Effect of preserving left colic artery during radical operation of rectal cancer on anastomotic leakage and operation time

Abstract

Surgical treatment for rectal cancer has changed radically in recent years since the introduction of the principle of total mesorectal excision (TME) and technique of laparoscopic approach. The emphasis of management for vessels in laparoscopic TME surgery for rectal cancer is mainly focused on the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and its branches. Two alternatives of the level to execute the IMA are high ligation(without preservation of left colic artery, LCA) and low ligation (with preservation of LCA). In this article, we review the latest literature from China and foreign countries concerning this issue, and combine with our own experience to investigate the effect of LCA preserving on anastomotic leakage and operation time, which may provide a reference for proper choice of the management of IMA in rectal cancer surgery.