In recent years, both the actual number of overweight/obese individuals and their proportion of the population have steadily been rising worldwide and obesity‐related diseases have become major health concerns. In addition, as obesity is associated with an increased incidence of gastroenterological cancer, the number of obese patients has also been increasing in the field of gastroenterological surgery. While the influence of obesity on gastroenterological surgery has been widely studied, very few reports have focused on individual organs or surgical procedures, using a cross‐sectional study design. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the impacts of obesity on surgeries for the esophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver and pancreas. In general, obesity prolongs operative time. As to short‐term postoperative outcomes, obesity might be a risk for certain complications, depending on the procedure carried out. In contrast, it is possible that obesity doesn't adversely impact long‐term surgical outcomes. The influences of obesity on surgery are made even more complex by various categories of operative outcomes, surgical procedures, and differences in obesity among races. Therefore, it is important to appropriately evaluate perioperative risk factors, including obesity.

This Japanese nationwide study provides solid evidence to reinforce that both obesity and excessively low weight are factors that impact operative outcomes significantly.

Background Although duodenal stump leakage (DSL) is a relatively rare complication after gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction, it is difficult to treat and can be fatal. We investigated the impact of duodenal stump reinforcement on DSL after laparoscopic gastrectomy with R-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer. Methods This retrospective study of 965 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic distal or total gastrectomy (LDG or LTG) with R-Y reconstruction compared surgical outcomes between two groups, the duodenal stump reinforcement group (reinforcement group) (n = 895) and that without duodenal stump reinforcement (non-reinforcement group) (n = 70). Results Mean operative duration was significantly longer in the reinforcement than in the non-reinforcement group (LDG; 291 min versus 258 min, p < 0.001, LTG; 325 min versus 285 min, p < 0.001). DSL occurred less frequently in the reinforcement than in the non-reinforcement group (0.67% vs. 5.71%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, non-reinforcement was an independent risk factor for DSL in multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounding factors. Patients with DSL in the non-reinforcement group all required re-operation, while all but one patient with DSL in the reinforcement group recovered with conservative management. Conclusions Duodenal stump reinforcement in laparoscopic gastrectomy with R-Y reconstruction may reduce the risk of DSL development and minimize its severity.Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Background and study aims A delayed perforation can often occur after endoscopic treatment for duodenal neoplasms and cause fatality due to leakage of pancreatic and bile juices. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for duodenal neoplasms (D-LECS) in a multicenter retrospective study. Patients and methods The clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of 206 patients with duodenal neoplasms in whom D-LECS had initially been attempted at one of 14 institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of the 206 patients, 63 (31%), 128 (62%), and 15 patients (7%) had lesions at the bulb, second portion, and third portion of the duodenum, respectively. The rates of en bloc and R0 resections during D-LECS were 96% and 95%, respectively. Intraoperative and delayed perforations occurred in 9 (4.3%) and 5 patients (2.4%), respectively. No recurrent cases were observed in this study. The risks of postoperative complications were surgical duration of ≥3 h. Conclusions The results of the present study revealed that D-LECS was performed with oncological feasibility with technical safety.

Introduction With technique improvements, indications for laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for gastric subepithelial tumor (SET) are gradually expanding for tumors technically difficult to resect. However, surgical outcomes of LECS, including for esophagogastric junction (EGJ) tumors requiring advanced skills, remain unknown. Methods We reviewed patients in whom LECS had initially been attempted for gastric SET at the Cancer Institute Hospital in Tokyo from June 2006 to May 2018. Indications for LECS at the EGJ have gradually expanded during the study period to include tumors with esophageal invasion up to 2 cm, or less than half the EJG circumference, preoperatively. Surgical outcomes and risk factors for conversion to other procedures were investigated. Results Twenty (9.3%) of the 214 total patients had EGJ tumors. Four patients (20%) with EGJ tumors developed postoperative complications (Clavien‐Dindo grade ≥ II). Among 12 patients in whom LECS could be completed for EGJ tumors, only one non‐serious complication occurred. Eight patients required conversion to another operation for EGJ tumors (two laparotomy, six proximal gastrectomy). Among conversion cases with EGJ tumors, anastomotic leakage occurred in both patients undergoing laparotomy after LECS, necessitating additional defect closure. There was only one non‐serious complication in six proximal gastrectomy patients. On multivariate analysis, EGJ tumor was an independent risk factor for conversion to another operation. Conclusion LECS at the EGJ may be a risk factor for conversion operation, and when performing LECS at the EGJ is difficult, conversion to proximal gastrectomy, which can be performed safely, should be considered.