A case of robot-assisted resection for cecum cancer with anomalous venous confluence

Abstract

There are many reports on the positional relationship between the ileocolic artery and superior mesenteric vein (SMV). However, there have been no reports of anomalous venous confluence in the ileocecal vessel area. A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with cecal cancer on a preoperative examination of a lung tumor. We planned to perform surgery for the cecal cancer. Computed tomography angiography revealed an anomalous vein confluence in the ileocolic region. We performed robot-assisted ileocecal resection. Although the small intestinal vein was misidentified as the SMV at first, we confirmed the misidentification, identified the SMV on the dorsal side of the ileocolic artery, and ligated the ileocolic vessels with precise forceps manipulation during robotic surgery. Especially for cases with vascular anomalies revealed by preoperative computed tomography angiography, robotic surgery may be useful, as flexible forceps manipulation prevents vascular injury.

Keywords: anomalous vein confluence; colon cancer; robotic surgery.