Background: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy around the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) remains a controversial approach. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical outcomes.
Methods: This study analysed 211 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection of advanced (≥T3) sigmoid and rectosigmoid colon cancers with D3 lymphadenectomy including 91 high ligations of the IMA (HL) and 120 low ligations with preservation of the LCA (LL) from January 1998 to December 2009.
Results: There were no significant differences in operative result between the groups. In stage II cancer, the overall survival rate (94.8% HL vs. 91.8% LL; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.8 to 0.68, p = 0.920) and disease-free survival (93.0% HL vs. 87.6% LL; 95% CI, -0.8 to 0.40, p = 0.540) did not differ significantly between the two groups. A similar tendency in overall survival was observed in patients with stage III cancer (88.3% HL vs. 86.9% LL; 95% CI, -0.44 to 0.57, p = 0.989) and disease-free survival (71.4% HL vs. 69.8% LL; 95% CI, -0.38 to 0.40, p = 0.637).
Conclusions: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy around the IMA with preservation of the LCA resulted in acceptable clinical outcomes in patients with advanced sigmoid and rectosigmoid colon cancer.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.