Lymph Nodes Dissection Guided by Nano-carbon in Laparoscopic Rectal Cancer Surgery

Background: To evaluate the role of nano-carbon as a tool for achieving adequate lymph nodes (LNs) dissection and to compare the number of LNs retrieved with and without the use of nano-carbon in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.MethodsProspective data collected from September 2018 to August 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. 35 rectal cancer patients received nano-carbon guided laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were compared with 35 patients without nano-carbon guidance in the evaluation of number of LNs harvest, as well as whether adequate number of LNs retrieved (defined as ≥12).ResultsThe average number of LNs harvest was significantly higher in the nano-carbon group than that in the control group (16.4 vs. 12.1, P=0.008). In patients received neoaduvant therapy, the average number of LNs harvest was also significantly higher in the nano-carbon group than that in the control group (13.8 vs. 7.4, P=0.011). The percentage of adequate LNs retrieval was higher in the nano-carbon group than that in the control group (82.9% vs. 62.9%, P=0.038). In patients received neoaduvant therapy, the percentage of adequate LNs retrieval was much higher in the nano-carbon group than that in the control group (75.0% vs. 28.6%, P=0.021).ConclusionThe use of nano-carbon increases the number of LNs harvested compared with the conventional procedure in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.