Laparoscopic transverse colectomy

Abstract

Although laparoscopic surgery is one of the treatment options for colorectal cancer, certain technical problems remain unresolved. In particular, laparoscopic transverse colectomy is one of the most technically challenging laparoscopic colectomy. The most difficult aspect is mobilization of the transverse colon, with division of the middle colic artery. Here we present a safe procedure for laparoscopic transverse colectomy to dissect the regional lymph nodes along the superior mesenteric vessels. The key characteristic of our procedure is that the middle colic vessels are cut along the surgical trunk using only a medial approach.