• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2015

Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy (LPG) is theoretically a superior choice of minimally-invasive surgery and function-preserving surgery for the treatment of proximal early gastric cancer (EGC) over procedures such as laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG), open total gastrectomy (OTG) and open proximal gastrectomy (OPG). However, LPG and OPG are not popular surgical options due to three main concerns: the first, oncological safety; the second, functional benefits; and the third, anastomosis-related late complications (reflux symptoms and anastomotic stricture). Numerous recent studies have concluded that OPG and LPG present similar oncological safety profiles and improved functional benefits when compared with OTG and LTG. While OPG with modified esophagogastrostomy does not provide satisfactory results, OPG with modified esophagojejunostomy showed similar rates of anastomosis-related late complications when compared to OTG. At this stage, no standard reconstruction method post-LPG exists in the clinical setting. We recently showed that LPG with double tract reconstruction (DTR) is a superior choice over LTG for proximal EGC in terms of maintaining body weight and preventing anemia. However, as there is no definitive evidence in favor of LPG with DTR, a randomized clinical trial comparing LPG with DTR to LTG was recommended. This trial, the Korean Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study-05 (NCT01433861), is expected to assist surgeons in choice of surgical approach and strategy for patients with proximal EGC.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2015

Purpose: Various laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR) techniques requiring gastrotomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the stomach have been applied to facilitate tumor resection and preserve the remnant gastric volume. However, there is the possibility of cancer cell dissemination during these procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the oncologic safety of LWR with gastrotomy (LWR-G) compared to LWR without luminal exposure. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathologic and operative results of 193 patients who underwent LWR for gastric GIST were retrospectively analyzed from 2003 to 2013. We stratified the patients into two groups: LWR-G and LWR without gastrotomy (LWR-C). Clinicopathologic features, short-term outcomes, and long-term outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 26 patients underwent LWR-G, and 167 patients underwent LWR-C. The LWR-G group showed significantly more anterior wall-located (n=10, 38.5%), intraluminal (n=20, 76.9%), and ulcerative (n=13, 50.0%) tumors than the LWR-C group (n=33, 19.8%; n=96, 57.5%; n=46, 27.5%, respectively). Postoperative short-term outcomes did not differ between the two groups. When tumor staging was compared, no statistical difference was noted. There was no recurrence in the LWR-G group, while 2 patients in the LWR-C group experienced recurrence. The two recurrences in the LWR-C group were found in the liver and in the remnant stomach at 63 and 12 months after the operation, respectively. No gastric GIST-related death was recorded in any group during the study period. Conclusions: LWR-G for gastric GIST is an oncologically safe procedure even for masses with ulcerations.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 2015

Purpose: Minimally invasive gastrectomy (MIG), including laparoscopic distal subtotal gastrectomy (LDG) and robotic distal subtotal gastrectomy (RDG), is performed for gastric cancer, and requires a learning period. However, there are few reports regarding MIG by a beginner surgeon trained in MIG for gastric cancer during surgical residency and fellowship. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience with MIG, LDG, and RDG by a trained beginner surgeon. Materials and Methods: Between January 2014 and February 2015, a total of 36 patients (20 LDGs and 16 RDGs) underwent MIG by a beginner surgeon during the learning period, and 13 underwent open distal subtotal gastrectomy (ODG) by an experienced surgeon in Bundang CHA Medical Center. Demographic characteristics, operative findings, and short-term outcomes were evaluated for the groups. Results: MIG was safely performed without open conversion in all patients and there was no mortality in either group. There was no significant difference between the groups in demographic factors except for body mass index. There were significant differences in extent of lymph node dissection (LND) (D2 LND: ODG 8.3% vs. MIG 55.6%, P=0.004) and mean operative time (ODG 178.8 minutes vs. MIG 254.7 minutes, P<0.001). The serial changes in postoperative hemoglobin level (P=0.464) and white blood cell count (P=0.644) did not show significant differences between the groups. There were no significant differences in morbidity. Conclusions: This study showed that the operative and short-term outcomes of MIG for gastric cancer by a trained beginner surgeon were comparable with those of ODG performed by an experienced surgeon.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.43-47
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• 2014

