• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2013

Purpose: The aims are to: (i) display the multidimensional learning curve of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, and (ii) verify the feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy after learning curve completion by comparing it with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: From January 2005 to June 2012, 247 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (n=136) and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (n=111) for early gastric cancer were enrolled. Their clinicopathological characteristics and early surgical outcomes were analyzed. Analysis of the totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy learning curve was conducted using the moving average method and the cumulative sum method on 180 patients who underwent totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Results: Our study indicated that experience with 40 and 20 totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy cases, is required in order to achieve optimum proficiency by two surgeons. There were no remarkable differences in the clinicopathological characteristics between laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy and totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy groups. The two groups were comparable in terms of open conversion, combined resection, morbidities, reoperation rate, hospital stay and time to first flatus (P>0.05). However, totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy had a significantly shorter mean operation time than laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (P<0.01). We also found that intra-abdominal abscess and overall complication rates were significantly higher before the learning curve than after the learning curve (P<0.05). Conclusions: Experience with 20~40 cases of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is required to complete the learning curve. The use of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy after learning curve completion is a feasible and timesaving method compared to laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish an anthropometric reference of the stomach for gastric cancer surgery and a modeling formula to predict stomach length. Materials and Methods: Data were retrieved for 851 patients who underwent total gastrectomy at the Seoul National University Hospital between 2008 and 2013. Clinicopathological data and measurements from a formalin-fixed specimen were reviewed. The lengths (cm) of the greater curvature (GC) and lesser curvature (LC) were measured. Anthropometric data of the stomach were compared according to age, body weight, height (cm), and body mass index. To predict stomach length, two multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: The mean lengths of the GC and LC were $22.2{\pm}3.1cm$ and $16.3{\pm}2.6cm$, respectively. The men's GC length was significantly greater than the women's ($22.4{\pm}3.1cm$ vs. $21.2{\pm}2.9cm$, P=0.003). Patients aged >70 years showed significantly longer LC than those aged <50 years ($16.9{\pm}2.9cm$ vs. $15.9{\pm}2.4cm$, P=0.002). Patients with body weights >70 kg showed significantly longer GC than those with body weights <55 kg ($23.0{\pm}2.9cm$ vs. $21.4{\pm}3.2cm$, P<0.001). In the predicted models, 4.11% of the GC was accounted for by age and weight; and 4.94% of the LC, by age, sex, height, and weight. Conclusions: Sex, age, height, and body weight were associated with the length of the LC, while sex and body weight were the only factors that were associated with the length of the GC. However, the prediction model was not sufficiently strong.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2018

Purpose: The endoscopic management of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has been suggested for the primary treatment of patients with anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy. Embedded stents due to tissue ingrowth and migration are the main obstacles in endoscopic stent management. Materials and Methods: The effectiveness and safety of endoscopic management were evaluated for anastomotic leaks when using a benign fully covered SEMS with an anchoring thread and thick silicone covering the membrane to prevent stent embedding and migration. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 14 consecutive patients with gastric cancer and anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy treated from January 2009 to December 2016. Results: The technical success rate of endoscopic stent replacement was 100%, and the rate of complete leaks closure was 85.7% (n=12). The mean size of leaks was 13.1 mm (range, 3-30 mm). The time interval from operation to stent replacement was 10.7 days (range, 3-35 days) and the interval from stent replacement to extraction was 32.3 days (range, 18-49 days). The complication rate was 14.1%, and included a single jejunal ulcer and delayed stricture at the site of leakage. No embedded stent or migration occurred. Two patients died due to progression of pneumonia and septic shock 2 weeks after stent replacement. Conclusions: A benign fully covered SEMS with an anchoring thread and thick membrane is an effective and safe stent in patients with anastomotic leaks after total gastrectomy. The novelty of this stent is that it provides complete prevention of stent migration and embedding, compared with conventional fully covered SEMS.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of stage shift according to screening of stomach cancer. Methods : Total 840 cases of stomach cancer patients, undergone a surgical operation at Department of Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea from Jan. 1989 to Dec. 1995, were reviewed by stomach cancer working sheet, and classified as asymptomatic and symptomatic group based on the presence of subjective symptoms on their hospital visit. Their histopathologic stages were analysed. We compared the histopathologic stages of asymptomatic stomach cancer patients with those of symptomatic patients. Results : From the total of 840 patients, asymptomatic patients group comprised 28 cases (3.3%). Proportion of asymptomatic patients tended to increase from 1.9% in 1990, 0.9% in 1991 to 8.6% in 1995. Proportions of asymptomatic patients by stages were 78.6% (stage I), 3.6% (stage III), 17.9% (stage IV) and that of symptomatic patients by stages were 38.2% (stage I), 16.5% (stage II), 24.8% (stage III), 19.1% (stage IV). In less than 40 years old, 50.5% of symptomatic patients were diagnosed as stage I. With increment of ages, proportions of stage I were makedly decreased. It was significantly different between proportion of early gastric cancer in asymptomatic patients (60.1%) and that in symptomatic patients (25.0%). Conclusions : We confirmed stage shift according to screening of stomach cancer. And proportion of early gastric cancer in asymptomatic patients was higher than that in symptomatic patients. This results suggest that screening of gastric cancer be important to reduce mortality and if be indirectly started from 40 years old.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2017

