of the spleen. Conclusions: From an embryological point of view, this study reconstructs the mesenteric morphology of the splenic flexure and proposes a transverse mesocolon root structure that can be observed consistently intraopertively. Cutting the transverse mesocolon root at the level of Gerota's fascia can ensure the complete resection of the mesentery of the transverse colon.
Colectomy/methods* ; Colon, Transverse/surgery* ; Colonic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Dissection ; Fascia/anatomy & histology* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Mesentery/surgery* ; Mesocolon/surgery* ; Pancreas/surgery* ; Photography ; Spleen/surgery*

Objective: To investigate the anatomic characteristics of the left parietal peritoneum and its surgical implementation while dissecting in left retro-mesocolic space. Methods: A descriptive case series research methods was used. (1) surgical videos of 35 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection (complete mobilization of splenic flexure) of colorectal cancer in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University between January 2018 and December 2018 were reviewed; (2) four specimens after radical resection of rectal cancer performing in June 2020 were prospectively enrolled and reviewed; (3) five specimens of left parietal peritoneum from 5 cadaveric abdomen (3 males and 2 females) were enrolled and reviewed as well; Tissues of 3 unseparated regions, namely the root of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), the medial region and the lateral region (including kidney tissue), from above the 5 cadaveric abdominal specimens were selected to perform Masson staining and histopathological examination. Results: (1) Surgical video observation: "Staggered layer phenomenon" and typical left parietal peritoneum was found in 77.1% (27/35) of patients when the left retro-mesocolic space was separated from the lateral and central approaches. The left parietal peritoneum presented as a rigid fascia barrier between the lateral and central approaches, which was a translucent dense connective tissue fascia. After the splenic flexure were completely mobilized, the left parietal peritoneum stump continued to the cephalic side. (2) Observation of 4 surgical specimens: The dorsal side of the left mesocolon specimen was studied, and the left parietal peritoneum stump edge was identified. The outside of the stump edge was the left hemicolon dorsal layer, which was continuously downward to the rectal fascia propria. (3) Cadaveric abdominal specimens: The left retro-mesocolic space was separated through lateral and central approaches, and the rigid fascia barrier, essentially the left parietal peritoneum and Gerota fascia, was encountered. Cross-section view showed that the left parietal peritoneum could be further detached from the dorsal layer of the left mesocolon from the outside, but could not be further detached from the inside out. (4) Histological examination: There was no obvious fascia structure in the IMA root region, while outside the IMA root region, the left bundle of inferior mesenteric plexus penetrating Gerota fascia was observed. There were 4 layers of fascias in the medial region, including the ventral layer of the left mesocolon, the dorsal layer of the left mesocolon, left parietal peritoneum and Gerota fascia. Small vessels were observed between the dorsal layer of the left mesocolon and the left parietal peritoneum. In lateral region, renal tissue and renal fascia were observed. Three layers of fascia structures were observed clearly under high power field, including the dorsal layer of the left mesocolon, left parietal peritoneum, and Gerota fascia. Conclusions: The left parietal peritoneum is the anatomical basis of the "staggered layer phenomenon" from the lateral or central approaches during the separation of left retro-mesocolic space. The small vessels in the dissection plane are the anatomical basis of intraoperative microbleeding, which need pre-coagulation. The central part of Gerota fascia is penetrated by the branches of the inferior mesenteric plexus, which results in a relatively dense surgical plane. Thus, during the dissection through the central approach, it is easy to involve in wrong surgical plane by deeper dissection.
Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Dissection ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Mesocolon ; Peritoneum ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery*

We report a case of a 73-year-old male with multiple, metachronous primary malignancies. He presented with adenocarcinoma of the stomach with transverse colon invasion followed by bladder cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, urothelial cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, in that order, over 10 years. While these multiples malignancies were separate entities, they shared several etiologic factors, including smoking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of five metachronous malignancies in a Korean patient.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Colon, Transverse ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Juvenile polyps are the most common types of polyps in children, and patients usually present with lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding as the predominant symptom. These lesions, which are referred to as hamartomas, usually measure approximately 2 cm in size and are benign tumors located mainly in the rectum and sigmoid colon. The most common symptom of a juvenile polyp is mild intermittent rectal bleeding. It is rare for anemic patients because the amount of blood loss is small and often not diagnosed immediately. We present the case of a 6-year-old girl with a juvenile polyp in the distal transverse colon, who developed hypovolemic shock due to massive lower GI bleeding. Pediatricians must perform colonoscopy for thorough evaluation of polyps, because their location and size can vary and they can cause massive bleeding.
Anemia ; Child ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Hamartoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Polyps ; Rectum ; Shock

