Somatic and autonomic nerve density and distribution within the clitoris: an immunohistochemical study in adult female cadavers.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Knowledge of clitoral neuroanatomy is critical to vulvar surgery. We sought to characterize the density and distribution of autonomic and somatic nerves supplying the clitoris. METHODS: Pelvic tissue harvested from female cadavers was sectioned axially at three anatomic levels: the proximal aspect of the clitoral body (CB), the distal CB, and the glans. The CB, glans, and the surrounding connective tissue (dorsal, lateral, and ventral) were outlined microscopically. An area containing large nerve bundles dorsal to the CB, referred to as the dorsal nerve subregion, was analyzed separately. Double-immunofluorescent staining for beta III tubulin (ßIIIT), a global axonal marker, and myelin basic protein (MBP), a myelinated nerve marker, was performed. Threshold-based automatic image-segmentation distinguished stained areas. Autonomic and somatic density were calculated as percentage of tissue stained with ßIIIT alone, and ßIIIT and MBP respectively. Comparisons were made using nonparametric Friedman tests. RESULTS: Seven cadavers, aged 22-81, were examined. Somatic (mean 4.42%, SD ± 1.97) and autonomic (2.14% ± 2.42) nerve density was highest in the dorsal nerve subregion and dorsal region at the distal CB level. Compared with the CB, somatic density was higher in proximal (0.05% ± 0.03 vs 1.27% ± 0.69, p = 0.03) and distal (0.29% ± 0.25 vs 1.09% ± 0.41, p = 0.05) dorsal regions. Somatic density was greater in the glans than in the surrounding lateral (0.78% ± 0.47 vs 0.43% ± 0.23, p = 0.03) and ventral (0.78% ± 0.47 vs 0.52% ± 0.2, p = 0.03) regions. Autonomic density was greater than somatic in all areas, except for the dorsal nerve subregion. CONCLUSIONS: Somatic and autonomic nerve density were greatest in a well-defined region dorsal to the CB. Surgical preservation of this region is critical for maintaining nerve supply to the clitoris.

Somatic and autonomic nerve density of the urethra, periurethral tissue, and anterior vaginal wall: an immunohistochemical study in adult female cadavers.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Retropubic procedures may disrupt nerves supplying the pelvic viscera; however, knowledge of pelvic neuroanatomy is limited. We sought to characterize somatic and autonomic nerve density within the urethra, periurethral tissue, and anterior vagina. METHODS: Axial sections were obtained from pelvic tissue harvested from female cadavers ≤24 h from death at three anatomical levels: the midurethra, proximal urethra, and upper trigone. Periurethral/perivesical tissue was divided into medial and lateral sections, and the anterior vagina into middle, medial, and lateral sections. Double immunofluorescent staining for beta III tubulin (ßIIIT), a global axonal marker, and myelin basic protein (MBP), a myelinated nerve marker, was performed. Threshold-based automatic image segmentation distinguished stained areas. Autonomic and somatic density were calculated as percentage of tissue stained with ßIIIT alone, and with ßIIIT and MBP respectively. Statistical comparisons were made using nonparametric Friedman tests. RESULTS: Six cadavers, aged 22-73, were examined. Overall, autonomic nerve density was highest at the midurethral level in the lateral and middle anterior vagina. Somatic density was highest in the external urethral sphincter (midurethra mean 0.15%, SD ±0.11; proximal urethra 0.19%, SD ±0.19). Comparison of annotated sections revealed significant differences in autonomic density among the lateral, medial, and middle vagina at the midurethra level (0.71%, SD ±0.48 vs 0.60%, SD ±0.48 vs 0.70%, SD ±0.63, p=0.03). Autonomic density was greater than somatic density in all sections. CONCLUSIONS: Autonomic and somatic nerves are diffusely distributed throughout the periurethral tissue and anterior vagina, with few significant differences in nerve density among sections analyzed. Minimizing tissue disruption near urethral skeletal muscle critical for urinary continence may prevent adverse postoperative urinary symptoms.

Anatomic relationships of the clitoral body, bulbs of the vestibule, and urethra.

BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have enhanced our understanding of the anatomy of the clitoris and its somatic innervation, less emphasis has been placed on the anatomic relationships of the clitoris to its surrounding structures. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to further characterize the gross and histologic relationships of the clitoris, vestibular bulbs, and urethra. STUDY DESIGN: Detailed dissections were performed in 30 unembalmed female cadavers. In 23 specimens, gross dissections were performed, and relationships of the clitoris, vestibular bulbs, and urethra were annotated. Histologic evaluation was performed in 7 specimens, in which tissues were harvested within 24 hours from death. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. RESULTS: The clitoral body consisted of 2 components, the proximal body and the distal body. The distal body was oriented ≤90° from the proximal body, forming an outer and inner angle at the inflection point. A "septumlike" arrangement of fibroconnective and vascular tissues was noted between the inner angle of the clitoral body and the urethra. Neurovascular bundles coursed laterally along the clitoral body and the surfaces of the crura and vestibular bulbs. The vestibular bulbs approached each other over the ventral surface of the urethra, at the commissure of the vestibular bulbs. Each bulb was separated by fibrous tissue and did not merge along the midline. The vestibular bulbs approximated the clitoral body, but the erectile tissue of the vestibular bulbs was separated from the corpora cavernosa of the clitoral body by the tunica albuginea. The erectile tissue of the vestibular bulbs abutted the ventrolateral walls of the urethra but was separated from the urethral mucosa by an indiscrete layer of erectilelike tissue with dense stroma. CONCLUSION: This study provided gross and histological confirmation of the relationships of the clitoris, vestibular bulbs, and urethra. Detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the clitoris is crucial for reducing surgical complications associated with periclitoral and distal urethral procedures, which may adversely affect sexual arousal and sexual function.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on Postoperative Complications Following Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Benign Indications.

