Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42725584›Full record

SynthesisBJS open2026

Prognostic impact of low versus high inferior mesenteric artery ligation in rectosigmoid cancer: individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Alberto Aiolfi, Francesco Cammarata, Emanuele Rausa, Gianluca Bonitta, Antonio Biondi, Luigi Bonavina, Davide Bona

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BJS open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alberto AiolfiDivision of General Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7764-6075
Francesco CammarataDivision of General Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4055-8485
Emanuele RausaUnit of Hereditary Digestive Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6780-1783
Gianluca BonittaDivision of General Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy.
Antonio BiondiSurgical Division, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, G. Rodolico Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Luigi BonavinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Division of General and Foregut Surgery, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4880-1670
Davide BonaDivision of General Surgery, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe optimal level of inferior mesenteric artery ligation in rectosigmoid cancer surgery remains a matter of debate. This study evaluated the prognostic impact of low ligation (LL) versus high ligation (HL) after rectal or sigmoid cancer resection.

methodsA reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was performed using restricted mean survival time difference (RMSTD) estimation. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Central Library, and Google Scholar were searched. Primary outcomes were 5-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The RMSTD, risk ratio (RR), standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (c.i.) were used as pooled effect size measures. The certainty of evidence was categorized with the GRADE framework.

resultsOverall, 1152 patients from five RCTs were included; 34% underwent LL. Baseline demographics and pathological tumour stage were balanced among the LL and HL groups. At the 60-month follow-up, the OS and DFS estimates for LL versus HL were 1.40 months (95% c.i. -0.18 to 2.98; moderate level of certainty) and 0.71 months (95% c.i. -1.55 to 3.03; moderate level of certainty). Anastomotic leak (RR 0.71), overall complications (RR 0.79), total number of lymph nodes retrieved (SMD 0.01), and operating time (SMD 0.08) were comparable.

conclusionThis meta-analysis did not detect a statistically significant difference in 5-year OS and DFS between LL and HL in patients with rectosigmoid cancer.

Indexed as

Mesenteric Artery, InferiorRectal NeoplasmsSigmoid NeoplasmsDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleHumansLigationMalePrognosisRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicrectal cancersigmoid cancersurvival

Identifiers

PMID42725584
PMCPMC13563187

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.