Short- and long-term outcomes of intracorporeal versus extracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer.

Background: We assessed the short- and long-term outcomes of intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis (IA) in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer compared with extracorporeal anastomosis (EA).

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 86 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer from March 2005 to June 2010 was performed.

Results: There were 51 and 35 patients who underwent intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis, respectively. The two groups were demographically comparable. The conversion rate to open surgery was 8.6 % in the EA group, but none in the IA group (p = 0.064). There was no significant difference in operative time, estimated blood loss, complications (intra-abdominal abscess, anastomotic leak, ileus, and wound infection), and length of hospital stay between the groups. There was no perioperative mortality in both groups. There was no significant difference in median number of retrieved lymph node. The overall survival and the disease-free survival at 3 years were not different between the groups.

Conclusions: Compared with the extracorporeal anastomosis technique, intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis produces comparable short- and long-term outcomes in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer.