Retroperitoneal Major Pelvic Arteries ’ Anatomic Variation: Pictorial Essay and Significance in Obstetrical and Gynecological Surgery

ConclusionsAnatomical variations in the major retroperitoneal pelvic vasculature should be familiar with during surgeries to avoid inadequate management. Internal iliac artery ligation should be done as low as possible close to the bifurcation in case of long internal iliac artery as in case of bleeding, slipped uterine or injured vesical vessels. Kinked external iliac artery should not be considered as anomaly or swollen node with trial of excision in dissection of lymph nodes in gynecological cancer or a thrombosed vessel but continue as usual in dissection and preserve any branches arising from it which is a normal variation. Also, the absent internal iliac artery is no problem as its branches may arise from the aorta or the external iliac artery. The uterine artery can be traced in this condition from the uterine side and any branches from external iliac artery in pelvis can be a normal variation.
Source: Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research