Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital > Publications > Lower Gastrointestinal Surgery

Lower Gastrointestinal Surgery

Specialty
Robot-assisted and laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Experience
Approx. 1,400 operations as primary surgeon

Appointed
Chief, Colorectal Surgery — April 2024

Katsuji Tokuhara, M.D., Ph.D. is Chief of Colorectal Surgery and Director of the Regional Medical Cooperation Center at Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital.
He specialises in robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer, pelvic functional surgery, and multimodal treatment for advanced disease.

Katsuji Tokuhara M.D. Ph.D. — colorectal surgery Japan, Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital

Katsuji Tokuhara, M.D., Ph.D.

徳原 克治

Chief, Colorectal Surgery
Director, Regional Medical Cooperation Center
Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital

Clinical focus

Dr. Tokuhara trained at Kansai Medical University and its affiliated hospitals,
where he served as Associate Professor and Director of the Robot-Assisted Surgery Centre.
He joined Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital in April 2024.

  • Robot-assisted colorectal surgery (da Vinci Xi) — sphincter-preserving rectal resection, lateral pelvic lymph node dissection
  • Laparoscopic colorectal surgery — colectomy, rectal resection, intracorporeal anastomosis
  • Pelvic functional surgery — fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse, sacral nerve stimulation
  • Multimodal treatment — neoadjuvant chemotherapy, conversion surgery for advanced colorectal cancer

Rectal cancer —
sphincter preservation & pelvic surgery

For patients seeking to avoid a permanent colostomy, or facing surgery for low rectal cancer.

  1. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Robot-assisted laparoscopic lateral pelvic node dissection in advanced low rectal cancer.
    Colorectal Disease. 2023; 25: 1933–1934.
    Robot-assisted removal of pelvic lymph nodes in advanced low rectal cancer.
  2. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Laparoscopic total pelvic exenteration for locally advanced low rectal cancer invading the prostate — a video vignette.
    Colorectal Disease. 2022; 24: 799–800.
    Minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer invading the prostate.
  3. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic lateral pelvic node dissection for advanced lower rectal cancer.
    Surgical Endoscopy. 2021; 35: 1572–1578.
    Outcomes data for laparoscopic lateral pelvic dissection in low rectal cancer.
  4. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Laparoscopic prophylactic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in advanced low rectal cancer — a video vignette.
    Colorectal Disease. 2021.
    Preventive lymph node dissection via laparoscopy for advanced low rectal cancer.

Rectal cancer —
chemotherapy before surgery

For patients with advanced rectal cancer where shrinking the tumour first may improve outcomes or make surgery possible.

  1. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer.
    Journal of the Anus Rectum and Colon. 2022; 6: 24–31.
    Pre-operative chemotherapy — without radiotherapy — for advanced rectal cancer.
  2. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer.
    Indian Journal of Surgery. 2021; 83: 1178–1184.
    Further outcomes data on pre-operative chemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer.

Minimally invasive colorectal surgery —
technique & outcomes

For patients considering laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery for colon or rectal cancer.

  1. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (overlap method) — a video vignette.
    Colorectal Disease. 2022; 24: 1096.
    Fully minimally invasive technique for right-sided colon cancer surgery.
  2. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly.
    International Journal of Surgery. 2016; 27: 66–71.
    Safety and outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in older patients.
  3. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Efficacy and safety of thromboembolism prophylaxis with fondaparinux in Japanese colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.
    International Journal of Surgery. 2017; 42: 203–208.
    Perioperative safety in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Fecal incontinence &
pelvic floor dysfunction

For patients experiencing fecal incontinence or pelvic floor problems — including those occurring after rectal cancer treatment.

  1. Tokuhara K, et al.
    Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in Japanese locally advanced rectal carcinoma patients.
    World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2016; 14: 136.
    Functional outcomes — including bowel function — after treatment for advanced rectal cancer.

Further publications on sacral nerve stimulation and pelvic functional surgery are available in the full list below.

