Prospective comparison of laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for colon cancer with laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for benign colorectal disease.

BACKGROUND: Short-term outcome and anorectal function results after laparoscopic hemicolectomy for colon cancer were compared with results after laparoscopic hemicolectomy for benign diseases. METHODS: A total of 108 patients who underwent laparoscopic left colectomy (60 for colon cancer, 48 for diverticulitis or polyposis) were enrolled in the study. Left hemicolectomy in patients affected by cancer was performed by high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. A questionnaire concerning anorectal function was mailed to patients 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Complications were more frequent in the cancer group than in the benign disease group: overall morbidity rate (29.6% versus 8.7%; P = 0.009), diarrhea during the first 6 postoperative months (58.7% versus 34.1%; P = 0.022), and anorectal function problems (fecal incontinence and/or the inability to discriminate between gas and stool, and/or urgency, and/or tenesmus) (65.2% versus 31.7%; P = 0.002). DISCUSSION: The level of ligation of the lower mesenteric artery and damage at the lower mesenteric ganglion could explain the poorer anorectal function outcome in the colon cancer group.

Anorectal function problems after left hemicolectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the subjective anorectal function in patients with left hemicolectomy and to clarify the clinical factors influencing postoperative anorectal function problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty one patients who underwent left hemicolectomy from April 2002 to December 2003 were enrolled in this study and sent questionnaires concerning anorectal function. Left hemicolectomy in patients with cancer was performed by high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery; in patients with diverticulitis or polyposis, the inferior mesenteric artery was cut just below the branch of the left colonic artery. One hundred patients replied to the questionnaire: 52 men and 48 women, aged 37 to 85, with a mean age of 66.6 years. Differences were analyzed for statistical significance by the Chi square test and by logistic regression. RESULTS: Anorectal function problems was present in 33% of patients: female gender (P = 0.02), laparoscopic surgery (P = 0.04), and postoperative diarrhea (P = 0.04) had significant independent effects on anorectal function problems. Transient early fecal incontinence was observed in 16% of patients and laparoscopic surgery had significant independent effects on this problem (P = 0.04). Inability to discriminate between gas and stool, tenesmus, or urgency were present in 21%, 18%, and 17% of cases, respectively, and were independently associated respectively with laparoscopic surgery (P = 0.005) and postoperative diarrhea (P = 0.019) (P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: In our study the following two issues were clarified: anorectal function problems are frequent after left hemicolectomy, and the laparoscopic technique is linked to poor postoperative anorectal function. The technical methods of high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery could explain this result.