Figure 2.

We regarded the ligation of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) after the left colic vein (LCV) was converged to the IMV as a high ligation. When we performed a high IMV ligation, we always ligated the LCV and left colic artery (LCA) in the same operative field of the IMV ligation (blue lines). Ligation of the IMV before the LCV was converged to IMV was regarded as a low ligation. In low ligation of IMV, we ligated LCA, but did not ligate LCV (yellow lines).