The prevalence of small bowel cancer is relatively low. The abdominal pain that patients with small bowel cancer present as a symptom is non-specific and often interpreted as a normal finding on radiographic studies. To prevent delayed diagnosis of small bowel cancer, practitioners must maintain a certain level of suspicion. We report a case of delayed diagnosis of jejunal cancer as it was misdiagnosed as gastroparesis. A 69-year-old woman complained of recurrent nausea and vomiting. At the beginning of her hospitalization, we could not diagnose mechanical obstruction through esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal computed tomography. A gastric emptying study revealed delayed gastric emptying. Although the patients received treatments, including administration of prokinetics and botulinum toxin injection, for gastroparesis, her symptoms aggravated. Subsequently, plain radiography of the abdomen revealed a double-bubble sign. Abdominal computed tomography was performed under the suspicion of small bowel obstruction; however, the diagnosis was not clear. Consequently, exploratory laparoscopy was performed. She underwent surgical management, including small bowel segmental resection and duodenojejunostomy, due to the jejunal mass with involvement of the stomach, pancreatic head, and mesentery of the transverse colon. The postoperative pathological results revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Botulinum Toxins ; Colon, Transverse ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastroparesis ; Head ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Jejunal Neoplasms ; Jejunum ; Laparoscopy ; Mesentery ; Nausea ; Prevalence ; Radiography ; Stomach ; Vomiting

Pre-operative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a preferable treatment option for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, few data are available regarding pre-operative CRT for locally advanced colon cancer. Here, we describe two cases of successful treatment with pre-operative CRT and establish evidence supporting this treatment option in patients with locally advanced colon cancer. In the first case, a 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with ascending colon cancer with duodenal invasion. In the second case, a 63-year-old man was diagnosed with a colonic-duodenal fistula due to transverse colon cancer invasion. These case reports will help to establish a treatment consensus for pre-operative CRT in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.
Aged ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Consensus ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal polyps are a common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Our aim was to study the causes of isolated lower gastrointestinal bleeding and to analyze the characteristics of the colorectal polyps found in our cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed colonoscopic procedures performed between 2007 and 2015. Children with isolated lower gastrointestinal bleeding were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 185 colonoscopies were performed for isolated lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The median patient age was 8 years, and 77 patients (41.6%) were found to have colonic polyps. Normal colonoscopy findings were observed and acute colitis was detected in 77 (41.6%) and 14 (7.4%) patients, respectively. Single colonic polyps and 2–3 polyps were detected in 73 (94.8%) and 4 (5.2%) patients with polyps, respectively. Of the single polyps, 69 (94.5%) were juvenile polyps, among which 65 (94.2%) were located in the left colon. CONCLUSIONS: Single left-sided juvenile polyps were the most common cause of isolated lower gastrointestinal bleeding in our study. It was rare to find multiple polyps and polyps proximal to the splenic flexure in our cohort. A full colonoscopy is still recommended in all patients in order to properly diagnose the small but significant group of patients with pathologies found proximal to the splenic flexure.
Child ; Cohort Studies ; Colitis ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pathology ; Polyps ; Retrospective Studies

transverse colon from the anterior side in adults, but people might believe the morphology stable once established during fetal life. Sections from 49 midterm and 17 late-stage human fetuses, of gestational ages (GA) 8–15 and 30–38 weeks, respectively, showed complete fusion between the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon after physiological herniation at GA 8–9 weeks; the transverse colon attaching to the anterior aspect of the gastric antrum and pylorus at GA 10–15 weeks; the colon pushing the pylorus or superior portion of the duodenum upward (at GA 10–15 weeks and 30–38 weeks); and the greater omentum without covering the greater portion of the jejunum and ileum but shifted leftward (at GA 30–38 weeks). These subsequent topographical variations of the transverse colon with the stomach and duodenum included the colon tightly fusing with the stomach by a fibrous tissue and; the greater omentum and/or the mesocolon wedged between the stomach and transverse colon. Therefore, in combination, the colon was partly separated from the greater omentum. Moreover, at GA 30–38 weeks, the duodenum consistently showed a horizontal loop in contrast to the usual C-loop in the frontal plane. Consequently, after a complete fusion occurred once between the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon, the topographical change of the upper abdominal viscera seemed to modify, change or even break the initial fusion of the peritoneum. A logical lamination of the peritoneum seemed not to simply connect with the surgical application.]]>
Adult ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Duodenum ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Ileum ; Jejunum ; Logic ; Mesocolon ; Omentum ; Peritoneum ; Pyloric Antrum ; Pylorus ; Stomach ; Viscera