Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with radical lymph node dissection using the no-touch isolation technique for advanced colon cancer

Abstract

The treatment of advanced right-sided colon cancer presents numerous challenges for the surgeon who must aim to minimize the invasiveness of surgery, achieve curative resection, and prevent port-site recurrences. To overcome these issues, we performed a totally intra-abdominal laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with radical lymph node dissection based on a no-touch isolation technique. To perform this no-touch technique, we initially dissected the lymph nodes along the surgical trunk, then transected the transverse colon, terminal ileum, and mesentery without tumor manipulation. Finally, the right side of the colon was freed retroperitoneally. We performed this surgical technique on three patients and no intraoperative complications were encountered. Curative resection was achieved in all three patients, as curability A according to the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma, and their postoperative courses were uneventful. Therefore, this novel technique proved to be both feasible and safe. Furthermore, it enabled us to minimize the invasiveness of surgery, while providing clear access to resect the right-sided advanced colon cancer.