Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with complete mesocolic excision plus D3 lymphadenectomy (CME + D3): a new medial approach for central vascular ligation

Due to the high risk of vascular injuries, it remains a technical challenge and time-consuming procedure for surgeons to perform CME and D3 lymph node dissection in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. To overcome this difficulty, we developed a novel method of the vessel’s management for central vascular ligation (CVL). The key feature of this new approach focused on vascular dissection in two aspects. The first one was to expose the superior mesentery vein (SMV) and the branches of the superior mesentery artery (SMA) at their roots from left to right after dividing the peritoneum near the left border of SMV, which has the advantage of exposing SMV and controlling bleeding. The second was to selectively ligate the colic tributaries of gastrocolic trunk of Henle (GTH) after expanding its surrounding spaces. We named this technique the “new approach (NA)”. Thirty-eight patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with the new approach (NA) were retrospectively analyzed and compared with data from 35 patients, who underwent the conventional medial approach (TA) performed by the same surgical team from April 2017 to March 2021. There was no significant difference between the two groups in baseline data (all p > 0.05). All 38 operations were completed with this procedure successfully. The NA approach was associated with a shorter operation time (190.5 min vs.215.5 min; P < 0.05) and a smaller blood loss (50 ml vs. 95 ml; P < 0.05) compared with the conventional approach. Two cases of vascular injuries occurred in the TA group and had been managed laparoscopically. The lymph nodes count (15 vs. 16; P > 0.05) was not significantly different; additionally, no difference was observed regarding anastomotic leakage (both n = 0) and postoperative complications (3/31 vs. 3/30; P > 0.05). No mortality was observed. NA is feasible and can be an optional method of vessel's management in laparoscopic CME and D3 lymphadenectomy for right-sided colon cancer.