BACKGROUND: Current research pertaining to minimally invasive gynecologic surgical outcomes in the context of diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited. This study seeks to evaluate the association between DM and postoperative complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was utilized. We identified laparoscopic hysterectomies completed for benign indications from 2007 to 2016 using current procedural terminology codes. Complications were evaluated by DM status: non-insulin-dependent DM (NIDDM), insulin-dependent DM (IDDM), and non-DM. Postoperative complications were evaluated utilizing univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: We identified 56,640 laparoscopic hysterectomies. Though both the IDDM and NIDDM cohorts had an increased incidence of postoperative complications compared to the non-diabetes cohort. The IDDM group had the highest incidence of all 3 cohorts. Compared to non-DM, the IDDM group had higher odds of reintubation (OR 4.23; 95% CI 1.59-11.19), urinary tract infection (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.022-2.069), and extended length of stay (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.36-2.26). CONCLUSION: Both NIDDM and IDDM were independent risk factors for postoperative complications after laparoscopic hysterectomy. However, the IDDM cohort had the highest odds of complications. Diabetic patients should be carefully counseled regarding their elevated risk of perioperative complications.

Comparison between single-site and multiport robot-assisted myomectomy.

Minimizing the number of port incisions during minimally invasive surgery is associated with improved outcomes and patient satisfaction. We designed this work to study the perioperative outcomes of robotic single-site myomectomy (RSSM) in comparison to robotic multiport myomectomy (RMM) in a certain subset of patients. The design of the study is a multicenter retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification III). The setting was three university hospitals. Eighty patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids undergoing robot-assisted single-site myomectomy were selected for the study. These 80 consecutive RSSM patients were matched at the uterine fibroid tumor burden level with 95 consecutive RMM patients performed at the same institutions, by the same surgeons, within a similar time frame. The main outcome measures were estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, overnight admission, and post-operative complications. Of the 175 women, 95 (54.2%) underwent RMM and 80 (45.7%) underwent RSSM. Single-site vs. multiport patient demographics differed significantly in mean age (39.1 vs. 35.6, p < 0.001), and BMI (25.3 vs. 27.5, p < 0.04). Pre-operative MRI fibroid characteristics were matched between the two cohorts. Fibroid size on imaging (5.8 cm vs. 5.9 cm, p = 0.4) and the number of fibroids removed (2.5 vs. 2.3, p = 0.08) were similar between the two groups. After adjustment for multiple covariates with regression models, single-site myomectomy and multiport myomectomy has comparable EBL (83.3 mL vs. 109.2 mL, p = 0.34), operative time (162.4 min vs. 162.4 min, p = 0.99), overnight admission (OR = 1.54, p = 0.44) and a post-operative complication (OR = 1.3, p = 0.78). In selected patients, robotic single-site myomectomy is equivalent to its multiport counterpart. Both surgical approaches are associated with low rates of intra-operative and post-operative complications.

Overall Survival, Disease-Free Survival, Local Recurrence, and Nipple-Areolar Recurrence in the Setting of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is an increasingly common procedure; however, concerns exist regarding its oncological safety due to the potential for residual breast tissue to harbor occult malignancy or future cancer. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed. Studies with internal comparison arms evaluating therapeutic NSM versus skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and/or modified radical mastectomy (MRM) were included in a meta-analysis of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence (LR). Studies lacking comparison arms were only included in the systematic review to evaluate mean OS, DFS, LR, and nipple-areolar recurrence (NAR). RESULTS: The search yielded 851 articles. Twenty studies with 5594 patients met selection criteria. The meta-analysis included eight studies with comparison arms. Seven studies that compared OS found a 3.4% risk difference between NSM and MRM/SSM, five studies that compared DFS found a 9.6% risk difference between NSM and MRM/SSM, and eight studies that compared LR found a 0.4% risk difference between NSM and MRM/SSM. Risk differences for all outcomes were not statistically significant. The systematic review included all 20 studies and evaluated OS, DFS, LR, and NAR. Studies with follow-up intervals of <3 years, 3-5 years, and >5 years had mean OS of 97.2, 97.9, and 86.8%; DFS of 93.1, 92.3, and 76.1%; LR of 5.4, 1.4, and 11.4%; and NAR of 2.1, 1.0, and 3.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not detect adverse oncologic outcomes of NSM in carefully selected women with early-stage breast cancer. Use of prospective data registries, notably the Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy Registry, will add clarity to this important clinical question.