title: Real-time infrared thermography for ureter detection during hysterectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recognition of different anatomic structures might be difficult in the presence of diseases such as neoplasm or endometriosis that can subvert the anatomy. This can be a challenge for young surgeons approaching gynecologic surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of infrared thermocamera to identify the anatomic structures in gynecologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2010 to May 2011, consecutive patients who required abdominal hysterectomy were considered for eligibility. During a procedure for benign disease, we evaluated the temperature difference between the ureter and infundibulopelvic vessel (experiment A). In patients with gynecologic cancer, the thermal gradient was determined between the iliac vessels and the ureter (experiment B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data from 21 patients were recorded, 12 for experiment A and 9 for experiment B. We found a statistically significant difference between the ureter and vessels in both experiments (31.675°C ± 0.673°C for the ureter and 33.332°C ± 0.828°C for the infundibulopelvic vessel, P < 0.0001; 31.706°C ± 0.751°C for the ureter, 33.787°C ± 0.63°C for the iliac vein, and 33.784°C ± 0.639°C for the iliac artery, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infrared imaging allowed us to identify the anatomic structures in laparotomy, providing preliminary data for its application in laparoscopy.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Bio Medico, University of Rome, Rome, Italy. r.angioli@unicampus.it
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Angioli
authors: Corrado
authors: C
authors: Terranova
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Plotti
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Montera
authors: Patrizio
authors: P
authors: Damiani
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Scaletta
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Portuesi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Bonanni
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Tombolini
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008875:Middle Aged; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D014513:Ureter