To explore the impact of preserving the left colic artery during laparoscopic low anterior resection (Dixon) in elderly patients with low rectal cancer.

A total of 136 elderly patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic Dixon surgery from December 2021 to December 2024 were selected. They were divided into a study group and a control group using a random lottery method, with 68 cases in each group. The study group underwent preservation of the left colic artery, while the control group did not. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Perioperative indicators, tumor diameter, and other measurement data that conformed to a normal distribution were expressed as (±s), and intergroup comparisons were performed using independent samples t test. Count data such as TNM staging were expressed as [cases(%)] and analyzed using the χ² test; Fisher’s exact test was used when the theoretical frequency was <5. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Compared with the control group, the study group had a longer operation time, but shorter time to first postoperative defecation, first postoperative flatus, and postoperative hospital stay, as well as a lower incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the number of lymph nodes dissected, intraoperative blood loss, or the incidence of other postoperative complications (P>0.05). After surgery, serum inflammatory indicators [C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] increased in both groups, but the magnitude of the increase of these serum inflammatory indicators in the study group was smaller than that in the control group (P<0.05).

Although preserving the left colic artery during laparoscopic Dixon surgery for elderly patients with low rectal cancer prolongs the operation time, it promotes faster postoperative recovery, effectively controls the inflammatory response caused by surgical trauma, and prevents the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leakage.