Morphological prerequisites for the formation of fascial duplication in the elimination of damage to the anterior rectal wall during prostatectomy

Background Intraoperative rectal injury in prostatectomy patients is an uncommon but severe complication. Particular attention is paid to improving the results of healing damage to the anterior rectal wall during prostatectomy.Objective To study the morphological features of the parietal pelvic fascia and the rectal wall to substantiate the possibility of the formation of fascial duplication in the elimination of damage to the anterior rectal wall during prostatectomy.Material and Methods The authors carried out an intravital morphological analysis of the parietal pelvic fascia covering the levator rectum muscle and the anterior rectal wall in 10 men.Results The parietal pelvic fascia contains more powerful bundles of collagen fibers, which in certain areas are partially woven into the fibers of striated muscle tissue. The adventitia of the rectum is characterized by a looser arrangement of the interacting components of the formed connective and smooth muscle tissue. In the studied formations of the small pelvis, the thickness of collagen fibers separately and in the composition of bundles, as well as the cells of the differon and each fiber separately did not differ, which indicated the identity of their tinctorial properties in the compared zones.Conclusion Morphological analysis showed that when juxtaposing and touching the edges of the healing area of the surgical wound without tension, a stable and continuous scar of the fascial duplication is formed, which ensures reliable fusion of the stitched anatomical structures.

Pelvic Anatomy for Distal Rectal Cancer Surgery

Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Currently, total mesorectal excision (TME) is considered as the gold standard surgical procedure for rectal cancer. To achieve a good oncologic outcome and functional outcome after TME in distal rectal cancer, exact knowledge regarding the pelvic anatomy including pelvic fascia, pelvic floor, and the autonomic nerve is essential. Accurate TME along the embryologic plane not only reduces local recurrence rate but also preserves urinary and sexual function by minimizing nerve damage. In the past, pelvic floor muscles and autonomic nerves could not be visualized clearly, however, the development of imaging studies and improvements of minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery can clearly show the anatomy of the pelvic region. In this chapter, we will provide accurate anatomy of the rectum and the anal canal, pelvic fascia, and the pelvic autonomic nerve. This anatomical information will be an important indicator for performing an adequate operation for distal rectal cancer.

The Female Pelvic Floor Fascia Anatomy: A Systematic Search and Review

The female pelvis is a complex anatomical region comprising the pelvic organs, muscles, neurovascular supplies, and fasciae. The anatomy of the pelvic floor and its fascial components are currently poorly described and misunderstood. This systematic search and review aimed to explore and summarize the current state of knowledge on the fascial anatomy of the pelvic floor in women. Methods: A systematic search was performed using Medline and Scopus databases. A synthesis of the findings with a critical appraisal was subsequently carried out. The risk of bias was assessed with the Anatomical Quality Assurance Tool. Results: A total of 39 articles, involving 1192 women, were included in the review. Although the perineal membrane, tendinous arch of pelvic fascia, pubourethral ligaments, rectovaginal fascia, and perineal body were the most frequently described structures, uncertainties were identified in micro- and macro-anatomy. The risk of bias was scored as low in 16 studies (41%), unclear in 3 studies (8%), and high in 20 studies (51%). Conclusions: This review provides the best available evidence on the female anatomy of the pelvic floor fasciae. Future studies should be conducted to clarify the discrepancies highlighted and accurately describe the pelvic floor fasciae.

Morphology and microcirculatory structure of the urethra of the pig: Urologic surgical interest

The urethra of the sow can play an important role in the surgical revascularization or in the reconstructive surgery. However, the urethra can be easily injured if it possessed well architecture and vascularization. We investigated the morphological structure and vasculature features of the urethra to improve surgical results. Eight pelvises of sow were investigated. The block was cuts according to the segments of the urethra. They were made transparent according to the sagittal and transvers planes and examined trough Chinese ink agar injection. The adventia of both portions of the urethra of the sow (pelvic and perineal) were dependent on the collaterals of the internal iliac arteries and internal pudendal arteries. The veins of the periphery of the urethra derived from the muscle layers and the chorion and ran into a network in contact with arteries. The arteries of the striated muscle layer originated from the adventitial arteries of the anterior and lateral regions of the urethra. The chorion was depended on long vessels from the adventitious network and the terminal branches of the vessels of the inner longitudinal muscle layer. The arteries of the urethrovaginal septum were thin and came from the branches of the vaginal artery. The urethra of the sow was sheathed by the pelvic fascia lined with the elevated muscle of anus. They were well vascularized and can be safety exposed and preserved during experimental surgical dissection with careful drilling.Keys words: Sow urethra, morphology, structure, microvascularization.

Laparoscopic Pectopexy

Different operative approaches for the repair of a genital prolapse have been reported. However, for the reconstitution of a physiological axis of the vagina, a sacropexy seems to be the most adequate approach. We describe a method of laparoscopic apical prolapse surgery, where the lateral parts of the iliopectineal ligament are used for a bilateral mesh fixation of the descended structures. The iliopectineal ligament is a stable structure for the fixation of meshes and sutures, statistically significant stronger than the sacrospinous ligament and arcus tendinous of pelvic fascia. The incidence of defecation disorders, are reduced by a more physiological lateral fixation, which does not reduce the pelvic space. We used a single-port transumbilical device, with an additional 5 mm port, where at the end of the procedure, the drain is placed. This technique, a virtually scarless surgery, represents also, an option for women, who have an esthetic concern about scars.

Impact of total fascia preservation on early recovery of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy

The objective was to investigate the effect of preserving the total fascia surrounding the prostate (lateral pelvic fascia (LPF) and posterior musculofascial plate) on the early return of urinary continence after three-dimensional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (3D-LRP). Data from 70 consecutive patients who underwent 3D-LRP from April 2015 to February 2017 were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Patients were categorized into two groups: with or without LPF preservation; each group consisted of 35 consecutive patients. The rates of urinary continence within 12 weeks (no pad and no urinary leakage) were compared between groups using a 24-hour pad test and questionnaires of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC). Immediately after Foley catheter removal, accumulated recovery rates of continence with the Kaplan–Meier method were 65.7% (23/35) and 14.3% (5/35) for LPF preservation and non-preservation groups, respectively. Four weeks after surgery, continence rates increased to 80% (28/35) and 20% (7/35), respectively. A log-rank test showed a statistical difference between groups ( p < 0.001). The hazard ratio (HR) was 3.341 (95% confidence interval, 1.772–6.301). Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of total fascia preservation for the early recovery of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicenter audit.