A step towards stereotactic navigation during pelvic surgery: 3D nerve topography (original) (raw)

Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: a female cadaver study

International Urogynecology Journal, 2008

Our objective was to document variations in the topography of pelvic floor nerves (PFN) and describe a nerve-free zone adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL). Pelvic floor dissections were performed on 15 female cadavers. The course of the PFN was described in relation to the ischial spine (IS) and the SSL. The pudendal nerve (PN) passed medial to the IS and posterior to the SSL at a mean distance of 0.6 cm (SD=±0.4) in 80% of cadavers. In 40% of cadavers, an inferior rectal nerve (IRN) variant pierced the SSL at a distance of 1.9 cm (SD=±0.7) medial to the IS. The levator ani nerve (LAN), coursed over the superior surface of the SSL-coccygeus muscle complex at a mean distance of 2.5 cm (SD=±0.7) medial to the IS. Anatomic variations were found which challenge the classic description of PFN. A nerve-free zone is situated in the medial third of the SSL.

Pudendal Nerve 3-Dimensional Illustration Gives Insight Into Surgical Approaches

Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2014

The pudendal nerve is located topographically in areas in which plastic surgeon reconstruct the penis, the vagina, the perineum, and the rectum. This nerve is at risk for either compression or direct injury with neuroma formation from obstetrical, urogynecologic, and rectal surgery as well as pelvic fracture and blunt trauma. The purpose of this study was to create a 3dimensional representation based on magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis supplemented with new anatomic dissections in men and women to delineate the location of the pudendal nerve and its branches, providing educational information both for surgical intervention and patient education. The results of this study demonstrated that most often there are at least 2, not 1, ''pudendal nerves trunks'' as they leave the pelvis to transverse the sacrotuberous ligament, and that there are most often 2, not 1, exit(s) from Alcock canal, one for the dorsal branch and one for the perineal branch of the pudendal nerve.

Localisation and preservation of the autonomic nerves in rectal cancer surgery - technical details

Chirurgia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990)

Iatrogenic surgical injury to pelvic autonomic nerves followed by genitourinary dysfunctions are well known problems after total partial mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. The purpose of our paper is to present the useful anatomical landmarks for a safe nerve-sparing surgery in rectal oncology. Over the course of a total mesorectal excision we describe and illustrate the key risk zones of autonomic nerve injury based on our experience in rectal surgery and on the revised literature.

Preservation of the vegetative pelvic nerves and local reccurence in the operative treatment of rectal cancer

Prilozi, 2006

Life quality of the patients operated from rectal cancer is a serious problem. Despite the curing as a primary objective in the treatment of the rectal cancer, special attention is paid to the life quality upon the performed operation on the subjected patients. The analyzed series consists of 29 patients with rectal cancer, operated on at the Digestive Surgery Clinic within the framework of the Clinical Centre in Skopje, in the period between 2001-2006. Our series involves patients from the T2 and T3 stage of the illness, where it possible to preserve the vegetative pelvic nerves, that are characterized by a relatively long-lasting symptomatology and relatively high percentage of lymphatic metastases. The standardization of the operative intervention resulted in an increase in the number of patients with continuous operations and preservation of the neuro-vegetative plexus without influencing the radicalism of the intervention. The application of the Stapler and Double Stapler techn...

Anatomical basis of autonomic nerve-preserving total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

British Journal of Surgery, 1996

Total mesorectal excision with autonomic nerve preservation for rectal cancer is based on the anatomy of the mesorectum and of the pelvic autonomic nerves. Cadaver dissections were performed to describe the relationship between these structures. Between the rectum and the sacrum a retrorectal space can be developed, lined anteriorly by the visceral leaf and posteriorly by the parietal leaf of the pelvic fascia. The hypogastric nerve runs anterior to the visceral fascia, from the sacral promontory in a laterocaudad direction. The splanchnic sacral nerves originate from the sacral foramina, posterior to the parietal fascia, and run caudad, laterally and anteriorly. After piercing the parietal layer of the pelvic fascia, approximately 4 cm from the midline, the sacral nerves run between a double layer of the visceral part of the pelvic fascia. The relationship between the hypogastric nerves, the splanchnic nerves and the pelvic fascia was comparable in all six specimens examined.

Technical aspects of a new approach to intraoperative pelvic neuromonitoring during robotic rectal surgery

Scientific Reports

It has been found that rectal surgery still leads to high rates of postoperative urinary, fecal, or sexual dysfunction, which is why nerve-sparing surgery has gained increasing importance. To improve functional outcomes, techniques to preserve pelvic autonomic nerves by identifying anatomic landmarks and implementing intraoperative neuromonitoring methods have been investigated. The objective of this study was to transfer a new approach to intraoperative pelvic neuromonitoring based on bioimpedance measurement to a clinical setting. Thirty patients (16 male, 14 female) involved in a prospective clinical investigation (German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00017437, date of first registration 31/03/2020) underwent nerve-sparing rectal surgery using a new approach to intraoperative pelvic neuromonitoring based on direct nerve stimulation and impedance measurement on target organs. Clinical feasibility of the method was outlined in 93.3% of the cases. Smooth muscle contraction of the uri...

Anatomical considerations on pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring

Biomedizinische Technik

Introduction: The aim of this clinical-anatomical overview is to provide a roadmap to pelvic neuroanatomy and potential sites of iatrogenic injury for pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring during low anterior rectal resection and abdomino-perineal excision. Methods: Data on pelvic neuroanatomy were derived from PubMed database and own investigations. Results: Five regions of potential nerve injury can be defined (1. Superior hypogastric plexus, 2. Hypogastric nerves, 3. Inferior hypogastric plexus and pelvic splanchnic nerves, 4. Inferior neurovascular bundles to the rectum and urogenital organs, 5. terminal pudendal nerve branches). Conclusion: Innovative techniques like pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring and improvements in laparoscopic surgery enable the colorectal surgeon to detect the complex neural network and verify internal anal sphincter and urogenital function. The minimal invasive bottom-to-top approach may offer further insights.

Pelvic Pain of Pudendal Nerve Origin: Surgical Outcomes and Learning Curve Lessons

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 2015

Reconstructive microsurgery may directly involve the pudendal nerve during vaginal reconstruction, 1-4 groin hydradenitis suppurativa reconstruction, 5,6 rectal reconstruction, 7-9 transgender reconstruction, 10-12 inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps for breast reconstruction, 13-16 labial reconstruction, 17-19 salvage procedures after gynecologic mesh interventions for urinary incontinence, 20-22 and following urologic procedures such as prostatectomy. Injury to the branches of the pudendal nerve results in pain syndromes that have proven difficult to treat, with success rates for the most commonly done surgical approach having an expectation that 70% of patients will improve by > 2 on a 10-point Likert scale, and just 20% achieving an excellent result (►Table 1). Recognizing that peripheral nerve surgery is the basis for treatment of refractory pelvic pain related to the pudendal nerve, it is incumbent for the reconstructive microsurgeon to approach the problem from the standpoint of (1) determining that the pudendal nerve is the nerve primarily transmitting Keywords ► pudendal nerve ► neurolysis ► neuroma

Asymmetrical pudendal nerve damage in pelvic floor disorders

International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 1988

Differences in the left and right pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies have been observed in patients with pelvic floor disorders. Until now the mean value of the left and right pudendal latencies has been used as the index of pudendal neuropathy. In 22 patients of a group of 156 patients studied the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency was abnormally raised on one side only. These patients are thought to have pudendal neuropathy whether or not the mean value of the left and right pudendal latencies is also raised. This observation may have therapeutic implications.