To analyse the clinical value of saving the left colic artery in laparoscopic assisted anterior resection of rectal cancer when processing inferior mesenteric artery.

The clinical data of 71 patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted anterior resection of rectal cancer from Jan. 2014 to Jun. 2015 were retrospectively analysed, these patients were divided into two groups based on saving LCA or not. The amount of bleeding volume, operation time, the number of mesenteric lymph nodes dissected in the operation , the occurrence of anastomotic leakage, recurrence and metastasis after 1 year, were compared.

No significant difference was found between two groups in the bleeding volume[(81.7 ± 19.5)ml vs (72.9 ± 21.9)ml, t=1.769, P= 0.081], and the number of mesenteric lymph nodes dissected in the operation [(12.0 ± 2.8) vs ( 12.5±2.6), t=-0.803, P= 0.425](P < 0.05). The operation time in saving LCA group was longer than the other group[(135.6 ± 27.2)min vs (124.9 ± 38.3)min]. None of anastomotic leakage occurred in the saving LCA group, while four cases of anastomotic leakage occurred in no saving LCA group. In the one year follow-up of the two groups , 2 cases were found with liver metastasis in the saving LCA group , while 3 cases were found with liver metastasis in no saving LCA (P=0.620).

Saving LCA in laparoscopic assisted anterior resection of rectal cancer when processing inferior mesenteric artery can effectively guarantee the proximal bowel blood supply, reduce the occurrence of anastomotic leakage, while insure the number of mesenteric lymph nodes dissected in the operation, and the prognosis of patients.