Preoperative evaluation of venous anatomy in laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision for right colon cancer

This study evaluated the venous variations of the right colon using preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), and to investigate its usefulness in laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right colon cancer.

3D-CT was performed prior to surgery in 81 consecutive patients with right colon cancer.

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed without conversion to open surgery in all cases (100 %). All 81 patients had a single ileocolic vein (ICV). The ICV flowed into the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) in 98 % of patients and the gastrocolic trunk (GCT) in 2 % of patients. The right colic vein (RCV) was absent in 6 % of patients. One RCV was present in 88 % of patients and two were present in 6 % of patients. The main RCV flowed into the GCT in 84 % of patients and the SMV in 10 % of patients. The superior RCV was present in 21 % of patients, and all cases flowed into the GCT. One middle colic vein (MCV) was present in 49 % of patients, two in 46 %, and three in 5 % of patients. The main MCV flowed into the SMV in 68 % of patients, GCT in 20 %, jejunal vein in 6 %, inferior mesenteric vein in 5 %, and the splenic vein in 1 % of patients. The GCT was present in 88 % of patients.

Although the venous tributaries of the right colon are variable, preoperative 3D-CT is informative and helpful for surgeons performing laparoscopic CME for right colon cancer.