Laparoscopic dissection and anatomy of sacral nerve roots and pelvic splanchnic nerves.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the technique of laparoscopic dissection for identification of sacral nerve roots and pelvic splanchnic nerves. DESIGN: Case report (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: Private practice hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. PATIENT: A 31-year-old woman with suspected iatrogenic and/or compression of sacral nerve roots. She reported debilitating pelvic, gluteal, and perineal unilateral left-sided pain (score 8 on a pain scale of 0-10), and had primary infertility with 1 previous failed attempt at in vitro fertilization. Surgical history included laparoscopic excision of endometriosis 10 months before the procedure and left oophoroplasty during adolescence because of a benign neoplasm. INTERVENTIONS: Standard 4-puncture laparoscopy was performed. The peritoneum of the left pelvic sidewall was resected to preclude eventual residual endometriosis. This also enabled identification of uterine vessels including the deep uterine vein, which is the limit between the pars vascularis superiorly and the pars nervosa inferiorly in the uterine broad ligament. Surgery was using the laparoscopic neuro-navigation (LANN) technique, previously described by one of us (M. P.). For identification of the sacral roots, dissection was begun medial to the ureter and lateral to the uterosacral ligament. The Okabayashi pararectal space was entered as deep as possible via blunt dissection in avascular spaces. Hemostasis was performed using 5-mm bipolar forceps, and harmonic energy was not used. The hypogastric fascia was entered from medial to lateral, and the piriformis muscle was identified. The sacral nerve root S1 was identified lying over it. Dissection then proceeded caudally, and sacral roots S2 and S3 were sequentially identified. Small and delicate fibers forming the pelvic splanchnic nerves were isolated emerging from sacral roots S2 and S3. Other nerve fibers were identified caudally, probably representing pelvic splanchnic nerves emerging from S4. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The surgical operative time was 70 minutes, and bleeding was minimal. No suspected compression or iatrogenic injury was identified. The patient was discharged on the day after the procedure. At 8-month follow-up, she had partial resolution of pain (score 5, pain scale 0-10), and another failed attempt at in vitro fertilization was attributed to unsatisfactory quality of the embryos. There were no symptoms or dysfunctions attributable to manipulation of the nerves. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy is a useful tool for identification of sacral roots and pelvic splanchnic nerves in suspected diseases. Its application in the field of neuropelveology can be expanded with proper knowledge and training.

Procedimentos percutâneos pélvicos guiados por imagem: revisão das principais vias de acesso / Image-guided percutaneous procedures in deep pelvic sites: review of the main approaches

Os procedimentos percutâneos orientados por imagem têm ganhado espaço crescente na radiologia intervencionista, constituindo ferramenta eficaz para a abordagem diagnóstica e terapêutica de massas e coleções nos diversos segmentos corporais. No entanto, localizações pélvicas profundas ainda representam grande desafio para o radiologista, por causa da interposição de estruturas anatômicas. Para que o procedimento seja bem sucedido é fundamental o planejamento da via de acesso baseado no conhecimento detalhado da anatomia radiológica da pelve. As principais vias de acesso para a abordagem destas lesões são: transabdominais (anterior e lateral), extraperitoneal ântero-lateral, transvaginal, transretal e transglútea. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma revisão da anatomia seccional pélvica normal, demonstrando as diversas vias de acesso para biópsias e drenagens guiadas pela ultra-sonografia e pela tomografia computadorizada, bem como discutir as principais vantagens e complicações potenciais de cada uma delas.

Image-guided percutaneous procedures have increasingly been established as safe and effective interventional tools in the diagnosis and management of masses and collections in several body segments. However, lesions in deep pelvic sites still pose a challenge for radiologists because of overlying anatomic structures. The success of a percutaneous biopsy depends on a safe access route planning based on a deep understanding of cross sectional anatomy of the pelvis. Anterior and lateral transabdominal, anterolateral extraperitoneal, transvaginal, transrectal and transgluteal approaches are described. The present study was aimed at reviewing the normal pelvic cross-sectional anatomy, demonstrating the different access routes for ultrasonography and computed tomography guided pelvic biopsies and drainages as well as discussing the main advantages and complications associated with these approaches.