Re-interpreting mesenteric vascular anatomy on 3D virtual and/or physical models, part II: anatomy of relevance to surgeons operating splenic flexure cancer

Preoperative angio-CT colonography improves the quality of lymph node dissection during minimally invasive right hemicolectomy: a propensity score-matched study

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive right hemicolectomy for cancer with complete mesocolic excision is a difficult procedure to perform. The aim of this single-center prospective study was to evaluate whether preoperative angio-CT colonography (A-CTC) improved the quality of lymph node dissection during this surgery.

METHODS

All patients undergoing elective minimally invasive right hemicolectomy for colon adenocarcinoma with complete mesocolic excision between 01/2020 and 12/2023 have been prospectively included. The primary endpoint was the number of lymph nodes examined in the surgical specimen, including the total number of lymph nodes and the percentage of patients with at least 12 lymph nodes examined. Secondary endpoints included operating time, intraoperative complications, overall postoperative morbidity, and length of hospital stay. A propensity score was constructed with groups matched 3:1 using nearest neighbor matching based on the propensity score.

RESULTS

Of the 161 patients included, 44 had A-CTC (27%) and 117 had conventional CT scans. After propensity score matching, patients in the A-CTC group had significantly more lymph nodes on the surgical specimen (24 vs. 20, p = 0.006) and a better quality of lymph node dissection (≥ 12 examined lymph nodes: 100% vs. 87%, p < 0.001). Median operative times were similar between the two groups (184 vs. 180 min, p = 0.07), but two patients (2%) in the conventional CT group experienced an intraoperative bleeding complication. Postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stay were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative 3D reconstruction of vascular anatomy with A-CTC is useful and improves the quality of lymph node dissection during minimally invasive right hemicolectomy for cancer.

Surgical treatment of right colon cancer

The study aimed to perform a systematic review of the literature on surgical treatment for right colon cancer (RCC) with complete mesocolic excision (CME) and D2/D3 lymph node dissection (LND). Material and Methods. A literature review was performed for studies published between 2013 and 2023 by the online resources from the official Web sites of the societies/panels and PubMed database. Sources included guidelines, meta-analyses, randomized and nonrandomized clinical studies, guidelines by European Society of Medical Oncology, the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Russian clinical guidelines. Results. CME significantly improved both immediate and long-term treatment results, which was confirmed by numerous meta-analyses. The extent of LND remains one of the most controversial issues in RCC. For many Asian surgeons, D3 LND is the standard procedure for the treatment of RCC, whereas the European approach is more conservative and apical lymph node dissection is not mandatory. There are also large differences in understanding the extent of D3 LND in RCC. Most surgeons understand this term as dissection of adipose tissue along the anterior and lateral surface of the superior mesenteric vein, however, there are authors who perform circular dissection along the superior mesenteric vessels, considering this extent of surgery to be the most radical. Conclusion. It is necessary to standardize methods and effective criteria for quality control of CME for RCC and LND. In this case, external independent assessment of the quality of surgical intervention is important. There is also currently a growing number of studies in which intraoperative fluorescence imaging makes it possible to better visualize the location of the apical lymph nodes and individualize LND.

Efficacy of laparoscopic low anterior resection for colorectal cancer patients with 3D-vascular reconstruction for left coronary artery preservation

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic low anterior resection (LLAR) has become a mainstream surgical method for the treatment of colorectal cancer, which has shown many advantages in the aspects of surgical trauma and postoperative rehabilitation. However, the effect of surgery on patients' left coronary artery and its vascular reconstruction have not been deeply discussed. With the development of medical imaging technology, 3D vascular reconstruction has become an effective means to evaluate the curative effect of surgery.

AIM

To investigate the clinical value of preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction in LLAR of rectal cancer with the left colic artery (LCA) preserved.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 146 patients who underwent LLAR for rectal cancer with LCA preservation from January to December 2023 in our hospital. All patients underwent LLAR of rectal cancer with the LCA preserved, and the intraoperative and postoperative data were complete. The patients were divided into a reconstruction group (72 patients) and a nonreconstruction group (74 patients) according to whether 3D vascular reconstruction was performed before surgery. The clinical features, operation conditions, complications, pathological results and postoperative recovery of the two groups were collected and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients with rectal cancer were included in the study, including 72 patients in the reconstruction group and 74 patients in the nonreconstruction group. There were 47 males and 25 females in the reconstruction group, aged (59.75 ± 6.2) years, with a body mass index (BMI) (24.1 ± 2.2) kg/m2, and 51 males and 23 females in the nonreconstruction group, aged (58.77 ± 6.1) years, with a BMI (23.6 ± 2.7) kg/m2. There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the submesenteric artery reconstruction group, 35 patients were type I, 25 patients were type II, 11 patients were type III, and 1 patient was type IV. There were 37 type I patients, 24 type II patients, 12 type III patients, and 1 type IV patient in the nonreconstruction group. There was no significant difference in arterial typing between the two groups (P > 0.05). The operation time of the reconstruction group was 162.2 ± 10.8 min, and that of the nonreconstruction group was 197.9 ± 19.1 min. Compared with that of the reconstruction group, the operation time of the two groups was shorter, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 13.840, P < 0.05). The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 30.4 ± 20.0 mL in the reconstruction group and 61.2 ± 26.4 mL in the nonreconstruction group. The amount of blood loss in the reconstruction group was less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t = -7.930, P < 0.05). The rates of anastomotic leakage (1.4% vs 1.4%, P = 0.984), anastomotic hemorrhage (2.8% vs 4.1%, P = 0.672), and postoperative hospital stay (6.8 ± 0.7 d vs 7.0 ± 0.7 d, P = 0.141) were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction technology can shorten the operation time and reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss. Preoperative 3D vascular reconstruction is recommended to provide an intraoperative reference for laparoscopic low anterior resection with LCA preservation.

