Journal of the Korean Society of Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgeons  2009;12(2):150-152

Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection in a Rectal Cancer Patient with Situs Inversus Totalis: A Case Report.

Joong Jae YOO 1 ; Myoung Jean JU ; Byung Kwon AHN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Laparoscopic surgery; Low anterior resection; Situs inversus; Rectal cancer

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition with a mirror image of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. Although several cases of laparoscopic surgery for treating situs inversus have been reported, we believe that laparoscopic low anterior resection for the rectal cancer associated with situs inversus has not yet been reported on. We recently experienced a laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer and this was performed on a patient with situs inversus. The patient was a 66-year-old woman who presented with constipation for about 1 month. Chest X-rays showed dextrocardia, and the abdomen CT scans revealed situs inversus totalis with upper rectal cancer. She was successfully treated with laparoscopic low anterior resection even though the surgeon was not familiar with situs inversus totalis.