Fig. 2

Intraoperative findings during laparoscopic low anterior resection. a The IMA ran parallel to the abdominal aorta without branching, while the neural branch (white arrow) arising from the lumbar splanchnic nerves (white arrowheads) supplied the left-sided colon. b The central lymph nodes around the IMA were dissected, followed by transection of the IMA at the level of the inferior edge of the duodenum. c Complete resection was performed