Intracorporeal vs. Extracorporeal Anastomosis in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy for Colonic Cancer

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy will be carried out. The dissection is performed laparoscopically. When the right hemicolon is sufficiently mobilized and the vessels (ileocolic pedicle, right colic pedicle and the right branch of the middle colic pedicle) are ligated, a horizontal incision in the upper right quadrant is made. Through this incision the right hemicolon is extracted, the small bowel and the transverse colon are divided using staplers. The side-to-side ileocolic anastomosis is then handsewn.

Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy will be carried out. The dissection is performed laparoscopically. The right hemicolon is mobilized and the vessels (ileocolic pedicle, right colic pedicle and the right branch of the middle colic pedicle) are ligated. The small bowel and the transverse colon are then divided using laparoscopic staplers. The side-to-side ileocolic anastomosis is formed by creating a small opening in the small bowel and the transverse colon, through which the laparoscopic stapler is used to join the bowel ends. The remaining opening is sutured laparoscopically. The specimen is retrieved through a Pfannenstiel incision.