ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare high and low inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation in a large number of patients, and investigate the short-term and long-term outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study compared outcomes between high IMA ligation and low IMA ligation with dissection of lymph nodes (LNs) around the IMA origin. A total of 1,213 patients underwent elective low anterior resection with double-stapling anastomosis for stage I-III rectal cancer located ≥6 cm from the anal verge (835 patients underwent IMA ligation at the IMA origin; 378 patients underwent IMA ligation directly distal to the root of the left colic artery along with dissection of LNs around the IMA origin). RESULTS: There was no difference in anastomotic leakage rate between groups. The 2 groups did not significantly differ in intraoperative blood loss, perioperative complications, total number of harvested LNs, and metastatic IMA LNs. However, more metastatic LNs were harvested in the high-tie than in the low-tie group (1.3 ± 2.9 vs. 0.8 ± 1.9, P = 0.002), and the incidence of positive pathologic nodal status was higher in the high-tie group (37.9% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.001). The 5-year local recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival rates were similar between groups, as were the 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates. CONCLUSION: Low IMA ligation with dissection of LNs around the IMA origin showed no differences in anastomotic leakage rate compared with high IMA ligation, without affecting oncologic outcomes. High IMA ligation did not seem to increase the number of total harvested LNs, whereas the ratio of metastatic apical LNs were similar between groups.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vascular supply to the right colon has become an issue because of high variability and subsequent impact on minimally invasive surgery. Past cadaveric or radiologic anatomic assessments are noncomprehensive. OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative charting of right colonic arteriovenous anatomy was undertaken to determine the incidence and scope of vascular variations. DESIGN: Vascular anatomy variations were documented in snapshot images, captured during laparoscopic video recordings or through open surgical digital photography. SETTINGS: Data were drawn from consecutive right hemicolectomies, routinely entailing complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation. PATIENTS: Seventy patients (mean age, 62.7 years; 37 women (52.8%); 33 men (47.2%)), each with surgically treatable right-sided colon cancer, were prospectively studied. RESULTS: Both ileocolic and middle colic arteries were regularly identified (100%), with right colic artery present in 41.4% of patients. Ileocolic and middle colic veins consistently drained into the right colon. Although the ileocolic vein always emptied into the superior mesenteric vein, drainage of the middle colic vein was split (superior mesenteric vein, 94.3%; gastrocolic trunk of Henle, 5.3%), as was drainage of the right colic (superior mesenteric vein, 43.3%; gastrocolic trunk of Henle, 56.7%) and accessory middle colic veins (superior mesenteric vein, 54.5%; gastrocolic trunk of Henle, 45.5%), present in 42.9% and 15.7% of patients. Gastrocolic trunk of Henle was found in 88.6% of patients, usually draining into the superior mesenteric vein. No significant sex-related differences were present regarding the incidence and scope of variability displayed by the right colic artery, right colic vein, accessory middle colic vein, or gastrocolic trunk of Henle classification (p > 0.05). LIMITATIONS: The inconsistency between cadaver and live surgery anatomy and the low BMI of the Asian population might be drawbacks of our study. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in right colonic arteriovenous channels, assessed intraoperatively, corroborate those established by cadaveric and radiologic means, prompting a new gastrocolic trunk of Henle classification.
