OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical significance of low ligation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and preservation of left colic artery in laparoscopic radical operation for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 103 rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical operation in Ruijin Hospital from May 2015 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, including 61 cases with preservation of left colic artery (low ligation group, LL group) and 42 cases without preservation of left colic artery (high ligation group, HL group). Clinical conditions during operation and after operation were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the patients underwent operation successfully without transferring to laparotomy, intra-operative or post-operative death, and severe intra-operative or anesthetic complications. Age, gender, BMI, ASA score, tumor size and tumor location were not significantly different between the two groups. Four cases(9.5%) in HL group presented ischemic changes in colonic stump during operation, receiving additional colonic resection and no such ischemic changes were found in LL group (P=0.025). The number of harvested lymph node was 16.1±6.8 in HL group and 15.5±7.2 in LL group, number of harvest lymph node in the root of IMA was 4.2±1.7 in HL group with positive rate of 9.5%(4/42) and 4.3±1.7 in LL group with positive rate of 4.9%(3/61), both were not significantly different between the two groups. Lower margin was (2.2±1.4) cm in LL group and (2.8±1.7) cm in HL group, and difference was not significant as well(all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of operation time, blood loss, post-operative complication, recovery of bowel movement and hospital stay. Median follow-up time was 4.5 months(2 to 10 months) and no long-term complications and local recurrence were found.

CONCLUSIONLow ligation of IMA with preservation of left colic artery in laparoscopic radical operation for rectal cancer can provide better blood supply for proximal colon and anastomosis, and can achieve same radical clearance of lymph nodes as high ligation without prolonged operation time, which is worth clinical promotion.