Assessing anatomical variations of the inferior mesenteric artery via three-dimensional CT angiography and laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a retrospective observational study

To assess the anatomy of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and its branches by reviewing laparoscopic left-sided colorectal cancer surgery videos and comparing them with preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) angiography, to verify the accuracy of 3D-CT vascular reconstruction techniques. High-definition surgical videos and preoperative imaging data of 200 patients who underwent laparoscopic left-sided colorectal cancer surgery were analysed, and the alignment of the IMA and its branches in relation to the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) was observed and summarized. The above two methods were used to measure the length of the IMA and its branches. Of 200 patients, 47.0% had the sigmoid arteries (SAs) arise from the common trunk with the superior rectal artery (SRA), and 30.5% had the SAs arise from the common trunk with the left colic artery (LCA). In 3.5% of patients, the SAs arising from both the LCA and SRA. The LCA, SA, and SRA emanated from the same point in 13.5% of patients, and the LCA was absent in 5.5% of patients. The range of D cm (IMA length measured by intraoperative silk thread) and d cm (IMA length measured by 3D-CT vascular reconstruction) in all cases was 1.84-6.62 cm and 1.85-6.52 cm, respectively, and there was a significant difference between them. (p < 0.001). The lengths between the intersection of the LCA and IMV measured intraoperatively were 0.64-4.29 cm, 0.87-4.35 cm, 1.32-4.28 cm and 1.65-3.69 cm in types 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.994). There was only a significant difference in the length of the IMA between the 3D-CT vascular reconstruction and intraoperative observation data, which can provide guidance to surgeons in preoperative preparation.