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
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
Early detection of anastomotic leakage in colon cancer surgery: the role of early warning score and C-reactive protein Gyung Mo Son Annals of Coloproctology.2024; 40(5): 415. CrossRef
PURPOSE A restorative proctocolectomy has been accepted as the operation of choice for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. The purpose of this study was to assess the postoperative complications and functional outcomes following a total proctocolectomy with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. METHODS The medical records of 12 patients who had undergone a total proctocolectomy, with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, between January 1997 and June 2002, were retrospectively reviewed according to sex, age, underlying disease and postoperative complications. We evaluated the functional outcomes using medical record reviews and patients and telephone interviews. RESULTS Total proctocolectomy, with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, were done for ulcerative colitis (n=2) and familial adenomatous polyposis (n=10). A diverting ileostomy was performed in 8 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients (58%), intestinal obstructions in 4 and complications related with anastomosis in 3, i.e. J ileal pouch leakage (n=2) and ileal pouch-vaginal fistula (n=1). Re-operations, due to postoperative complications, were performed in 4 patients, i.e. small bowel segmental resection (n=1), adhesiolysis (n=1), diverting ileostomy (n=1) and ileal pouch resection & reconstruction (n=1). The daily median defecation frequencies were 7.7 (range 4~20) a month after the operation, 5.4 (3~12) at 2~3 months, 4.5 (3~7) at 6 months and 4.1 (3~5) at 12 months, following the operation. Two patients had gas incontinence, 1 had fluid incontinence, 4 had night soiling and 3 needed pads, but these incontinences, the need for anti-diarrhea medication and the use of pads, all improved within 6 months of the operation. Fluid incontinence and the use of pads improved within 3 months of the operation, gas incontinence and night soiling improved within 6 months of the operation. The mean length of follow-up was 30.6 months. CONCLUSIONS The postoperative complication rate was 58%.
Thirty-three percent of patients had fecal incontinence, but all these improved within 6 months. The long- term functional outcomes, after a total proctocolectomy with J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, were satisfactory, and the postoperative complications acceptable. The postoperative complication rates were no different between the protective diverting ileostomy and non-ileostomy .