Purpose: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is known to be one of the most common cause of surgery for infants and pyloromyotomy was considered to the standard treatment. There has been an ongoing debate about whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) or open pyloromyotomy (OP) is the best option for treating HPS. The aim of this study is to evaluate safety and effectiveness of LP by comparing the clinical results of both surgical strategies performed by single surgeon. Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2013, 60 patients who underwent pyloromyotomy at Asan Medical Center performed by a surgeon were followed: open-supraumbilical incision (n=36) and LP (n=24). The parameters included sex, age and body weight at operation. Clinical outcomes included operation time, time to full feeding, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results: There were no significant differences in characteristics, postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Time to full feeding was shorter in LP (OP 24.5 hours vs. LP 19.8 hours; p=0.063). In contrast, the mean operation time was longer in LP (OP 37.5 minutes vs. LP 43.5 minutes; p=0.072). Complications such as perforation of mucosal layer (OP 1 vs. LP 0) and wound problems (OP 2 vs. LP 0) were found to be not worse in laparoscopic group as compared with open group. Conclusion: There has no difference both laparoscopic and open-supraumbilical incision in terms of postoperative hospital stay, time to full feeds and frequency of complications.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 2011

Purpose: Intracorporeal anastomosis during laparoscopic gastrectomy is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, selection of the anastomosis method after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is equivocal because of a lack of technical feasibility and safety. We compared intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy with gastrojejunostomy using linear staplers to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of intracorporeal anastomoses as well as its' minimally invasiveness. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analyses of a prospectively collected database for gastric cancer revealed 47 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with either intracorporeal gastroduodenostomy or gastrojejunostomy from March 2011 to June 2011. Perioperative outcomes such as operation time, postoperative complication, and hospital stay were compared according to the type of anastomosis. Postoperative inflammatory response was also compared between the two groups using white blood cell count and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Results: Among the 47 patients, 26 patients received gastroduodenostomy, whereas 21 patients received gastrojejunostomy without open conversion or additional mini-laparotomy incision. There was no difference in mean operation time, blood loss, and length of postoperative hospital stays. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complication or mortality between two groups. However, significantly more staplers were used for gastroduodenostomy than for gastrojejunostomy (n=6) than for gastroduodenostomy and (n=5). Conclusions: Intracorporeal anastomosis during laparoscopic gastrectomy using linear stapler, either gastroduodenostomy or gastrojejunostomy, shows comparable and acceptable early postoperative outcomes and are safe and feasible. Therefore, surgeons may choose either anastomosis method as long as oncological safety is guaranteed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2017

Purpose: Different esophagojejunostomy (EJ) reconstruction methods are used after totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG), and none is considered a standard technique. This report describes a 2-layer hand-sewn EJ technique during TLTG; we also evaluated postoperative morbidity associated with this technique. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients who underwent TLTG for gastric cancer (GC) from 2012 to 2016 at 2 affiliated teaching hospitals. All participating surgeons performed standardized intracorporeal 2-layer hand-sewn EJ. Results: We included 51 patients who underwent TLTG for GC and standardized EJ anastomosis. Twenty-seven (53%) were male, and the median age was 60 (36-87) years. The average operative time was $337{\pm}71minutes$ and intraoperative bleeding was $160{\pm}107mL$. There were no open conversions related to EJ. Postoperative morbidity was observed in 9 (17.0%) patients. There was no postoperative mortality. EJ leakage was observed in 2 patients (3.8%) and 1 patient (1.9%) developed EJ stenosis. Patients with leakage were managed non-operatively and the patient with stenosis required endoscopic dilation. The median length of hospital stay was 8 (6-29) days. Conclusions: Two-layer hand-sewn EJ during TLTG for GC is a feasible and safe technique. This method avoids a laparotomy for reconstruction and the disadvantages associated with laparoscopic introduction of mechanical staplers for EJ, and provides an alternative for alimentary tract reconstruction after TLTG.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2017

Purpose: Identification of the infrapyloric artery (IPA) type is a key component of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy. As the indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence technique is known to help visualize blood vessels and flow during reconstruction, we speculated that this emerging technique would be helpful in identifying the IPA type. Materials and Methods: From August 2015 to February 2016, 20 patients who underwent robotic or laparoscopic gastrectomy were prospectively enrolled. After intravenous injection of approximately 3 mL of ICG (2.5 mg/mL), a near-infrared fluorescence apparatus was applied. The identified shape of the IPA was confirmed by examining the actual anatomy following infrapyloric dissection. Results: The mean interval time between ICG injection and visualization of the artery was 22.2 seconds (range, 14-30 seconds), and the mean duration of the arterial phase was 16.1 seconds (range, 9-30 seconds). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) of ICG fluorescence in identifying the IPA type was 80% (16/20). The IPA type was incorrectly predicted in four patients, all of whom were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of more than $25kg/m^2$. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that intraoperative vascular imaging using the ICG fluorescence technique may be helpful for robotic or laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2017

