Laparoscopic D3 lymph node dissection with left colic artery and first sigmoid artery preservation in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy – a video vignette

Abstract

Anastomotic leakage is still a fatal complication, and anastomotic tension and perfusion are its two most crucial risk factors. The former can be easily identified during operation and solved by mobilizing the splenic flexure. The latter is one of the few aspects that surgeons can optimize for rectal cancer patients [1,2]. Although the metastatic rate is low, the prognosis of rectal cancer patients with apical lymph node metastasis is poor [3][4][5].