Usefulness of knowledge in anatomy of the internal iliac artery in its ligation during life-threatening pelvic haemorrhages

Introduction: Post-Partum haemorrhage is a significant cause of maternal mortality. Bilateral internal iliac artery ligation is a life-saving procedure to control massive obstetric and gynaecological haemorrhages. Bilateral internal iliac artery ligation results in toning down the pulsatility making the arterial flow a slow venous flow encouraging the clot formation of the damaged pelvic vessels. This study assesses the retroperitoneal anatomy and regional variations of the internal iliac artery.Methods: The study was based on examining 45 pelvic halves (23 right sides and 22 left sides), which were dissected during the gross anatomy laboratory at the faculty of medicine, Ragama, University of Kelaniya, from 2020 -2023. There were all adult pelvises. The internal iliac artery and its major branches were carefully dissected and examined. Adachi classification was used to classify the distribution pattern of the internal iliac artery. The study was done on the donated cadavers, and the nature of the study did not warrant any special ethical clearance. No conflict of interest.Results: No anatomical deviation has been noted with regard to the levels of division of aorta, common iliac artery, the division into internal and external iliac arteries and the division of anterior and posterior branches of the internal iliac artery from that of classical anatomical literature. It was also noted that there had been no significant deviation of anatomical relations with regard to the structures as described in the internal lilac artery in our study. In our study, Type Ia was found in 35/45 (78%) of the specimens, Type IIa in 3/45 (6%), Type III in 7 (16%), and no specimens were found with Type IV and. Type V.Conclusion: Our study showed no significant anomalies of the pelvic anatomical structural relations to the internal iliac artery. The type Ia branching pattern was found to be the commonest.