Preserving the left colonic artery in radical sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery is feasible: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the safety and feasibility of preserving left colonic artery (LCA) in radical sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery.

METHODS

Relevant articles were systematically searched on the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the surgical outcomes and oncological outcomes by RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies with a total of 5054 patients, including 2432 patients with LCA preservation and 2622 patients without LCA preservation, were included and analyzed in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that preserving LCA in radical surgery of sigmoid and rectal cancer has lower anastomotic leakage incidence (OR = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 0.83-1.27, P < .0001). There were no significant differences in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes, postoperative complications as well as the oncological outcomes including systemic recurrence, local recurrence, 5-year overall survival rate, and 5-year disease-free survival rate.

CONCLUSION SUBSECTIONS: This pooled analysis showed that preserving the LCA is safe and feasible in radical sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery.