The application value of the anatomy and treatment of inferior mesenteric artery in laparoscopic surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer

The inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is the blood supply vessel in the left colorectal cancer (CRC) and is the focus for clinicians during the operation of the left-sided CRC. Different IMA treatment methods will affect the blood supply of the anastomotic bowel after the operation, thus affecting the prognosis. Nevertheless, the individual anatomical variation rate of IMA is great. It is the crucial to perform precise high/low ligation and standardized lymph node dissection according to the anatomical characteristics of IMA in laparoscopic radical resection of left-sided CRC. In the present study, we reviewed the effects of IMA length, classification, the relationship with adjacent vessels and ureter, and different IMA treatments on the prognosis of patients.