Extended Left Colectomy with Coloanal Anastomosis by Indocyanine Green-guided Deloyers Procedure: A Case Report

Firearm injury and the Deloyers procedure: case report and literature review

Following extended colon resections, it may not always be possible to perform colorectal anastomosis. The Deloyers procedure, which involves the transposition of the right colon, has been identified as a viable solution. This report aims to discuss the circumstances under which the Deloyers procedure was performed, as well as to evaluate the early and late postoperative outcomes, by reviewing cases conducted between 2010 and 2023. In a 22-year-old female patient who suffered major organ and tissue loss (with injuries to the sigmoid colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and mesentery) due to a firearm injury, the Deloyers procedure was applied during restorative surgery following initial damage control surgery. The procedure involved mobilizing the cecum and right colon, performing a cranio-caudal rotation over the ileocolic artery pedicle, followed by an appendectomy, and creating a colorectal anastomosis using circular staplers. There were no complications during the postoperative follow-ups. By the 14th postoperative day, the patient was discharged and experienced bowel movements four times a day, managed with 2.5 mg of diphenoxylate hydrochloride and 0.025 mg of atropine sulfate. At the 6-month follow-up, the frequency of bowel movements had decreased to twice daily without the need for medical treatment. Given the functional outcomes in patients after extended left colectomies, the Deloyers procedure, with its low associated morbidity, stands out as a viable option.

Gaining Mesenteric Length following Colorectal Resection: Essential Maneuvers to Avoid Anastomotic Tension

A surgeon must possess the knowledge and technical skill to obtain length following a left-sided colorectal resection to perform a tension free anastomosis. The distal target organ - either rectum or anus - is fixed in location, and therefore requires surgeons to acquire mastery of proximal mobilization of the colonic conduit. Generally, splenic flexure mobilization (SFM) provides adequate length. Surgeons benefit from clearer understanding of the multiple steps involved in SFM as a result of improved visualization and demonstration of the relevant anatomy - adjacent organs and the attachments, embryologic planes, and mesenteric structures. Much may be attributed to laparoscopic and robotic platforms which provided improved exposure and as a result, development or refinement of novel approaches for SFM with potential advantages. Complete mobilization draws upon the sum or combination of the varied approaches to accomplish the goal. However, in the situation where extended resection is necessary or in the case of re-operative surgery sacrificing either more proximal or distal large intestine often occurs, the transverse colon or even the ascending colon represents the proximal conduit for anastomosis. This challenging situation requires familiarity with special maneuvers to achieve colorectal or coloanal anastomosis using these more proximal conduits. In such instances, operative techniques such as either ileal mesenteric window with retroileal anastomosis or de-rotation of the right colon (Deloyer's procedure) enable the intestinal surgeon to construct such anastomoses and thereby avoid stoma creation or loss of additional large intestine.

Laparoscopic Anterior Resection with Anastomosis of Mid-Transverse to Distal Rectum with Deloyers Procedure Under Indocyanine Green fluorescence Guidance: A Video Case Report

BACKGROUND

Reconstruction with transverse colon-rectal anastomosis after an extended left hemicolectomy can be challenging. The Deloyers procedure, first described in 1964,¹ comprises complete mobilization and rotation of the right colon, while maintaining the ileocolic artery, to achieve a well vascularized, tension-free colorectal anastomosis. We present a video of a laparoscopic Deloyers procedure with Indocyanin green (ICG) fluorescence as a useful adjunct.

METHODS

A middle-aged female underwent a laparoscopic anterior resection with anastomosis of mid-transverse to distal rectum with Deloyers procedure for synchronous splenic flexure adenocarcinoma and mid-rectal malignant polyp. Proximal transection was performed at mid-transverse colon while distal transection was performed at lower rectum. Tension-free mid-transverse colon-low rectal anastomosis was performed with Deloyers procedure. ICG fluorescence was performed for the colonic conduit, proximal, and distal transection margins to confirm perfusion just prior to anastomosis. Defunctioning loop ileostomy was then created 40 cm from the ileocecal valve.

RESULTS

Patient recovered uneventfully with functioning stoma on postoperative Day 1. Intraoperative use of ICG fluorescence has been proven to be an accurate tool assess anastomotic perfusion and has been associated with a lower anastomotic leak rate after colorectal resection.² To our knowledge, this is the first report in which laparoscopic Deloyers procedure was performed under ICG guidance. Open Deloyers procedure with ICG was first reported by Okamoto et al.³ in April 2021 and remains the only other case report of Deloyers with ICG to date.

CONCLUSIONS

The Deloyers procedure can be safely performed laparoscopically and ICG fluorescence is a recommended adjunct to assess such unorthodox colorectal anastomosis.