Full publication list

View all publications ＋

Original articles (English)

  1. Tokuhara K, et al. Robot-assisted laparoscopic lateral pelvic node dissection in advanced low rectal cancer. Colorectal Disease. 2023; 25: 1933–1934. PubMed
  2. Tokuhara K, et al. Intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (overlap method). Colorectal Disease. 2022; 24: 1096. PubMed
  3. Tokuhara K, et al. Laparoscopic total pelvic exenteration for locally advanced low rectal cancer invading the prostate. Colorectal Disease. 2022; 24: 799–800.
  4. Tokuhara K, et al. Feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer. Journal of the Anus Rectum and Colon. 2022; 6: 24–31. PubMed
  5. Tokuhara K, et al. Feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy without radiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer. Indian Journal of Surgery. 2021; 83: 1178–1184.
  6. Tokuhara K, et al. Laparoscopic prophylactic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in advanced low rectal cancer. Colorectal Disease. 2021. PubMed
  7. Tokuhara K, et al. Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic lateral pelvic node dissection for advanced lower rectal cancer. Surgical Endoscopy. 2021; 35: 1572–1578. PubMed
  8. Tokuhara K, et al. Efficacy and safety of thromboembolism prophylaxis with fondaparinux in Japanese colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. International Journal of Surgery. 2017; 42: 203–208.
  9. Tokuhara K, et al. Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in Japanese locally advanced rectal carcinoma patients. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2016; 14: 136.
  10. Tokuhara K, et al. Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly. International Journal of Surgery. 2016; 27: 66–71.
  11. Tokuhara K, et al. Fluvastatin inhibits the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase, an inflammatory biomarker, in hepatocytes. Hepatology Research. 2013; 7: 775–784.
  12. Tokuhara K, et al. Rebamipide, anti-gastric ulcer drug, up-regulates the induction of iNOS in proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2008; 18: 28–36.

Case reports (English)

  1. Obana T, Tokuhara K, et al. A case of diffusely infiltrating colorectal cancer with distinctive endoscopic and histologic findings. iGIE. 2023; 1: 22–23.
  2. Tokuhara K, et al. Peritoneal dissemination of ascending colon cancer demonstrating relapse-free survival for 40 months with panitumumab monotherapy. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2019; 59: 41–45.
  3. Tokuhara K, et al. A first reported case of metastatic anorectal amelanotic melanoma with marked response to anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2017; 31: 188–192.
  4. Nakatani K, Tokuhara K, et al. Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer with intestinal malrotation in adults. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2017; 39: 86–90.
  5. Tokuhara K, et al. Laparoscopic reduced port surgery for schwannoma of the sigmoid colon. Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery. 2014; 7: 260–262.
  6. Tokuhara K, et al. Primary squamous cell carcinoma in the gastric remnant. Surgery Today. 2012; 42: 666–669.

International presentations (first author)

  1. Outcomes of laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in locally advanced rectal cancer. 75th General Meeting, Japan Society of Gastroenterological Surgery. 2020.
  2. Short and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly. 3rd International Conference of Federation of Asian Clinical Oncology. 2019.
  3. Liver protective effect of pyroGlu-Leu in proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated hepatocytes. 35th ESPEN Congress. 2013.
  4. Fluvastatin inhibits the induction of iNOS, inflammatory biomarker, in hepatocytes. 34th ESPEN Congress. 2012.
  5. Anti-gastric ulcer drug upregulates the induction of iNOS in IL-1β-stimulated hepatocytes. Clinical Nutrition Week, ASPEN. 2007.

Certifications

  • M.D., Ph.D.
  • Board-certified surgeon — Japan Surgical Society
  • Board-certified surgeon — Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery
  • Board-certified colorectal surgeon — Japan Society of Coloproctology
  • Technical certification in endoscopic surgery — Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery
  • da Vinci console surgeon certificate
  • Robotic surgery proctor — Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery
  • Cancer treatment physician — Japanese Society for Cancer Treatment
  • Designated physician — Osaka Prefecture intractable disease programme

Department

← Colorectal Surgery (Lower GI Surgery)