Bowel function and quality of life after minimally invasive colectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy for right-sided colon adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Changes in bowel function after right-sided colectomy are not well understood compared to those associated with left-sided colectomy or rectal resection. In particular, there are concerns about bowel function after right-sided colectomy with complete mesocolic excision, which has become popular in the West. AIM: To evaluate the functional outcomes of patients who underwent right-sided colectomy with D3 lymphadenectomy for colon cancer. METHODS: Functional data from patients who underwent minimally invasive right-sided colectomy for colon cancer from October 2017 to September 2018 were prospectively collected. Functional outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 mo postoperatively. RESULTS: Prior to surgery, 57 patients answered the questionnaire, and 47 responded at three months, 52 at 6 mo, 52 at 12 mo, and 25 at 18 mo postoperatively. Most scales of quality of life and bowel function improved significantly over time. Urgency persisted to a high degree throughout the period without a significant change over time. The use of medications for defecation was about 10% over the entire period. Gas (P = 0.023) and fecal frequency (P < 0.001) increased, and bowel dysfunction group (P = 0.028) was more common among patients taking medication. At six months, resected bowel and colon lengths were significantly different as a risk factor between the dysfunction group and the no dysfunction group [odd ratio (OR): 1.095, P = 0.026; OR: 1.147, P = 0.031, respectively] in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Despite D3 lymphadenectomy, most bowel symptoms improved over time after right-sided colectomy using a minimally invasive approach, and continuous medication was needed in only approximately 10% of patients.