Introduction

Hepatic flexure mobilization can be challenging and most of the time requires patient repositioning.

We present our standardized, novel approach for complete mobilization of the hepatic flexure, which can be used during both laparoscopic and robotic right hemicolectomy, using an infracolic, medial-to-lateral, suprapancreatic approach. This method does not require repositioning of the patient.

The attached video demonstrates a laparoscopic procedure, but the exact same steps are used for our robotic procedures too.

This method has not been previously described.

Technique

The patient is flat or in slight Trendelenburg position and tilt on the left.

We always position the greater omentum below the liver, so it acts as a retractor.

We then position the small bowel loops to expose the ileocolic pedicle and the superior mesenteric vein (SMV).

We start the dissection parallel to SMV, near the origin of ileocolic vein, and develop the plane.

We first take down ileocolic vein and artery (high ligation between clips) and then continue the medial dissection with a Kocher Maneuver till we expose the 2nd–3rd part of the duodenum and the head of the pancreas.

Continuing in this infracolic suprapancreatic plane, we separate the mesocolon from retroperitoneal structures.

We continue the dissection until we break through to the gallbladder fossa and the lateral abdominal wall.

Then, we proceed until the hepatic flexure is fully mobile from below.

The last few lateral attachments and the gastrocolic omentum are taken down.

The laparoscopic part of the procedure is done, the specimen is taken out and we then perform the anastomosis, which, for laparoscopic procedures is an extracorporeal, stapled, side-to-side isoperistaltic ileocolic anastomosis.

The advantages of this method are that it does not require a steep head down (which could be contraindicated in specific groups of patients), does not require patient repositioning (or dual docking for robotic procedures), and could help with difficult hepatic flexure tumors, where the planes near the tumor are fused.