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastrectomy is accepted as a standard treatment for patients with early gastric cancer in Korea, Japan, and China. However, duodenal stump leakage remains a fatal complication after gastrectomy. We conducted a prospective phase II study to evaluate the safety of the new technique of laparoscopic reinforcement suture (LARS) on the duodenal stump. Materials and Methods: The estimated number of patients required for this study was 100 for a period of 18 months. Inclusion criteria were histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma treated with laparoscopic distal or total gastrectomy and Billroth II or Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The primary endpoint was the incidence of duodenal stump leakage within the first 30 postoperative days. The secondary endpoints were early postoperative outcomes until discharge. Results: One hundred patients were enrolled between February 2016 and March 2017. The study groups consisted of 65 male and 35 female patients with a mean age (years) of 62.3. Of these, 63 (63%) patients had comorbidities. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 38. The mean operation time was 145 minutes including 7.8 minutes of mean LARS time. There was no occurrence of duodenal stump leakage. Thirteen complications occurred, with one case of reoperation for splenic artery rupture and one case of mortality. Conclusions: Based on the results of this prospective phase II study, LARS can be safely performed in a short operation period without development of duodenal stump leakage. A future randomized prospective controlled trial is required to confirm the surgical benefit of LARS compared to non-LARS.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2010

Herniorrhaphy of Indirect inguinal hernia (IIH) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in children. The overall incidence of inguinal hernias in childhood ranges from 0.8 to 4.4 %. The incidence is up to 10 times higher in boys than girls, especially much higher in premature infants. IIHs in children are basically an arrest of embryologic development rather than an acquired weakness, which explains the increased incidence in premature infants. In normal development, the processus vaginalis closes, obliterating the peritoneal opening of the internal ring between 36th and 40th week of gestation. This process is often incomplete, leaving a small patent processus in many newborns. However, closure continues postnatally, and the rate of patency is inversely proportional to age of the child. The presence of a patent processus vaginalis is a necessary but not sufficient variable in developing a congenital IIH. In other words, all congenital IIHs are preceded by a patent processus vaginalis, but not all patent processus vaginalis go on to become IIHs. The overall incidence of IIH in population is approximately 1 to 2 % and the incidence of a processus vaginalis is approximately 12 to 14%, clinically appreciable IIH should develop in approximately 8 to 12 % of patients with a patent processus vaginalis. Although the classic open inguinal hernia repair remains the gold standard for most pediatric surgeons, laparoscopic repair is being performed in many centers. Like open technique, laparoscopic technique is fundamentally a high ligation of the indirect hernia sac with or without internal ring ligation. The advantages of laparoscopic approach include the ease of examining the contralateral internal ring, the avoidance of access damage to vas and vessels during mobilization of cord, decreased operative time, and an ability to identify unsuspected direct or femoral hernias. Almost all groin hernias in children are IIHs and occur as a result of incomplete closure of processus vaginalis. The treatment is repair by high ligation of hernia sac, which can be done by an open or laparoscopic technique. The contralateral side can be explored by laparoscopy or left alone, open exploration is no longer indicated due to potential risk of infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 1988

It has been suggested that the presence of periovarian adhesions might impair the ovarian response to gonadotropins. Total 136 patients who underwent IVF-ET from February to June 1988(88-1 and 88-2 series) at SNUH were classified into three groups according to total ovarian access score, sum of each ovarian availability, estimated by diagnostic laparoscopy : group I(N=43,0%-50%), group II(N=49, 50%-150%) and group III(N=44, 150%-200%). To evaluate the effects of periovarian adhesions on follicular development in controlled ovarian yperstimulation for IVF-ET, serum E2 levels on the day of hCG dministration (Day 0) and the day after hCG administration (Day+1), the number of ovarian follicles with mean diameter${\geqq}$12mm on Day 0, and the number of oocytes retrieved by transvaginal aspiration were measured and compared among groups. There were no significant differences in age of patients, cancellation rate due to inadequate ovarian response, serum E2 levels, the number of ovarian follicles, the number of oocytes retrieved, and oocytes retrieval rate per follicle. In the same patients(N=31) in group II in whom the difference in ovarian availability between two ovaries is more than 50%, there was also no significant difference in the number of ovarian follicles between them. These data suggest that pelvic adhesions including periovarian adhesions have no adverse effects on the ovarian response to gonadotropins stimulation and the outcome of IVF-ET.