Objective: To analyze the vascular anatomy and complications of the right colon under laparoscope.
Methods: Videotapes of 55 laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy were reviewed and the anatomic relationship and bleeding vessels were determined.
Results: The superior mesenteric vein, superior mesenteric artery, ileocolic artery, and middle colic artery were present in all the patients. The right colic artery was present in 45.5%(25/55) of the patients. The incidence of the gastrocolic venous trunk was 74.5%. The overall incidence of intraoperative bleeding was 43.6%. Vessels in the pre-pancreatic region including the right gastroepiploic artery, the gastrocolic venous trunk, and its tributaries had a higher risk of bleeding than the middle colic vein and artery (16.4% vs. 14.5%). Intraoperative bleeding significantly prolonged the overall operative time and lymphadenectomy time.
Conclusions: The vascular anatomy of the right colon is intricate and variable and laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy is associated with a high risk of hemorrhage. Understanding the vessels anatomic relationship of the right colon is valuable to decrease vascular complication.