Long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer with preservation of the left colic artery

Abstract

Aim To analyze the effect of preserving the left colic artery (LCA) on long-term oncologic outcomes during laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer. Methods Clinicopathological and follow-up patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer in general surgery department of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 2014 to December 2015 were retrospectively collected. According to the difference surgical methods of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), 159 cases were divided into the LCA preservation group and 225 cases in the LCA non-preservation group. The 5-year rates of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between two group. Results 384 patients were included in final analysis. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 7 patients (4.4%) in the LCA preservation group and in 16 patients (7.1%) in the LCA non-preservation group. The follow-up rate was 91.2% (145/159) during 5–60 months in LCA preservation group, and 89.8% (202/225) during 5–60 months in the LCA non-preservation group. The number of patients who developed death, local recurrence and metastasis were 59 (37.1%), 13 (8.2%) and 60 (37.7%) in the LCA preservation group, and 86 (38.2%), 20 (8.9%) and 92 (40.9%) in the LCA non-preservation group, without significant differences (all P ༞ 0.05). The 5-year OS and DFS rates were 69.0% and 59.3% in the LCA preservation group, and 68.8% and 55.9% in the LCA non-preservation group, without significant differences (all P ༞ 0.05). After stratification by TNM Stage, the difference on 5-year OS rates and DFS rates of I stage, II stage and III stage in two groups were no significant as well (all P ༞ 0.05). Conclusions The long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer with preservation of the LCA are comparable with ligation at origin of IMA.