Preservation of the left colic artery and superior rectal artery in laparoscopic surgery can reduce anastomotic leakage in sigmoid colon cancer.

BACKGROUND

The aim was to study the clinical significance in the preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) and superior rectal artery (SRA) for the laparoscopic resection of sigmoid colon cancer (SCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 316 patients with SCC were divided into two groups. Group A received D3 resection with preservation of LCA and SRA, whereas Group B ligatured artery at the root of the inferior mesenteric artery. The operation time, number of resected lymph nodes, blood loss and anastomotic leakage rate were compared.

RESULTS

In Group A, the average operation time was 283.02 ± 51.48 min, the average blood loss was 111.81 ± 77.08 ml and the average lymph node dissection was 14.8 ± 7.7. There was no statistical significance in blood loss and number of resected lymph nodes between Group A and B (P > 0.05). Longer operating time were observed in Group A as compared to Group B (P < 0.05). The anastomotic leakage rate had statistical significance between these two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Preservation of LCA and SRA was safe and feasible for the laparoscopic surgery of SCC, which could reduce anastomotic leakage rate.