Relationship between the lateral dissection lines of various radical hysterectomies and anatomical structures in the female pelvis: an educational video from the Sapporo Cadaver Surgical Workshop.

Objective: Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection is the treatment of choice for cervical cancer. All gynecologic oncologists should master this technique. The surgical procedure requires a wide dissection of the female pelvis. Performing radical hysterectomy without a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the female pelvis can lead to serious complications. For novice surgeons to safely perform radical hysterectomy, mastering the 3-dimensional anatomy of the pelvis and aligning the dissection lines of radical hysterectomy to the female pelvic anatomy is crucial. Educational materials that demonstrate the anatomical relationship between dissection lines in radical hysterectomy and the surrounding pelvic structures are lacking. We aimed to create educational material to overcome these problems.

Methods: Laparoscopic nerve sparing, non-nerve sparing, and super-radical hysterectomies, exposing pivotal pelvic anatomical structures, were performed on a Thiel-embalmed cadaver.

Results: Nerve sparing, non-nerve sparing, and super-radical hysterectomies were laparoscopically performed in the right hemi-pelvis of the cadaver. We exposed the external and internal iliac vessels; obturator, sciatic, femoral, hypogastric, and pelvic splanchnic nerves and the pelvic nerve plexus; internal obturator, piriform, and coccygeal muscles; sacrospinous ligament; and ischial spine. Thus, we demonstrated where the dissection lines of the various radical hysterectomies are in a female pelvis.

Conclusion: Using a Thiel-embalmed cadaver, we demonstrated the relationship between the dissection lines of various radical hysterectomies and pivotal sidewall anatomical structures in a female pelvis. The anatomical detail shown in the video captured during this procedure may assist surgeons to safely perform various radical hysterectomies.