Oncologic and Anastomotic Safety of Low Ligation of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery With Additional Lymph Node Retrieval: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE: We assessed the oncologic and anastomotic benefits of low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with additional lymph node (LN) retrieval. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study between January 2011 and July 2015. All patients underwent curative resection of a primary sigmoid or rectal tumor. We excluded patients with distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. The case group included patients who underwent high ligation of the IMA (high group, HG). The control group included patients who underwent low ligation of the IMA with low group with additional LN retrieval (LGAL). Controls were identified by matching patients based on age (±5 years), sex, tumor location, and final histopathological stage. Finally, each group included 97 patients. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics did not significantly differ between groups. The mean number of additional harvested LN was 2.19 (range, 0–11), and one patient in the LGAL had a metastatic LN among the additional harvested LN. The overall morbidity was 22.7% in the HG and 30% in the LGAL (P = 0.257). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 14 patients (14.4%) in the HG and 5 patients (5.2%) in the LGAL (P = 0.030). The mean disease-free survival time in the HG was longer than that in the LGAL (P = 0.008). The mean overall survival (OS) time was 70.4 ± 1.3 months. The mean OS was 63.7 ± 1.6 months in the HG and 69.1 ± 2.6 months in the LGAL (P = 0.386). CONCLUSION: Low ligation of the IMA with additional LN retrieval is technically safe. However, the oncologic effect was better after high ligation of IMA.

Operative safety and oncologic outcomes in rectal cancer based on the level of inferior mesenteric artery ligation: a stratified analysis of a large Korean cohort

PURPOSE: To compare high and low inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation in a large number of patients, and investigate the short-term and long-term outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study compared outcomes between high IMA ligation and low IMA ligation with dissection of lymph nodes (LNs) around the IMA origin. A total of 1,213 patients underwent elective low anterior resection with double-stapling anastomosis for stage I–III rectal cancer located ≥6 cm from the anal verge (835 patients underwent IMA ligation at the IMA origin; 378 patients underwent IMA ligation directly distal to the root of the left colic artery along with dissection of LNs around the IMA origin). RESULTS: There was no difference in anastomotic leakage rate between groups. The 2 groups did not significantly differ in intraoperative blood loss, perioperative complications, total number of harvested LNs, and metastatic IMA LNs. However, more metastatic LNs were harvested in the high-tie than in the low-tie group (1.3 ± 2.9 vs. 0.8 ± 1.9, P = 0.002), and the incidence of positive pathologic nodal status was higher in the high-tie group (37.9% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.001). The 5-year local recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival rates were similar between groups, as were the 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates. CONCLUSION: Low IMA ligation with dissection of LNs around the IMA origin showed no differences in anastomotic leakage rate compared with high IMA ligation, without affecting oncologic outcomes. High IMA ligation did not seem to increase the number of total harvested LNs, whereas the ratio of metastatic apical LNs were similar between groups.

