• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.164-168
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• 2004

Purpose: The most feared complication of gastrointestinal tract operations is anastomotic leakage, not only because of the presumed individual surgeon's culpability but also because of the assumption that this event is often fatal. We have experienced 32 cases of anastomotic leakage after elective gastric resection during 8 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the result of their treatment. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the records of 1335 patients who had undergone elective gastric resection for an adenocarcinoma of stomach from January 1995 to October 2003 and conducted a retrospective, multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 1335 patients, 32 ($2.4\%$) sustained an anastomotic leakage. Anastomotic leakages usually developed on mean postoperative day $9.1\pm3.2$ (range:$1\∼18$ days).Overall, $31.3\%$ (10/32) of patients who sustained an anastomotic leakage died. The anastomotic leakages were identifed by radiological study or by operative finding at the site of the duodenal stump (20 patients), the esophagojejunostomy (7), the gastroduodenostomy (4), and the gastrojejunostomy (1). Fourteen patients ($43.8\%$) underwent a relaparotomy, a drainage procedure in the main, and 18 patients ($56.3\%$) were treated conservatively. The mortality rates were $42.9\%$ (6/14) and $22.2\%$ (4/18), respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant. A cox's proportional hazard analysis showed that a body-mass Index < 24 kg/m2 (odds ratio 5.55, $95\%$ CI: $0.69\∼44.82$) and non-enteral feeding (odds ratio 18.27, $95\%$ CI 2.22.150.69) were independent factors of mortality due to anastomotic leakage. Conclusion: Our observations show that anastomotic leakage after an elective gastric resection has a high risk of being fatal. Moreover, for a patient with a body-mass index lower than $24\;kg/m^{2}$ and/or non-enteral feeding, an anastomotic leakage after an elective gastric resection has a higher risk of being fatal.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2015

Purpose: Although several studies report risk factors for anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for gastric cancer, they have yielded conflicting results. The present retrospective cohort study was performed to identify risk factors that are consistently associated with anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for stomach cancer. Materials and Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy at a single gastric surgical unit between May 2003 and December 2012 were identified retrospectively. The associations between anastomotic leakage and 23 variables related to patient history, diagnosis, and surgery were assessed and analyzed with logistic regression. Results: In total, 3,827 patients were included. The rate of anastomotic leakage was 1.88% (72/3,827). Multiple regression analysis showed that male sex (P=0.001), preoperative/intraoperative transfusion (P<0.001), presence of cardiovascular disease (P=0.023), and tumor location (P<0.001) were predictive of anastomotic leakage. Patients with and without leakage did not differ significantly in terms of their 5-year survival: 97.6 vs. 109.5 months (P=0.076). Conclusions: Male sex, cardiovascular disease, perioperative transfusion, and tumor location in the upper third of the stomach were associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage. Although several studies have reported that an anastomotic complication has a negative impact on long-term survival, this association was not observed in the present study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.463-469
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• 1991

Post-anastomotic leakage and stenoses remain major complications and are still responsible for many mortalities after esophageal reconstructive procedures. If the hand-suture is used, anastomotic leaks developed frequently than stenoses. But post-anastomotic leakages are more critical than post-anastomotic stenoses. If the stapler is used, anastomotic stenoses will develop frequently and not critical than anastomotic leakages. The stapler suture method is easier and quicker than the hand suture method in the esophageal anastomotic procedures. But the disadvantages of the stapler suture method is that there is not reachable site with anastomotic stapler the thoracic inlet region and the cost is expensive. We have treated 44 cases of the surgical complications after esophageal reconstructive procedure with conservative and surgical treatment for 10 years from January, 1980 to December, 1989. The anastomotic site stenoses were 8 cases in the hand-suture methods and 4 cases in the stapler-suture methods. The anastomotic leaks were 8 cases in hand-suture methods and 5 cases in stapler-suture methods. There were one death in the surgical repair of four post-operative anastomotic stenoses and two deaths in the surgical repair of three post-operative anastomotic leakages. Ever though we consider that there is more anastomotic leakage than stenoses after the hand-suture methods in esophageal reconstructive procedures. the cost with long stay in the intensive care unit to treat anastomotic leakage after the hand-suture, would be more expensive than-the cost of the treatment of the anastomotic stenoses after auto-suture.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2004

