Local anatomy around terminal ureter related to the anterior leaf of the vesicouterine ligament in radical hysterectomy

Clinical implications of the superficial uterine vein pattern for the dissection of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament in radical hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE

To describe anatomic patterns of the superficial uterine vein (sUV) and assess their association with aspects of the dissection procedure of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament (aVUL) by retrospectively reviewing surgical videos.

METHODS

We analyzed patients who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer from 2014 to 2019. The primary endpoint was the time required for aVUL dissection. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing the time required for aVUL dissection.

RESULTS

Fifty-three Japanese patients were included. Two sUV configurations were observed: type 1 (the vein ran ventral to the ureter along the uterine artery) and type 2 (the vein did not run along the usual ventral course; it ran dorsal to the ureter or was absent). Approximately 30% of the sUVs were type 2. The total time for dissection of both sides of the aVUL was significantly shorter for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. The number of hemostatic interventions during dissection of each side of the aVUL was significantly lower for type 2 sUVs than for type 1 sUVs. In the multivariate analysis, the sUV configuration was the factor significantly influencing the duration of aVUL dissection on each side (right side: β=-143.4; left side, β=-160.4).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that the sUV had 2 types of courses, ventral and others, and its course affected the time required for dissection and the number of hemostatic interventions. Our results provide information supportive of improved radical hysterectomy outcomes.

Avascular Spaces of the Female Pelvis-Clinical Applications in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The term "spaces" refers to the areas delimited by at least two independent fasciae and filled with areolar connective tissue. However, there is discrepancy regarding the spaces and their limits between clinical anatomy and gynecologic surgery, as not every avascular space described in literature is delimited by at least two fasciae. Moreover, new spaces and surgical planes have been developed after the adoption of laparoscopy and nerve-sparing gynecological procedures. Avascular spaces are useful anatomical landmarks in retroperitoneal anatomic and pelvic surgery for both malignant and benign conditions. A noteworthy fact is that for various gynecological diseases, there are different approaches to the avascular spaces of the female pelvis. This is a significant difference, which is best demonstrated by dissection of these spaces for gynecological, urogynecological, and oncogynecological operations. Thorough knowledge regarding pelvic anatomy of these spaces is vital to minimize morbidity and mortality. In this article, we defined nine avascular female pelvic spaces-their boundaries, different approaches, attention during dissection, and applications in obstetrics and gynecology. We described the fourth space and separate the paravesical and pararectal space, as nerve-sparing gynecological procedures request a precise understanding of retroperitoneal spaces.