1. Introduction

The securement of a field of view by pancreatic rotating technique for suprapancreatic lymphnode dissection in laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) has a huge effect on the accuracy of dissection and is associated with the frequency of pancreatic fistula. Currently there are some pancreatic rotating techniques with forceps, gauze, sponge etc. [1-3], however these methods often are not able to conduct consistent performances because they are dependent on the skills and experiences of surgical assistants. We previously reported an easy and safe pancreatic rotating technique with a balloon-shaped retractor (Cat Hand; HAKKO CO., LTD, Nagano, Japan)[4]. Here, we report a more delicate method with “Naruke Type Thoraco Cotton (TC; KENZMEDICO, Saitama, Japan).

2. Material and Methods

2.2 Introduction of the surgical instrument

TC is a simple implement composed of cotton stick and external cylinder, which was originally created by Dr. Tsuguo Naruke (ex. assistant director of National Cancer Center, Japan, 1934-2006) for thoracic surgery. Product catalog show an example of using TC in thoracic surgery. TC is useful for dissection, compression, hemostasis, rotation, and lifting up in various operations (Figure 1). We put TC into practice in suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic gastrectomy for potential less-invasive effects.

Figure 1: Examples of how TC is used.
Examples of using TC in thoracic surgery are shown in the product catalogue. TC has various functions as dissection, compression, hemostasis, rotation, and lifting up.

2.3 Patients

Figure 2-6 shows the surgical process for suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy with TC. For the example, we show a 56-yearold female case. She was diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (M, Gre, 0-IIc, 20mm, 0-IIc, T2, N0, M0; clinical stage IB in Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma), so we performed laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphnode dissection.

Figure 2: Extracorporeal scenery using TC.
The assistant inserts TC via 12mm trocar in the bilateral lateroabdominal region, and operates TC with his left hand. (white arrow).

Figure 3: The scenery of lymphadenectomy along common hepatic artery.
The assistant compresses the lower edge or the surface of the pancreas softly with TC and rotate it dorsocaudally.

Figure 4: The scenery of lymphadenectomy along proximal splenic artery.
We fine-tune the TC position according to the location of lymphnodes and vessels which we are going to dissect.

Figure 5: The scenery of dissection between left gastric artery and lymphnodes along common hepatic artery.
TC can give pinpoint force and tension from a number of angles to apply a fine force to the cutting surface.

Figure 6: The scenery of lymphadenectomy along proper hepatic artery.
TC can compress the common hepatic artery softly, so we can pull out the suprapancreatic lymphnodes safely.

At first, a mini laparotomy was performed in umbilical region and a 12mm trocar for laparoscope was inserted. After 12mm trocars were set up in the bilateral lateroabdominal region and 5mm trocars were set up in the bilateral hypochondriac region, we started the laparoscopic surgery.

We start LG as usual and cut the duodenum before suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy, the assistant inserts the TC via 12mm trocar in the bilateral lateroabdominal region (Figure 2). The assistant compresses the lower edge or the surface of the pancreas softly with TC and rotate it dorsocaudally (Figure 3). Subsequently, we can fine-tune the TC position according to the location of lymphnodes and vessels which we are going to dissect (Figure 4-6). The TC can also be used for hemostasis by compression when we have a slight hemorrhage. We remove the TC from the trocar and exchange it for other forceps rapidly after suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy is finished.

3. Results

Details of the clinical features and the perioperative measurements of LDG cases with TC are shown in Table 1. The mean patient body mass index was 21.5 kg/m². Regarding the surgical stage and the extent of lymphadenectomy, 3 patients were changed their stage to IIB or IIIA because some lymphnode metastases were suspected in intraoperative findings. For such patients diagnosed with advanced cancer, D2 lymphadenectomy was performed in 5 patients (14.7%). Mean operation time was 229 minutes, and mean blood loss was 22 g. There were no intraoperative complications and no conversions to open surgery in all cases. POPF grade 2 was observed in only 1 case of surgical stage IIIA (2.9%). Other postoperative pancreas-related complication such as pancreatitis or peripancreatic abscess were not observed.

Table 1: The clinical features and the perioperative measurements of LDG cases with TC.

4. Discussion

LG has become as popular in the past several years, because it was published on various guidelines in certain limited conditions [8,9]. However, the distinctive procedure of compressing the pancreas dorsally is extremely important to complete safe and thorough suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy in LG. Indeed, in the method with gauze, the misalignment and resetting of the gauze often breaks continuity of the surgery, and surgeons are getting stressed. On the other hand, there are some concerns about injury of the pancreatic capsule due to direct contact with the hard tip of the forceps. We have considered that such compression and rotation technique influences refinement or accuracy of the surgery, and previously reported the easy and safe rotation technique of pancreas with Cat Hand ®︎ [4]. There are few literatures which describe new methods about the compression or rotation technique, consequently we report a method using TC in order to improve the accuracy of suprapancreatic lymphadenectomy.

TC’s advantages which we suggest are:

1. No action for shifting the gauzes etc. is necessary.
2. There is minimal risk to organ injury.
3. The soft cotton can stop the some minute bleeding quickly by compression.
4. Delicate and pinpoint tension can be applied to the dissection site.
5. Thereby relieving stress of the surgeon / assistant.
6. The cost is very inexpensive for ¥ 250 (approximately 2US$) a cotton.

Considering TC is just a common cotton stick, the surgeon can sense that he able to apply a delicate tension from any angle, allowing pinpoint exposure of the cutting line. If gauze or sponge is used to rotate the pancreas, it is necessary to grasp it over and over again. We realize how comfortable the uninterrupted view is with less stress. Even then with a swollen pancreas, there is no need to crazily scramble to compress the pancreas and get anxious about the damage to the pancreas, because the root of TC can hook on the edge of the pancreas and rotate it regionally. Also, residents who are not used to manipulate the laparoscopic forceps are able to secure a stable surgical field.

Furthermore, our results showed that there was only one case of Grade 2 pancreatic fistula in 34 cases, and we seemed to be able to minimize the frequency and severity of postoperative pancreasrelated complications. Previous reports including large clinical trials indicate that frequency of postoperative pancreas-related complications is varied (1.0-8.4%), and little difference exists between open surgery and laparoscopic surgery [10-12] but it is hard to ignore a small but significant complication. Especially, some authors have reported that LG significantly increase the level of d-AMY than open gastrectomy (OG)[10]. We emphasize that it is important to improve surgical safety and even a little preventive measures of postoperative pancreas-related complications. Recently, Tsujiura et al. presented a new method by pulling and controlling the connective tissues along the inferior border of the pancreas to prevent postoperative infectious complications [13]. They showed that pancreas compression had a huge effect on postoperative infectious complications.

Other factors affecting postoperative pancreas-related complications can be regarded as surgeon’s technical learning curve, lateral thermal damage to the pancreas by various energy devices, the depth of lymphadenectomy, and anatomical characteristics of the pancreas [14-16]. We were able to achieve a good outcome, because the delicate compression with TC could minimize the pancreatic injury and be provided a good field of view easily. Since we need to obtain further traction and tension in deep D2 lymphadenectomy, we sometimes switch the TC to grasping forceps in order to grasp and pull the periarterial nerves along the common hepatic and splenic arteries. While bearing in mind the unsuitableness for deep lymphadenectomy, we try to select the method on a case-by-case basis.

5. Conclusion

TC should be considered as a useful option in the safe and delicate pancreatic rotating technique for suprapancreatic lymphnode dissection in LG.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.