Purpose: Esophagojejunal anastomotic complications after a total gastrectomy include leakage, stenosis, bleeding, and abscess formation. Especially, the mortality rate for esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage is $80\%$. Although these complications hare been reduced by the usage of the EEA stapler, they are still serious and depend on various factors: the surgeon's experience, the stage of disease, the extent of surgical intervention, the method of operation, and the patient. Some local factors, such as vascularization of the graft, traction on the anastomosis suture line, and local infections, have been implicated as contributing to these complications. Materials and Methods: During the period $1995\∼2003$, of the 850 gastrectomies for gastric carcinomas, 171 were intra-abdominal total gastrectomies. All of these 171 operations were performed by one surgeon using a routine D2 lymph-node dissection and a 25-mm EEA stapler on an antecolic end-to-side esophagojejunostomy. In the 77 cases a seromuscular reinforced suture at the esophagojejunostomy site was performed, and in 94 cases, a whole layer reinforced suture with absorbible materials was used. We evaluated the incidence of complications according to age, sex, stage of patients, and combined resection. Also, we compared the incidences of complications for seromuscular and whole layer reinforced sutures. Results: The complications are major leaks ($2.9\%$), minor leaks ($3.5\%$), stenosis, bleeding ($1.8\%$), and abscess formation formation ($1.8\%$). In the five cases of major leaks, there were four mortalities with operative methods. The other patients with stenosis, bleeding, and abscess formation were treated conservatively with success. The incidences of complications were not related with age, sex, stages, and combined resection. The incidences of complications for the whole layer reinforced suture group ($2.9\%$) were less than those for the seromuscular reinforced group ($8.8\%$, P=0.04). Conclusion: The most serious complication of esophagojejunal anastomosis is major leakage with an $80\%$ mortality. The other complications are stenosis, bleeding, and abscess formation, for which no mortalities occurred during this study. Whole layer suture of the esophagojejunal anastomotic site is an important method for preventing leakage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.275-279
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• 1984

Between June 1, 1971 and June 31, 1983, 90 patients of esophageal carcinoma were experienced at N.M.C. Surgery was applied to 63 patients [70%]; Exploratory operations, including feeding gastrostomy, feeding jejunostomy, & esophagecutenostomy with feeding gastrostomy, was done in 26 patients due to advanced stage or general condition. Esophagogastrectomy [or esophagectomy] with esophagogastrostomy was done in 25 patients, curative operation in 9 patients & palliative operation in 16 patients. Colon bypass in 12 patients, 7 cases with tumor resection & 5 cases without resection. Postoperative complications were anastomotic leakage [14.3%], respiratory complications [19.1%], & others. Anastomotic leakage & respiratory complications were major fatal complication in surgery of esophageal carcinoma. Postoperative mortality was mainly due to respiratory complications [14.3%] & anastomotic leakage [7.9%].

• Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.319-323
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• 2018

Purpose: Currently, many operations are performed using the single-incision laparoscopic method. Although there have been recent reports on single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy, none have compared this method to conventional laparoscopic ileostomy. This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resections. Methods: From April 2012 to April 2017, 38 patients underwent laparoscopic ileostomy (single-incision; 19 patients referred to as group A, conventional laparoscopy; 19 patients referred to as group B) for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resection. We analyzed surgical and clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. Patients in whom a protective ileostomy was carried out during the initial laparoscopic low anterior resection were excluded from this study. Results: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of patient demographics and initial operation details. Incisional surgical site infections occurred less in group A than in group B (2 of 19 vs. 9 of 19, P = 0.029). The median ileostomy operation time, amount of intraoperative bleeding, parastomal hernia ratio, hospital stay duration after ileostomy, postoperative pain score were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy is safe and feasible method of fecal diversion for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.625-629
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• 2008