Purpose: Precise localization of tumors and creation of sufficient proximal resection margins are complicated processes during total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for clinical T1/T2 gastric cancers. Various solutions to this problem have also yielded many disadvantages. In this study, we reviewed a preoperative endoscopic clipping method based on the results of negative biopsy and selective intraoperative radiography. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 345 consecutive patients who underwent TLDG and preoperative endoscopic clipping for tumor localization was conducted. During preoperative endoscopy, the endoscopists performed negative biopsies just 1-2 cm selectively above the tumor's upper limit. After confirming the biopsy results, endoscopic metal clips were applied just proximal to the negative biopsy site the day before surgery. Selective intraoperative tumor localization using portable abdominal radiography was performed only when we could not ensure a precise resection line. Results: Negative biopsy was performed in 244 patients. Larger tumor size (P=0.008) and more distally located tumors (P=0.052) were observed more frequently in the negative biopsy group than in the non-negative biopsy group. The non-negative biopsy group had significantly higher frequencies of differentiated tumor types than the negative biopsy group (P=0.003). Of the 244 patients who underwent negative biopsies, 6 had cancer cells in their biopsy specimens. We performed intraoperative radiography in 12 patients whose tumors had difficult-to-determine proximal margins. No tumors were found in the proximal resection margins of any patients. Conclusions: Our tumor localization method is a promising and accurate method for securing a sufficient resection margin during TLDG.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2016

Purpose: In the Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Stomach Tumors (ARTIST) trial, we investigated whether chemoradiotherapy after D2 gastrectomy reduces the rate of recurrence. Recently, the ratio of metastatic lymph nodes to examined lymph nodes (N ratio) has been proposed as an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the metastatic N ratio and prognosis of GC after curative D2 surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 458 ARTIST patients who underwent D2 gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (XP, n=228) or chemoradiotherapy (XPRT, n=230). The disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients were used to evaluate the influence of N ratio on the treatment outcome. To achieve this, 4 different N ratio categories (0%, 1%~9%, 10%~25%, and >25%) were compared on the basis of their influence on the treatment outcome. Results: On multivariate analysis, the N ratio remained an independent prognostic factor for DFS. The hazard ratios (HRs) for the N ratio categories of 0%, 1%~9%, 10%~25%, and >25% were 1, 1.061, 1.202, and 3.571, respectively. In patients having N ratio >25%, the 5-year DFS rates were 55% and 28% for the XPRT and XP arms, respectively (HR, 0.527; 95% confidence interval, 0.307~0.904; P=0.020). Conclusions: In patients with curatively resected GC, the N ratio was independently associated with DFS. Although this finding warrants further investigation in future prospective studies, the benefit of chemoradiotherapy for D2 resected GC appears to be more beneficial in cancers having N ratios >25%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : The effect of palliative injection laryngoplasty in cancer-related unilateral vocal cord paralysis patients on voice and swallowing function is uncertain and there are few previous studies of its suitability, benefits as a palliative treatment option. The purpose of this study is to confirm the objective results of voice and swallowing function after palliative office-based hyaluronic acid injection laryngoplasty in cancer-related unilateral vocal cord paralysis patients. Materials and Method : 36 patients who had unilateral vocal cord paralysis from non-thyroidal, extralaryngeal neoplasms were included in this study. To evaluate the clinical outcome, we analyzed perceptual GRBAS grading, acoustic analysis, aerodynamic study, Electroglottography (EGG), Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) about voice function and disability rating scale (DRS), gastric tube dependency, aspiration pneumonia about swallowing function and 36-Item Short Form Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) about quality of life. Results : In GRBAS scale, G (p<0.001), R (p=0.004), B (p=0.001), A (p=0.011), and S (p=0.007) showed significant improvement. Jitter, shimmer, speaking fundamental frequency, maximal phonation time, VHI-30, DRS score, gastric tube dependency, aspiration pneumonia, and SF-36v2 were significantly improved after injection (p=0.016, p=0.011, p=0.045, p=0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001 p=0.003, p<0.001, and p<0.001 respectively). Conclusion : From this study we concluded office-based hyaluronic acid injection can be used as a useful palliative treatment option in cancer-related ill patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Palliative hyaluronic acid injection laryngoplasty avoids the need for tube feeding, thus reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. These outcomes are accompanied by significant improvement in voice quality.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.230-239
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• 2016

