To compare the 3-year follow-up results of patients underwent laparoscopic anterior resection of rectal cancer with the preservation of left colon artery.

The clinical data of 95 patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery from November 2015 to August 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the preservation of left colon artery during the operation, 46 cases were divided into the preservation group while 49 cases were divided into the non-preservation group. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS 23.0 software. The normally distributed measurement data such as operation-related indicators, gastrointestinal function and urinary function were expressed as(±s), and were examined by using independent sample t-test. The incidence of complications expressed as the percentage were examined by using χ² test. A P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

Compared with the non-preservation, increased operation time, shortened postoperative exhausting time, and increased intraoperative blood loss were observed in the preservation group(P<0.05). There were no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the harvested lymph nodes, the length of proximal and distal margin, the time of hospitalization, and the recurrence and survival rate after 3 years (P>0.05). In the preservation group, the postoperative GIQLI score and bladder function rating scores were significantly higher than those in the non-preservation group respectively (P<0.05). The incidence of complications of 6.5% in the preservation group was much lower than 22.4% in the non-preservation group (P<0.05).

The short-term outcome of laparoscopic anterior resection of rectal cancer with the preservation of left colon artery is better, with improved gastrointestinal and urinary function, and reduced postoperative complications, however with no obvious advantage in the long-term outcome.