title: Variability of the origin of the uterine artery: laparoscopic surgical observation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To categorize the surgical anatomic variants of the origins of the uterine arteries and to clarify the difference in the description of the internal iliac artery in the contemporary anthropologic, radiologic and surgical system.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred women with symptomatic fibroids were treated using retroperitoneal laparoscopic dissection of the uterine vessels (LDUV). Retrospective evaluation of the operative records and videos was carried out. The anatomical classification of Adachi (type I-V) was modified for surgical purposes (type I-IV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic retroperitoneal dissection and LDUV were carried out successfully using an ultrasonic operative technique in all women. The branching of the branches of the internal iliac artery was studied on the right side of the pelvis. Of the 100 uterine arteries that were evaluated, 81% were classifiable types and 19% of surgical dissections were inconclusive. Classification was as follows: type I, 30.8%; type II, 23.4%; type III, 45.6%; and type IV was not found. Modified surgical classification type III (visceral branches arising from the umbilical artery and the internal pudendal artery) was claimed to be statistically the most common type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic dissection of the uterine artery close to the origin of the uterine artery can be carried out safely in the most frequent types of surgical classification. The meticulous dissection of the uterine artery in cases in which the uterine artery does not arise typically from an unobliterated segment of the internal iliac artery was recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Endoscopic Training Center, Baby Friendly Hospital, Kladno, Czech Republic. holubz@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukac
authors.forename: Lev
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kliment
authors.forename: Stepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urbanek
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*