Intracorporeal anastomosis versus extracorporeal anastomosis after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer: morbidity comparison at long-term follow-up

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive right hemicolectomy is nowadays considered the gold standard for treatment of malignant right colon disease. What is still debated is instead the choice between intracorporeal or extracorporeal anastomosis. The aim of this study was to compare morbidity and the long-term results between these two techniques.

Methods: This retrospective, double-center cohort study was performed between January 2013 and December 2014. A total of 197 patients were enrolled after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for malignant disease. The extracorporeal anastomosis group (ECA) included 95 patients, while the intracorporeal anastomosis group (ICA) included 102 patients. All patients were followed up for 5 years after surgery. Data analysis was performed in February 2021.

Results: The ICA group showed a reduced rate of non-surgical complications Clavien-Dindo grade I-II (10% vs. 31%; P=0.001) as well as a lower rate of wound infections (2% vs. 12%; P=0.01). Most importantly, a decreased risk of incisional hernias in a five-year follow-up period (1% vs. 8%; P=0.01) has been underlined.

Conclusions: Intracorporeal anastomosis technique after totally laparoscopic right hemicolectomy showed better outcomes as it significantly reduces the risk for short and long-term complications, namely, incisional hernias.