OBJECTIVETo investigate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of the left colic artery(LCA).

METHODSClinicopathological and follow-up data of 322 cases with rectal carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection in Department of General Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2007 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical methods of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), cases were divided into the trial group (LCA preservation plus lymph nodes around IMA root dissection, 168 cases) and the control group(origin of IMA ligation, 154 cases). The 5-year rates of disease-free survival(DFS) and overall survival(OS) were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups. The follow-up rate was 91.1%(153/168) during 5-60 months in the trial group, and 90.3%(139/154) during 6-60 months in the control group. The number of patients who developed death, local recurrence and metastasis were 49(32.0%), 9(5.9%) and 62(40.5%) in the trial group, and 44(31.7%), 9(6.5%) and 52(37.4%) in the control group, respectively, without significant differences(all P>0.05). The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 57.2% and 69.5% in the trial group, and 59.7% and 70.1% in the control group, and the differences were not significant between the two groups(all P>0.05). After stratification by TNM stage, the 5-year DFS rates of I( stage, II( stage and III( stage were 80.4%, 62.5% and 45.1% in the trial group, and 82.6%, 66.0% and 48.8% in the control group; the 5-year OS rates of I( stage, II( stage and III( stage were 90.2%, 76.2% and 56.7% in the trial group, and 94.4%, 74.3% and 60.5% in the control group, respectively, and the differences were not significant as well (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe long-term outcomes after laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of LCA and dissection of lymph nodes around root of IMA are comparable with ligation at origin of IMA.