OBJECTIVETo systemically assess the feasibility and safety of complete mesocolic excision (CME) for colon cancer.

METHODSA computer-based online research of prospective, randomized or nonrandomized, controlled studies addressing CME versus traditional surgery published in the last five years was performed in electronic databases (Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Medical Current Contents, VIP, PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Elsevier, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews). With strictly screening according to the standard, the quality of studies was evaluated. Selective trials were analyzed by the Review Manager 5.1 software.

RESULTSA total of eight nonrandomized clinical trials, involving a total of 1209 patients (615 patients in CME group and 594 patients in control group), were identified. Meta-analysis showed that the intraoperative blood loss in CME group was less than that in control group [WMD=-13.05, 95%CI:-25.03 to -1.07, P=0.03]. No significant difference in the operation time was found [WMD=0.46, 95%CI:-26.50 to 27.41, P=0.97], and significant differences in the number of lymph node retrieved from postoperative pathologic specimens, the average length of large bowel resected, the area of mesentery resected, and the high vascular ligation were revealed between two groups. Besides there were no significant differences in the time to first flatus and the hospital stay between two groups (P=0.87, P=0.05). The postoperative complication morbidity did not increase in CME group as compared to control group (P=0.74).

CONCLUSIONCME is safe and effective in accordance with the concept of embryonic anatomy, oncological surgery and delicate surgery, and is expected to become a standardization operation method for colon cancer.