Selection of medial boundary for complete mesocolic excision in radical operation for right colon cancer

  Objective  To explore the selection of medial boundary for complete mesocolic excision(CME) in radical operation for right colon cancer.

  Methods  Ninety-six patients with right colon cancer were randomly divided into control group and study group, with 48 cases in each group. The left superior mesenteric vein (SMV) was selected as the medial boundary of CME in the control group, and the left superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was selected as the medial boundary of CME in the study group. The clinical efficacy and the incidence of complications were compared in the two groups.

  Results  The operative time, intestinal exhaust time, drainage time and postoperative hospitalization time in the study group were significantly longer than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The number of lymph node removed in the study group was significantly more than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of intestinal obstruction, chylous leakage and total complications in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The left side of SMV is usually used as boundary for lymph node dissection unless suspicious lymph nodes on or near SMA are found in the preoperative or intraoperative evaluation.