No benefit of extended mesenteric resection with central vascular ligation in right-sided colon cancer

The optimal extent of mesenteric resection in colon cancer surgery is not known. We have previously shown an increased mortality associated with wider mesenteric resection in right hemicolectomy. This study compares the short- and long-term outcome in three variations of right hemicolectomy based on the position of the vascular ligature in the mesentery.

In all, 2084 cases of cancer in the caecum or ascending colon were identified in the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry and categorized according to the position of the vascular ligature: central ligation of ileocolic vessels (ICVs) ± right colic vessels (n = 390), central ligation of ICVs + right branch of middle colic vessels (MCVs) (n = 1360) and central ligation of ICVs + central ligation of MCVs (n = 334).

Neither 3-year overall survival, 3-year disease-free survival nor local recurrence rate differed between the groups (P = 0.604; P = 0.247; P = 0.237). There was still no difference after multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, TNM stage and adjuvant therapy. An increased peri-operative mortality, however, was observed in extended mesenteric resections, increasing from 0.8% in non-extended to 3.6% in more extended resection, P = 0.025.

The study showed no survival benefit by more extended mesenteric resection, indicating that there is no need to extend the mesenteric resection to involve the MCVs in cancer of the caecum or ascending colon. On the contrary, increased peri-operative mortality by more extensive mesenteric resection was noted suggesting that a more conservative approach may be favourable.