Background: In the conventional radical treatment of sigmoid colonic cancer, the ligation of root of inferior mesenteric artery is performed to verify harvesting of D2 and D3 lymph nodes (I.e. intermediate and central lymph node groups) and improve the surgical prognosis. IMA ligation may compromise the blood supply at site of anastomosis and risk injury of autonomic nerve plexus, so preservation of superior rectal artery (SRA) may lead to increase blood flow and decrease postoperative bowel complications.
Aim of the study: evaluation of SRA preservation in open sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer as regard impact on both radicality and vascularization in the remaining rectum.
Patients and Methods: In this prospective study we do open radical sigmoidectomy on (30 patients) with preservation of SRA for sigmoid colonic cancer to preserve blood supply to the anastomotic site. In the operation, we dissect the trunk of IMA and lymphatic tissue around is dissected out with the tumor.
Results: Lymph nodes harvested 15.2, hospital stay average 8 days (7 d-15 d). There was one case of Post operative leak treated conservatively. There were 5 cases complicated of wound infection treated by antibiotics and daily dressings. Recurrence rate (0%), mean follow up time 18 months.
Conclusion: SRA can be preserved. Although the operation time is slightly increased, but dissected out lymph nodes are comparable with IMA high ligation surgery. Preservation of the SRA seems to be associated with lowering incidence of anastomotic leakage in sigmoid colonic cancer surgery