Unveiling the hidden: identification and management of overlooked blood vessels in laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for splenic flexure cancer

BACKGROUND

During laparoscopic left hemicolectomy procedures, a previously overlooked consistently thick blood vessel within the gastrocolic ligament near the splenic hilum may contribute to post-operative bleeding complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the identification and management of the previously overlooked blood vessel.

METHODS

This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients undergoing laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic fexure cancer conducted at a national gastrointestinal surgery centre in China. Consecutive patients with splenic fexure cancer who underwent laparoscopic left colectomy using our"five-step process"(n = 34) between January 2021 and July 2023 were included.

RESULTS

The vessels can be effectively exposed using the aforementioned "five-step process." It was observed that the overlooked vessels consistently present in all patients were identified as the omental branch of the left gastroepiploic artery and vein.

CONCLUSION

We have identified the origin of previously overlooked blood vessels and recommended a safe method for their management. This may offer advantages to colorectal surgeons performing laparoscopic left colectomy for splenic flexure cancer.

A case of MCA arising from ICA: a case report

BACKGROUND

Complete mesocolic excision (CME) and central vascular detachment are very important procedures in surgery for colorectal cancer. Preoperative and intraoperative assessments of the anatomy of major colorectal vessels are necessary to avoid massive bleeding, especially in endoscopic surgery. A case with a rare anomaly in which the middle colic artery (MCA) and ileocolic artery (ICA) had a common trunk is reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 73-year-old woman diagnosed with ascending colon cancer on colonoscopy. Preoperative abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography confirmed that the MCA and ICA had a common trunk. She underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection for the ascending colon cancer with D3 lymph node dissection. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging was conducted. After confirming vessel bifurcation, the ICA was dissected at the distal end of the MCA bifurcation. The patient has been followed as an outpatient, with no signs of recurrence as of 2 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

A case of an ascending colon cancer with a unique vascular bifurcation pattern was presented. Preoperative and intraoperative evaluations of the major colorectal vessels are very important for preventing perioperative and postoperative complications.

Laparoscopic Resection of Transverse Colon Cancer with an Anomaly of the Middle Colic Artery Originating from the Splenic Artery: A Case Report

Introduction

We encountered a colon cancer case with a very rare anomaly of the middle colic artery (MCA) originating from the splenic artery (SA).

Case Presentation

A woman was referred to our hospital for transverse colon cancer. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) angiography showed an anomalous MCA originating from the SA rather than from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) as is typical. Laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with D3 lymph node dissection was performed. The lymph nodes around the SMA were dissected from the caudal view, confirming the absence of a typical MCA. An anomalous SA-originating MCA was identified just below the pancreas, where it was clipped and ligated; subsequently, total mesenteric excision was achieved.

Conclusion

As D3 lymph node dissection for transverse colon cancer is technically difficult, 3D-CT angiography is useful for identifying vascular anomalies preoperatively, thereby avoiding intraoperative injury. This is the first case report of laparoscopic colectomy associated with a SA-originating MCA anomaly.

Cadaveric and CT angiography study of vessels around the transverse colon mesentery

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery for transverse colon cancer are difficult due to complex fusion of the foregut and midgut and variation of the vessels of the transverse colon. Although the vessels of the right colon have been investigated, middle colic artery (MCA) variation and the relationship with vessels around the transvers colon are unknown. We investigated variation of the MCA using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and cadaver specimen and the relationship between the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and MCA using CTA. The classification of vessels around the transverse colon may lead to safer and reliable surgery.

METHODS

This study included 505 consecutive patients who underwent CTA in our institution from 2014 to 2020 and 44 cadaver specimens. Vascular anatomical classifications and relationships were analyzed using CT images.

RESULTS

The MCA was defined as the arteries arising from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) that flowed into the transverse colon at the distal ends. The classifications were as follows: type I, branching right and left from common trunk; type II, the right and left branches bifurcated separately from the SMA; and type III, the MCA branched from a vessel other than the SMA. Type II was subclassified into two subtypes, type IIa with one left branch and type IIb with two or more left branches from SMA. In the CTA and cadaver studies, respectively, the classifications were as follows: type I, n = 290 and n = 31; type IIa, n = 211 and n = 13; type IIb, n = 3 and n = 0; and type III, n = 1 and n = 0. We classified the relationship between the MCA and left side of the SMV into three types: type A, a common trunk runs along the left edge of the SMV (n = 173; 59.7%); type B, a right branch of the MCA runs along the left edge of the SMV (n = 116; 40.0%); and type C, the MCA runs dorsal of the SMV (n = 1; 0.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that The MCA branching classifications and relationship between the SMV and MCA. Preoperative CT angiography may be able to reliably identify vessel variation, which may be useful in clinical practice.