Effects and risk factors of low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery on the third station lymph node dissection and metastasis in laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To explore the effects of low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) on the third station lymph node dissection in laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer (RC),and analyze the risk factors affecting the third station lymph node metastasis.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinical data of 380 RC patients who were admitted to Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from June 2014 to June 2016 were collected.Of 380 patients,177 with preservation of left colic artery (LCA) and 203 without preservation of LCA were respectively allocated into the low ligation group and high ligation group.All the patients received laparoscopic radical resection of RC based on the principle of total mesorectal excision (TME).Observation indicators:(1) intra-and post-operative recovery situations;(2) results of postoperative pathological examination;(3) follow-up and survival;(4) risk factors analysis affecting the third station lymph node metastasis.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative disease-free survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to May 31,2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as x ± s,and comparisons between groups were evaluated with the t test.Comparisons of count data and ordinal data were respectively analyzed using the chisquare test and U test.The survival curve and survival rate were respectively drawn and analyzed using the KaplanMeier method,and the survival analysis was done by the Log-rank test.Results (1) Intra-and post-operative recovery situations:all the patients underwent successful surgery.The operation time,time to initial exsufflation and cases with anastomotic leakage were respectively (147.2±3.0) minutes,(72.8± 1.4)hours,20 in the low ligation group and (137.2±2.8) minutes,(76.6± 1.1) hours,38 in the high ligation group,with statistically significant differences between groups (t =2.463,2.073,x2 =4.025,P＜0.05).Volume of intraoperative blood loss,cases with temporary stoma,vascular injury (injury of inferior mesenteric vessels and presacral vein injury),urinary retention and duration of postoperative hospital stay were respectively (119±6)mL,25,29,24,(10.7± 0.5)days in the low ligation group and (108±5)mL,32,27,30,(9.6±0.4)days in the high ligation group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (t=1.524,x2 =0.235,0.716,1.115,t=1.780,P＞ 0.05).Of 58 patients with anastomotic leakage,31 received previously terminal loop ileostomy,13 received conservative treatment and 14 received postoperatively terminal loop ileostomy.Fifty-four patients with urinary retention received urethral catheterization.All the patients with complications were improved by treatment and then were discharged.(2) Results of postoperative pathological examination:number of lymph node dissected in the low ligation group and high ligation group was respectively 12.8±0.4 and 12.0±0.3;cases with depths of tumor invading to intestinal wall in stage pT1-T2 and pT3-T4,with tubular adenocarcinoma and non-tubular adenocarcinoma,with high-differentiated,moderate-differentiated and low-differentiated tumors,with lymph node metastasis in stage N0,N 1 and N2,with and without the third station lymph node metastasis,with TNM staging in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ were respectively 53,124,150,27,81,63,33,73,66,38,16,161,17,54,93,13 in the low ligation group and 59,144,176,27,99,59,45,79,78,46,24,179,32,47,105,19 in the high ligation group,with no statistically significant difference in above indicators between groups (t =1.556,x2 =0.035,0.296,U=2.002,0.220,x2 =0.778,U=5.557,P＞0.05).(3) Follow-up and survival:338 of 380 patients were followed up for 6-36 months,with an average time of 28 months,including 164 in the low ligation group and 174 in the high ligation group.The 1-and 3-year disease-free survival rates and cases with postoperative tumor recurrence or metastasis were respectively 93.9％,76.4％,39 in the low ligation group and 94.8％,79.3％,36 in the high ligation group,with no statistically significant difference between groups (x2=0.861,P＞0.05).(4) Risk factors analysis affecting the third station lymph node metastasis:results of univariate analysis showed that tumor location and diameter,depth of tumor invading to intestinal wall and tumor histopathological type were related factors affecting the third station lymph node metastasis of RC patients (x2 =9.957,9.921,6.196,6.576,P＜0.05).Results of multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter ＞ 5 cm and non-tubular adenocarcinoma were independent risk factors affecting the third station lymph node metastasis of RC patients (Odds ratio=2.561,2.296,95％ confidence interval:1.280-5.123,1.037-5.083,P＜0.05).Conclusions The low ligation of the IMA is safe and feasible in laparoscopic radical resection of RC,meanwhile,it has the same radical effect in lymph node dissection and doesn't affect the third station lymph node metastasis and shortterm disease-free survival compared with high ligation of the IMA.Tumor diameter ＞ 5 cm and non-tubular adenocarcinoma are independent risk factors affecting the third station lymph node metastasis of RC.

Comparative study on effects of different treatments on inferior mesenteric artery in resection of rectal cancer / 国际外科学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of low ligation and high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and lymph nodes dissection on radical resection for rectal cancer.Methods One hundred and fifty-six patients who were diagnosed rectal cancer in our hospital between May 2007 and May 2008 were divided into low ligation group (80 cases)and high ligation group (76 cases).The low ligation group was treated with low ligation of IMA and lymph nodes dissection,the high ligation group was cured by high ligation of IMA and lymph nodes dissection.cases.The IMA lymph nodes metastasis,number of lymph nodes,cancer recurernce rate,5-year survival rate,complication rate were compared and analyzed.Results The rate of lymph nodes metastasis around the origin of inferior mesenteric artery was 15.0％ in the low ligation group,the rate of lymph nodes metastasis around the origin of inferior mesenteric artery was 14.5％ in the high ligation group,and the difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Compared two groups of postoperative recurrence rate,5-year survival rate,anastomotic leakage rate,sexual dysfunction rate and urinary retention rate,there was no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05).The intestinal function recovery time and low anterior resection syndrome incidence of the low ligation group were lower than the high ligation group,there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Low ligation of inferior mesenteric artery and lymph nodes dissection can achieve radical resection for rectal cancer.Compared with traditional high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery,there were no differences for patients on recurrence rate,5-year survival rate and complication rate.