Purpose: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire-OG25 was developed to evaluate the quality of life in patients with stomach and esophageal cancer. The following are included in the OG25 but not in the STO22: odynophagia, choked when swallowing, weight loss, trouble eating with others, trouble swallowing saliva, trouble talking, and trouble with coughing. In this study, we evaluated the quality of life of gastrectomized patients using both, the OG25 and the STO22. Materials and Methods: A total of 138 patients with partial gastrectomy (PG) (distal gastrectomy=91; pylorus-preserving gastrectomy=47) and 44 patients with total gastrectomy (TG) were prospectively evaluated. Body weight and scores from the OG25 and STO22 were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Results: Patients with TG had significant weight loss compared to patients with PG. At 3 months, TG was associated with worse scores for dysphagia, eating, odynophagia, trouble eating with others, trouble with taste, and weight loss on the OG25. TG was also associated with dysphagia, eating restrictions, and anxiety on the STO22. The OG25 helped differentiate between the groups with respect to weight loss, odynophagia, choked when swallowing, and trouble eating with others. The OG25 scores changed over time and were significantly different. Conclusions: The OG25 is a more sensitive and useful scale than the STO22 for evaluating the quality of life of gastrectomized patients, especially those with total gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2018

Purpose: We evaluated the learning curve and short-term surgical outcomes of robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) performed by a single surgeon experienced in open, but not laparoscopic, gastrectomy. We aimed to verify the feasibility of performing RADG without extensive laparoscopic experience. Materials and Methods: Between July 2012 and December 2016, 60 RADG procedures were performed by a single surgeon using the da $Vinci^{(R)}$ Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical). Patient characteristics, the length of the learning curve, surgical parameters, and short-term postoperative outcomes were analyzed and compared before and after the learning curve had been overcome. Results: The duration of surgery rapidly decreased from the first to the fourth case; after 25 procedures, the duration of surgery was stabilized, suggesting that the learning curve had been overcome. Cases were divided into 2 groups: 25 cases before the learning curve had been overcome (early cases) and 35 later cases. The mean duration of surgery was 420.8 minutes for the initial cases and 281.7 minutes for the later cases (P<0.001). The console time was significantly shorter during the later cases (168.6 minutes) than during the early cases (247.1 minutes) (P<0.001). Although the volume of blood loss during surgery declined over time, there was no significant difference between the early and later cases. No other postoperative outcomes differed between the 2 groups. Pathology reports revealed the presence of mucosal invasion in 58 patients and submucosal invasion in 2 patients. Conclusions: RADG can be performed safely with acceptable surgical outcomes by experts in open gastrectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 2008

Background: The incidence of cervical esophageal cancer is low compared with that of thoracic esophageal cancer, and the role of surgery for cervical esophageal cancer is limited compared with that of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This study was carried out to determine the outcome of surgery for cervical esophageal cancer. Material and Method: We analyzed retrospectively medical records of 43 patients who had undergone curative surgical resection for cervical esophageal cancer from January 1989 to December 2002. Follow-up loss was absent and the last follow-up was carried out in February 28, 2004. Result: The mean age was 60 years old and the male to female ratio was 40:3. Histologic types were squamous cell carcinoma 42 patients and malignant melanoma 1 patient. The methods used for esophageal reconstruction were gastric pull-up 32 patients, free jejunal graft 7 patients and colon interposition 4 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 31 patients (72%), and operative mortality occurred in 7 patients (16%). Pathologic stages were I 3, IIa 14, IIb 1, III 19, and IVa 6 patients. Tumor recurrence occurred in 16 patients (44%), and the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 29.3% and 20.9%. Conclusion: The reported surgical results for cervical esophageal cancer showed somewhat high operative mortality, postoperative complication rates and recurrence rates and a low long-term survival rate. It is suggested that multimodality treatment including surgery is needed for the treatment of cervical esophageal cancer because radiotherapy or chemotherapy without surgery could not relieve dysphagia or resolve the tumor completely.