Significance and techniques of preserving the left colic artery in laparoscopic radical resection for rectal cancer

VernacularTitle:腹腔镜直肠癌根治术保留左结肠动脉的临床经验和手术技巧
Author: Guoshuai CHEN ¹ ; Kewei JIANG ¹
Author Information

1. 北京大学人民医院胃肠外科，北京　100044
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Rectal neoplasms; Left colic artery; Inferior mesenteric artery, Laparoscopy
From: Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(7):791-795
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Total mesorectal excision (total mesorectal excision, TME) has currently become the standard procedure for the treatment of rectal cancer. However, whether to preserve the left colic artery (LCA) during TME surgery remains controversial. The debates mainly focus on whether preserving the LCA can achieve complete dissection of No. 253 lymph nodes and its impacts on patients' defecation, urination, and sexual functions, and prognosis. This article systematically reviews the recent research progress necessity surgical techniques for LCA preservation by combining the anatomical characteristics of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and LCA with clinical experience.