Annals of Coloproctology

Original Article

Colorectal cancer

Long-term clinical outcomes after high and low ligations with lymph node dissection around the root of the inferior mesenteric artery in patients with rectal cancer: Min Wan Lee, Sung Sil Park, Kiho You, Dong Eun Lee, Dong Woon Lee, Sung Chan Park, Kyung Su Han, Dae Kyung Sohn, Chang Won Hong, Bun Kim, Byung Chang Kim, Hee Jin Chang, Dae Yong Kim, Jae Hwan Oh; Ann Coloproctol. 2024;40(1):62-73. Published online February 26, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2023.00094.0013

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Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes based on the ligation level of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in patients with rectal cancer.
Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database that included all patients who underwent elective low anterior resection for rectal cancer between January 2013 and December 2019. The clinical outcomes included oncological outcomes, postoperative complications, and functional outcomes. The oncological outcomes included overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The functional outcomes, including defecatory and urogenital functions, were analyzed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index, International Prostate Symptom Score, and International Index of Erectile Function questionnaires.
Results
In total, 545 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 244 patients underwent high ligation (HL), whereas 301 underwent low ligation (LL). The tumor size was larger in the HL group than in the LL group. The number of harvested lymph nodes (LNs) was higher in the HL group than in the LL group. There were no significant differences in complication rates and recurrence patterns between the groups. There were no significant differences in 5-year RFS and OS between the groups. Cox regression analysis revealed that the ligation level (HL vs. LL) was not a significant risk factor for oncological outcomes. Regarding functional outcomes, the LL group showed a significant recovery in defecatory function 1 year postoperatively compared with the HL group.
Conclusion
LL with LNs dissection around the root of the IMA might not affect the oncologic outcomes comparing to HL; however, it has minimal benefit for defecatory function.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Meeting report on the 8th Asian Science Editors’ Conference and Workshop 2024
Eun Jung Park
Science Editing.2025; 12(1): 66. CrossRef
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Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(5): 415. CrossRef

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