Accessory belly of piriformis, as a cause of superior gluteal neurovascular entrapment.

During routine dissection on 50 years old male cadaver, an accessory belly of piriformis was observed. This accessory belly was superior and parallel to the main piriformis muscle. This was associated with emergence of superior gluteal nerve and superior gluteal artery between the two bellies. Piriformis muscle and its relation to sciatic nerve has been suggested as a cause of piriformis syndrome. But interestingly in the present case, superior gluteal nerve was interposed between two bellies that may help the clinicians to establish a rare yet important cause of piriformis syndrome and a rare cause of undiagnosed chronic pain in gluteal region. As superior gluteal artery was also interposed, so this rare variation holds interest to surgeons especially in isolated buttock claudication despite otherwise normal vascular investigations.

The Results of Simultaneous Bilateral Internal Iliac Artery and Inferior Mesecteric Artery Ligation during Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

PURPOSE: Bilateral internal iliac artery (IIA) ligation with inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation has been performed during open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery and endovascular aneurismal repair (EVAR). We reviewed both the acute and long term effects of bilateral IIA ligation with IMA ligation. METHODS: A retrospective cross sectional review was performed on 315 patients who underwent open aneurysmal repair and EVAR between 1997 and 2008. Both IIAs of all the patients' were patent before aortic reconstruction. The patency of the IIAs and the presence of bowel ischemia was evaluated by the medical records on the operative findings, the sigmoidoscopy and the computed tomography. Telephone interviews were performed to assess buttock claudication. RESULTS: The mean age was 68.4 years and 259 patients were male. Unruptured aneurysm was found in 233 patients, ruptured aneurysm was found in 72 patients and impending rupture was found in 10 patients. Unilateral ligation of the IIA was required in 78 patients (24.8%), and bilateral ligation was performed in 43 patients (13.7%). Sigmoid colon ischemia occurred in 8 patients (2.5%), and the IIA was patent in 7 patients. Buttock claudication occurred in 10 out of 178 patients who were contactable on telephone, and the IIA was patent in 8 of these 10 patients. Bowel ischemia and buttock claudication were not significantly associated with the patency of the IIA (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bilateral IIA ligation with IMA ligation was able to be performed without significantly increasing the incidence of bowel ischemia and buttock claudication. Performing endovascular aneurysmal repair may be considered when bilateral graft extension to the external iliac artery is required.