Tateno M, et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2017 Sep;14(5):525-531. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2017.14.5.525

Objective: There are no previous studies analyzing the prognostic predictive value of adding the tumor factor (i.e., Tumor Burden (TB) score) to the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the value of the CONUT plus TB (CONUT-TB) score as a prognostic predictor in patients with HCC undergoing liver resection. Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, 96 consecutive patients with HCC underwent liver resection at our institution. Patients undergoing repeated liver resection and combined resection of a metastatic lesion were excluded. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their CONUT-TB scores according to a cutoff value. Clinicopathologic prognostic factors for survival were analyzed using a database containing the medical records. Results: The optimal cutoff value of the CONUT-TB score determined by using a minimum p value approach was 13 points. Among the 81 patients included in the analytic cohort, 71 patients had low (13) CONUT-TB scores. The overall 3-year survival rate of patients following liver resection for HCC in the high-CONUT-TB group was significantly worse than that of patients in the low-CONUT-TB group (62.5 vs. 89.3%, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis indicated that a high CONUT-TB score was independently associated with overall survival after liver resection (p = 0.010). Conclusion: The CONUT-TB score is a valuable predictor of survival in patients with HCC after liver resection.

Aim: Robotic surgery using the da Vinci system has markedly increased worldwide. However, robotic inguinal hernia repair remains unpopular outside the United States. We introduced and evaluated a robotic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (R‐TAPP) technique for inguinal hernia in our hospital.Methods: First, we designed a task protocol according to the surgical results of 388 laparoscopic TAPP (L‐TAPP) procedures performed during the 4 years prior to introducing R‐TAPP. Our task protocol included several time limitations during a step‐wise procedure: creating the peritoneal flap (<60 minutes), mesh placement with fixation (<30 minutes), and peritoneal suture closure (<30 minutes) under experienced supervision. We investigated the preliminary clinical results of R‐TAPP performed by a single operator between December 2018 and January 2020.Results: We identified 27 lesions in 20 patients (unilateral in 13 and bilateral in seven). According to the Japan Hernia Society Classification, our cohort included eight type I, five type II, and seven bilateral hernias (nine type I, four type II, and one type IV). The median operation time was 124 minutes (range, 81‐164 minutes), and the median console operation time was 85 minutes (range, 50‐132). The median time required for the peritoneal incision was 30 minutes (range, 18‐54 minutes), that for mesh placement (including tucking) was 13 minutes (range, 7‐27 minutes), and that for peritoneal suturing was 9 minutes (range, 3‐20 minutes).Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that our task protocol for R‐TAPP is feasible. However, refinement of our task protocol is essential for standardization.

Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia (IPDH), defined as prolapse of the abdominal viscera into the pericardium, is a rare clinical condition. This case illustrates the possibility of IPDH after esophagectomy with antethoracic alimentary reconstruction, although such hernias are extremely rare. IPDH often presents with symptoms of bowel obstruction such as abdominal discomfort or vomiting. If not properly treated, life-threatening necrosis and/or perforation of the herniated contents may occur. A 68-year-old Japanese man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for treatment of esophageal cancer. Completion gastrectomy with perigastric lymph node dissection was also performed because the patient had previously undergone distal partial gastrectomy for treatment of gastric cancer. The alimentary continuity was reconstructed using the pedicled jejunal limb through the antethoracic route. When we separated the diaphragm from the esophagus and removed xiphoid surgically to prevent a pedicled jejunal limb injury, the pericardium was opened. The patient was readmitted to our hospital because of abdominal discomfort and vomiting 6 months after the esophagectomy. A diagnosis of IPDH after esophagectomy was made. The patient was treated by primary closure of the diaphragmatic defect using vertical mattress sutures and additional reinforcement of the closing defect using a graft harvested from the rectus abdominis posterior sheath. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the seventh day after hernia repair. This patient’s clinical course provides two important clinical suggestions. First, we must be aware of the possibility of iatrogenic IPHD after esophagectomy with antethoracic alimentary reconstruction. Second, a graft from the rectus abdominis posterior sheath is beneficial in the treatment of IPDH.