Objective To explore the short-term clinical efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy with head-tail approach.

Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with right colon cancer were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into observation group (head-tail approach) and control group (medial-to-lateral approach). Operation time, numbers of lymph nodes, intraoperative blood loss, mesangial integrity, postoperative pain VAS score, postoperative first exhaust time (d), intraoperative abdominal drainage, postoperative hospital stays, CEA and CA19-9 levels and postoperative complication were compared between the two groups.

Results In observation group, intraoperative blood loss was less than the control group (48.33±25.88 ml vs. 68.33±44.11 ml), number of lymph nodes was more than the control group (23.90±7.32 vs. 18.30±6.43), mesangium integrity was better than the control group (1.73±0.45 vs. 1.27±0.45) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative hospital stays, first exhaust time, postoperative pain score, postoperative abdominal drainage, CEA and CA199 levels or short-term complications between two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion Laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy is safe and feasible with a head-tail approach.