Vascular anatomical variation in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy

Laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision is gradually becoming the standard surgical approach in colon cancer therapy, the core element of which is central vascular ligation. However, this increases the difficulty for surgeons, particularly in the context of right colectomy, which encounters complex vascular anatomy. This study aimed to examine vascular variations that occur during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy through a review of the medical literature. We demonstrated that the ICA and MCA are evident in the majority of patients. The RCA was inconsistently present ranging from 12% to 45%. The ICA passed the SMV anteriorly or posteriorly at average rates. However, the RCA passed anterior to the SMV in most patients. Regarding intravenous, the ICV was consistently present, whereas the RCV was absent in up to 80% of patients. The GTH was present in nearly 80% of patients. We classified the vascular variations by the location of the branches instead of using numerical classification. The GCT and GPCT were common types whilst the GPT was relatively rare. In summary, detailed information on the vascular anatomical variations occurring on the right-side of the colon is vital. Failure to identify variations during surgical procedures can result in unwanted bleeding. Thus, we advocate for the use of the ICV as an anatomic marker during surgery.