Preservation of left colic artery in laparoscopic colorectal operation: The benefit challenge

Table 2 Surgical data

Variable	High ligation group, n = 46	Low ligation group, n = 148	P value
Operative time in min, mean ± SD	210.0 ± 34.2	232.0 ± 28.3	0.482
Blood loss in mL, mean ± SD	145.0 ± 30.3	187.0 ± 50.3	0.165
Patients with positive lymph nodes, n	20	60	0.854
Number of lymph nodes dissected, mean	17.4	15.9	0.203
Patients with positive lymph nodes in the root of the inferior mesenteric artery, D253	2	5	0.372
Time to recovery of bowel function in d, mean ± SD	5.0 ± 1.8	3.0 ± 1.2	0.042

SD: Standard deviation.