Laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) with medial access for right-hemi colon cancer: feasibility and technical strategies.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the feasibility and technical strategies of laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right-hemi colon cancer.


METHODS
The clinical and pathological findings of 64 patients with right-hemi colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic CME between March 2010 and September 2011 were collected retrospectively. Among them, 35 cases were eligible for the final analysis through various screening factors. The quality of surgery also was assessed by reviewing the recorded video obtained through the operations in terms of specimen anatomic planes and completeness of the excised mesocolon.


RESULTS
Laparoscopic CME is focused on applying the concept of enveloped visceral and parietal planes during the operations. Laparoscopic approach proceeds with medial access where the dissection starts at ileocolic vessel before proceeds along with the superior mesenteric vessel. The access also emphasized en bloc resection of mesocolon without defections to the planes. Besides, lymph node resections at the root of ileocolic; right colic and middle colic vessels are necessary for ileocecum cancer. Cancers at the hepatic flexure requires further dissection of subpyloric lymph nodes and of greater omentum that is within 15 cm of the tumor and along the greater curvature. Thirty-five cases were evaluated as good plane. The median total number of central lymph nodes retrieved was 19 (range, 15-25) and central lymph node metastasis was found in 5 of all stage III cases. The median operation time was 2.6 h and the blood loss was 80 mL. The median time for passage of flatus and hospitalization were 2 and 12 days respectively. Complications were observed in three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
CME is a novel concept for colon cancer surgery and might be a standard for the procedure. Laparoscopic CME with medial access is technically feasible and randomized trials are needed to evaluate its long-term outcomes.
Department of Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No. 197, Ruijin er Road, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China. fengbo2022@163.com
Bo
B
Feng
Jing
J
Sun
Tian-Long
TL
Ling
Ai-Guo
AG
Lu
Ming-Liang
ML
Wang
Xue-Yu
XY
Chen
Jun-Jun
JJ
Ma
Jian-Wen
JW
Li
Lu
L
Zang
Ding-Pei
DP
Han
Min-Hua
MH
Zheng
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies