Abstract
Introduction
The retroperitoneum in the pelvis includes all pelvic spaces (Retzius’, vesicocervical/vesicovaginal, rectovaginal, presacral, pararectal and paravesical) and vital structures such as nerves, vessels, lymph nodes and ureters. Eradication of endometriosis, myomectomy of intraligamentary myoma, urogynecological reconstructive and oncological exenterative surgery require wider anatomical knowledge in the retroperitoneum. Generally, the retroperitoneal space is used for plane of dissection when the peritoneal cavity is obliterated. In the medical literature, there are few articles reporting the important relationship between retroperitoneal accesses, anatomical landmarks and anatomical variations in surgery.
Materials and methods
In the present article, lateral transperitoneal accesses to the pelvic retroperitoneum by open surgery are discussed. Furthermore, anatomical landmarks and anatomical variations encountered during retroperitoneal dissection are analyzed. Providing comprehensive knowledge of lateral transperitoneal accesses to the pelvic retroperitoneum will decrease patient’s morbidity and mortality.
Conclusions
The recognition of retroperitoneal anatomical landmarks and anatomical variations will give surgeons more confidence. They should be familiar with anatomical variations, which are likely to occur during retroperitoneal accesses and dissection.
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Data Availability
The authors declare that all related data are available concerning researchers by the corresponding author’s e-mail.
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Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.
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Contributions
S.K. and Y.K. were involved in conceptualization; S.K., A.Y. and Y.I. contributed to methodology; S.S., Y.I. and S.K. were involved in formal analysis; S.K. and D.D. were involved in investigation; D.J., Y.I. and S.K. contributed to resources; S.S. was involved in data curation; S.K. was involved in writing—original and draft preparation; S.S., N.D. and Y.I. were involved in writing—review and editing; D.D. and N.D. contributed to visualization; A.Y. contributed to supervision.
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The article was performed in accordance with the Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975. Informed consents were signed from all operated patients.
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Informed consents were signed antemortem by those participating in the study, stating that they knowingly and willingly donate their bodies to medical education and scientific work.
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Kostov, S., Kornovski, Y., Slavchev, S. et al. Lateral Transperitoneal Accesses to the Pelvic Retroperitoneum in Gynecology: Surgical Technique, Anatomical Landmarks and Variations. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 19, 64 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00554-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00554-4