Left colic artery diameter is an important factor affecting anastomotic blood supply in sigmoid colon cancer or rectal cancer surgery: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic blood supply is vital to anastomotic healing. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of the left colic artery (LCA) on blood supply in the anastomotic area, explore the relationship between individual differences in the LCA and blood supply in the anastomotic area, and elucidate the relevant indications for LCA retention during radical resection for sigmoid or rectal cancer. METHOD: Radical sigmoid or rectal cancer resection with LCA retention was performed in 40 patients with colorectal cancer who participated in this study. Systemic pressure, LCA diameter, and the distance from the root of the LCA to the root of the inferior mesenteric artery were measured and recorded. The marginal artery stump pressure in the anastomotic colon before and after the LCA clamping was measured, respectively. RESULTS: There is a significant difference between the marginal artery stump pressure before LCA ligation and after ligation (53.1 ± 12.38 vs 42.76 ± 12.71, p < 0.001). The anastomotic blood supply positively and linearly correlated with body mass index and systemic pressure. Receiver-operating curve analysis revealed that LCA diameter (area under the curve 0.971, cutoff 1.95 mm) was an effective predictor of LCA improving anastomosis blood supply. No relationship was found between the LCA root location and anastomotic blood supply. CONCLUSION: Preserving the LCA is effective in improving blood supply in the anastomotic area, and larger LCA diameters result in a better blood supply to the anastomotic area.

Predictive Value of Anastomotic Blood Supply for Anastomotic Stricture After Esophagectomy in Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient blood supply in the gastric tube is considered as a risk factor for postoperative anastomotic strictures in patients receiving esophagectomy, but the direct evidence is lacking. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the correlation between perioperative blood supply in the anastomotic area of the gastric tube and the formation of anastomotic strictures in the patients undergoing esophagectomy. METHODS: This prospective study included 60 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing Ivor Lewis esophagectomy between March 2014 and February 2016, which were divided into stricture group (n = 13) and non-stricture group (n = 47) based on their severity of anastomotic strictures at 3 months post-operation. The perioperative anastomotic blood supply was measured using a laser Doppler flowmetry. The gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) was measured by a gastric tonometer within 72 h post-operation. The perfusion index and gastric pHi were compared between groups. RESULTS: The stricture group had a significantly lower blood flow index (P < 0.001) and gastric pHi values from day 1 to day 3 post-operation than the non-stricture group (all P < 0.001). In addition, Pearson correlation analysis showed that both the perfusion index and gastric pHi were significantly correlated with stricture size and stricture scores, respectively (r = 0.65 - 0.32, all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that perfusion index was an influential factor associated with postoperative anastomotic strictures (OR 0.84. 95% CI 0.72-0.98, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that poor blood supply in the anastomotic area of the gastric tube in the perioperative period was a risk factor for postoperative anastomotic strictures.

Intraoperative assessment of anastomotic blood supply using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging following esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative assessment of anastomotic blood supply in patients undergoing esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging (IGFI). Materials and methods: From January 2019 to October 2021, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer. The patients were consecutively enrolled and categorized into two study groups: the Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging (IGFI) group consisting of 86 patients, and the control group comprising 92 patients. In the IGFI group, intravenous administration of Indocyanine Green (ICG) was performed, and we utilized a fluorescence camera system to assess anastomotic blood supply both before and after the anastomosis. Results: The demographic characteristics of patients in both groups were found to be comparable. In the IGFI group, the mean time to observe perfusion fluorescence was 26.3 ± 12.0 seconds post-ICG injection, and six patients needed to select a more proximal resection point due to insufficient fluorescence at their initial site of choice. Notably, the IGFI group exhibited a lower incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage, with no significant disparities observed in terms of pathological outcomes, postoperative recovery, or other postoperative complication rates when compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study underscores the potential of IGFI as a dependable and pragmatic tool for the assessment of anastomotic blood supply following esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy for gastric cancer. The use of IGFI may potentially reduce the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leakage.

[Chinese expert consensus on radical resection of rectal cancer with preservation of left colonic artery (2021 edition)].

The preservation of left colonic artery (LCA) has been accepted by more and more surgeons in the radical resection of rectal cancer, but whether it can reduce anastomotic complications and affect the oncology efficacy remains controversial. This consensus elaborates the significance, anatomical structure, key points of operation techniques, indications and contraindications, and surgical approaches of LCA preservation. Each statement and recommendation was recognized by most experts in the field of colorectal surgery. The purpose of this consensus is to improve the cognitive level of Chinese colorectal surgeons on LCA preservation, so as to standardize the surgical strategies and methods of LCA preservation and furthermore practice, and promote it. The pending issues in this consensus need further high-quality clinical studies.