Laparoscopic Transverse Colectomy

Abstract

Transverse colectomy refers to the removal of the portion of the colon between the hepatic flexure and the splenic flexure – the transverse colon. Primary blood supply to the transverse colon is from the middle colic vessels with collateral flow from the ileocolic, right, and left colic vessel through marginal artery. Transverse colectomy is commonly performed for tumors and/or polyps of transverse colon. If the lesion is located in close proximity to either flexures, then it is advisable to perform an extended right or extended left colectomy. Laparoscopic transverse colectomy is technically challenging as it involves mobilization of hepatic as well as splenic flexure, careful identification and sealing of middle colic vessels while preserving blood supply to the rest of the colon, and meticulous retromesenteric dissection. In this chapter, we discuss various important steps involved in laparoscopic transverse colectomy.