From Where Does the Uterine Artery Originate? A Prospective, Observational Laparoscopic Anatomic Study

Abstract

Study objective: To determine and categorize the anatomic variations of the uterine artery (UA) as observed during laparoscopic hysterectomy with retroperitoneal dissection for benign conditions.

Design: A prospective, observational study.

Setting: A hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology, Uludag University Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.

Patients: A total of 378 female patients who presented with indications for laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign disease.

Interventions: Laparoscopic hysterectomy with retroperitoneal dissection was performed bilaterally in all patients between March 2014 and October 2018. The vascular anatomy beginning at the bifurcation of the common iliac artery down to the crossing of the UA with the ureter was exposed and subsequently studied. The UA was identified, and its variable branching patterns were recorded. The patterns were then categorized into groups adapted from classic vascular anatomy studies.

Measurements and main results: Retroperitoneal dissections of 756 UAs were performed in 378 female patients. The UA was the first anterior branch of the internal iliac artery in 80.9% of the cases (Model 1; Main Model). Three additional models adequately described other variations of the UA as follows: Model 2 (Cross Model), 3.7%; Model 3 (Trifurcation Model), 3.1%; and Model 4 (Inverted-Y Model), 7.4%. The origin of the UA could not be determined in 7.4% of the cases.

Conclusion: The UA is the first anterior branch of the internal iliac artery in more than 80% of females. Surgeons should be aware of the anatomic variations of the UA to perform safe and efficient procedures.

Keywords: Laparoscopic hysterectomy; Retroperitoneal dissection; Uterine artery anatomy; Uterine artery variations.