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

Figure 1 The diagram of ligation site of the inferior mesenteric artery in colorectal cancer surgery. A: High tie; B: Low tie. 1: Inferior mesenteric artery; 2: Left colic artery; 3: The first branch of the sigmoid artery; 4: Lymph node around the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery.

Figure 2 The intraoperative photographs of the ligation site of the inferior mesenteric artery in colorectal cancer surgery. A-C: Low ligation combined with lymph node dissection around the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (low tie with lymph node); D-F: High ligation combined with lymph node dissection around the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (high tie with LND). Red arrows: The route of the inferior mesenteric artery; Blue arrows: Left colic artery; Orange arrows: Superior rectal artery.