Background: When it comes to esophageal cancer operations, the prevalence of anastomotic complications that adversely affect quality of life is related to the type of anastomotic procedure and the operative site. We studied outcomes related to a safe anastomotic method used in Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for preventing anastomotic leakage and stricture formation. Material and Method: Between May 2003 and April 2007, 18 patients with esophageal cancer underwent this type of esophagogastrectomy. Four people were lost to follow-up. There were 17 men (94.4%) and 1 woman. The mean patient age was 61 years (range, $46{\sim}73$ years). Result: The mean follow-up period was 17.2 months (range, $1{\sim}45$ months). There was no anastomotic leakage. There was one benign anastomotic stricture (5.6%) requiring esophageal balloon dilatation, which was accomplished with a 25 mm circular stapler. Conclusion: We experienced relatively good postoperative results using a safe anastomotic method in the Ivor lewis operation for preventing anastomotic complications. These results suggest that this anastomotic method is effective in reducing the incidence of benign anastomotic complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5441-5447
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• 2013

Purpose: To demonstrate the value of sequential determinations of pelvic drainage in the identification of increased risk of anastomotic leakage (AL) after anterior resection for rectal cancer with a double stapling technique. Patients and Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2011, data for the daily postoperative pH of pelvic drainage fluid in 753 consecutive patients with rectal cancer who initially underwent anterior resection with a double stapling technique were reviewed. All patients experienced a total mesorectal excision. Patients with anastomotic leakage (Group AL, n=57) were compared to patients without leakage (Group nAL, n=696). Patients with perioperatively abdominopelvic implants that were likely to affect pH value (determined at $25^{\circ}C$) other than leakage were excluded. Mean postoperative values were compared. Results: Anastomotic leakage was noted in 57 (7.6%) of 753 patients with rectal cancer. The diagnosis of AL was made between the $6^{th}$ and $12^{th}$ postoperative day (POD; mean $8^{th}$ POD). There was no significance of the daily average values of pH on POD1 & 2 in group AL while a significantly sharp declining mean pH value reached its diagnostic point of AL (p<0.001) on POD3. A cut-off value of 6.978 on the $3^{rd}$ POD maximized the sensitivity (98.7.0%) and specificity (94.7%) in assessing the risk of leakage. Conclusion: According to these results, an early and persistent declining of pH value of pelvic drainage fluid after rectal surgery with anastomosis, is a marker of AL. A cut-off value of 6.798 determined at $25^{\circ}C$ on POD3 maximizes sensitivity and specificity.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2000

Background: For the purpose of reducing operating time and rate of anastomotic leakage, we have performed esophagovisceral anastomosis with an EEA stapler using the largest size possible. If any difficulty in the approach of the EEA stapler was encountered one-layer interrupted hand-sewn anastomosis. Because the rate of postoperative benign anastomotic stricture was higher than expected, a retrospective study was done on all patients who underwent esophageal reconstruction. Material and Method: Over a period of 3 years from January 1996 to December 1998, we performed esophageal reconstructions on 30 patients. Patients were divided into two groups ; EEA stapler group(Group Ⅰ) comprised of 21 patients and hand-sewn group(Group Ⅱ) comprised of 9 patients.Result:The hospital mortality was 6.67 %(2/30) and the anastomotic leakage rate was 3.33 %(1/30). Among the discharged patients, the rate of recurrent anastomotic tumor was 3.57 %(1/28) and the rate of benign anastomotic stricture stricture rate was 35 %(7/20) in Group Ⅰ and 12.5 %(1/8) in Group Ⅱ, which was not significant. Conclusion: Although nontumor benign stricture was significantly higher in Group Ⅱ than in Group Ⅰ(p=0.0492), the incidence of anastomotic complications did not differ between the two groups. The one-layer interrupted hand-sewn esophagovisceral anastomosis by maintaining a wide lumen and close approximation of mucosa to mucosal layers with evenly spaced sutures could be one of the preferred surgical method to reduce benign anastomotic strictures.

• Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.180-182
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• 2018

The frequency of anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy is reported to be 0.9~8%. To reduce deleterious outcomes of anastomotic leakage, we devised the "Omental Free-shaped Flap Reinforcement On Anastomosis and Dissected area" procedure not only to prevent fatal complications following anastomotic leakage but also to promote vascularity of anastomoses and other expected oncological benefits. This video illustrates the surgical procedure following a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. After completion of the anastomosis, the remaining omentum was mobilized upward and divided into two sections. We placed the left section of the omental flap under the anastomosis between the stomach and pancreas. Finally, we grasped and curved the tip of the section to cover the anastomosis from behind, and we placed the right section of the omental flap above the anastomosis. These two sections were approximated with clips to the anterior wall of the stomach. The patient was discharged without complications.