Clinical study of distribution of the main vessels in cases of right-sided colon cancer operations

Abstract

Sixty-two cases of right hemicolectomy with D3 lymphnodes dissection for colon cancer were clinically analyzed in order to determine the drainage vessels from right sided colon. The ileocolic artery (ICA) and vein were present in all cases ; 42% of right colic arteries branched directly from the superior mesenteric artery, while 45% of right colic veins branched from the superior mesenteric vein. Distance between the root of the middle colic artery (MCA) and ICA measured 2.2±0.8 cm (0-4 cm), and 90% of all were distributed within 1 to 3 cm. Distance between the root and the first branch of MCA measured 2.0±1.2 cm (0-6 cm), although there exist rather individuality for each other. All of the MCA roots for the right-sided colon are located caudal from the middle colic vein (MCV), so that it is better to start separating drainage vessels from the root of the ileocolic region to the region of the surgical trunk to ascertain the range of dissecting lymphnodes. Precise determination of the vessels contributes to the proper range of lymphnode dissection and the standardization of operative method.