Feasibility and accuracy in performing complete mesocolic excision during laparoscopic left colectomy.

UNLABELLED: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer is nowadays performed in several referral centers and has been gaining increasing interest for treatment of colo-rectal cancer. After the introduction of complete mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, complete mesocolic excision has been advocated as an essential surgical step to improve oncologic results for patients with colon cancer. Complete mesocolic excision is a crucial step of hemicolectomy, and consists in the total removal of the mesocolon and its lymph nodes with high ligation of main mesenteric arteries and veins. In laparoscopic surgery, magnification of the images and gas dissection might probably improve the precision and safety of this surgical step. In this paper, the Authors reviewed the Literature and discussed on the feasibility and accuracy of complete mesocolic excision performed during laparoscopic left colectomy for cancer in a preliminary series.

KEY WORDS: Colic lymph nodes, Laparoscopic left hemicolectomy, Mesocolon excision.