title: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision in a rectal cancer patient with situs inversus totalis.
abstract: Situs inversus totalis is a rare anomaly in which the abdominal and thoracic cavity structures are opposite their usual positions. A 41-yr-old woman, who had an ulcerating cancer on the rectum, was found as a case of situs inversus totalis. We present an overview of the operative technique for the first documented laparoscopic total mesorectal excision of a rectal cancer in the patient with situs inversus totalis. Careful consideration of the mirror-image anatomy permitted a safe operation using techniques not otherwise different from those used for the general population. Therefore, curative laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in this patient is feasible and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Hyeong Rok
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Choong Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hoon Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Kyoon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008646:Mesocolon / Q000601:surgery*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*