Surgical Anatomy of the Rectovaginal Space: Does a Standalone Rectovaginal Septum or Denonvilliers Fascia Exist in Women?

Background: Below the anterior peritoneal reflection, the anterior rectal wall and mesorectum are separated from the posterior vaginal wall by a virtual rectovaginal space. In this space, the description of a specific and independent rectovaginal septum as a female counterpart of Denonvilliers fascia has been the subject of debate over the years.

Objective: The aim of this study is to perform an accurate anatomical study of the rectovaginal area in a cadaveric simulation model of total mesorectal excision to evaluate the possible structures and the dissection planes contained within the rectovaginal space.

The fusion fascia of Fredet: an important embryological landmark for complete mesocolic excision and D3-lymphadenectomy in right colon cancer.

Background: The fusion fascia of Toldt is a well-known landmark used by colorectal surgeons. On the contrary, the fusion fascia of Fredet (the plane between the ascending mesocolon and the visceral duodenal-pancreatic peritoneum) still remains a neglected embryological structure. Aim of this study was to provide an anatomic description of this fascia and its application to minimally invasive D3-lymphadenectomy (D3-L) and complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right colon cancer.

Autologous Patellar Tendon Reconstruction after Total Knee Arthroplasty Infection with Skin Loss: Anatomical Study and Case Report.

Disruption of patellar tendon after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a devastating complication. If associated with infection or soft tissue defect, knee arthrodesis is usually indicated. The purpose of this study is to analyze, by means of an anatomical study, the feasibility of our novel technique for reconstruction of extensor apparatus after TKA infections with skin defects, combining gracilis (G) and semitendinosus (ST) tendon autografts and chimeric medial gastrocnemius-sural artery perforator (SAP) flap.

Simulation of Supralevator Abscesses and Complex Fistulas in Cadavers: Pelvic Dissemination and Drainage Routes.

Background: Most perianal abscesses have a cryptoglandular origin, following the pathogenesis described by Parks in 1961. Supralevator abscesses have the most uncommon location. Nevertheless, such pathology results in a high morbidity because of their difficult diagnosis and treatment.

Atlases with Arcuate Foramen Present Cortical Bone Thickening That May Contribute to Lower Fracture Risk.

Background: To date, no information about the cortical bone microstructural properties in atlas vertebrae with arcuate foramen has been reported. As a result, we aimed to test in an experimental model if there is a cortical bone thickening in an atlas vertebra which has an arcuate foramen that may play a protective role against bone fracture.

Methods: We analyzed by means of micro-computed tomography the cortical bone thickness, the cortical volume, and the medullary volume (SkyScan 1172 Bruker micro-CT NV, Kontich, Belgium) in cadaveric dry atlas vertebrae with arcuate foramen and without arcuate foramen.

How to reduce the superior mesenteric vein bleeding risk during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Purpose: The superior right colic vein (SRCV) has been proposed as the main cause of superior mesenteric vein bleeding by avulsion during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Our objective is to identify the main vessel causing transverse mesocolic tension during the extraction of the surgical specimen or extracorporeal anastomosis and to perform an anatomical description of the SRCV.

Methods: In this cadaveric study, we performed a simulation of right hemicolectomy and anatomical description of the surgical area of the gastrocolic trunk of Henle (SAGCTH), the gastrocolic trunk of Henle (GCTH), and SRCV.

Cortical bone thickening in Type A posterior atlas arch defects: experimental report.

Background Context: To date, no information about the cortical bone microstructural properties in atlas vertebrae with posterior arch defects has been reported.

Purpose: To test if there is an increased cortical bone thickening in atlases with Type A posterior atlas arch defects in an experimental model.

Study Design: Micro-computed tomography (CT) study on cadaveric atlas vertebrae.

Difficulties in distinguishing between an atlas fracture and a congenital posterior atlas arch defect in postmortem analysis.

We found one atlas from a sample of 148 skeletons (0.67%) that presented different anatomical variations which made it difficult to determine whether the vertebra had an atlas fracture, an unusual Type B posterior atlas arch defect, or a combination of both. We carried out a stereomicroscopy, radiographic, and computerized tomography scan study that revealed that the dry atlas we found presented a very uncommon congenital Type B posterior atlas arch defect, simulating a fracture.

Absence of circumflex artery with superdominant right coronary: a classic anatomical dissection study.

Purpose: We report a very unusual case of variant coronary artery anatomy, discovered during anatomical dissection in a medical school.

Methods: The heart from a very advanced age donor was dissected using classic anatomical techniques

Results: The right coronary artery showed a superdominant pattern, extending beyond the crux of the heart and circling the atrioventricular groove almost completely. It followed the usual path of the absent circumflex artery, and ended as a slender branch which almost reached the origin of the anterior interventricular artery.

Anatomical basis for the low incidence of internal hernia after a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass without mesenteric closure.

Background: Different techniques have been designed to reduce the rate of internal hernia (IH) after laparoscopic bariatric surgery, and mesenteric closure is possibly the most controversial. We propose a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) procedure without mesenteric closure with several specific technical details to avoid IH. To support this view, we have reviewed the outcome of our LRYGB patients and have carried out an anatomical study on cadavers.

White-to-white corneal diameter, pupil diameter, central corneal thickness and thinnest corneal thickness values of emmetropic subjects.

Purpose: This report assesses white-to-white corneal diameter, pupil diameter, central corneal thickness and thinnest corneal thickness values in a large sample of emmetropic subjects.

Methods: Three hundred and seventy-nine eyes of 379 young healthy emmetropic subjects were analyzed by means of scanning-slit corneal topography. The age of the subjects ranged from 18 to 53 years (mean ± SD = 29 ± 7).

An experimental comparative study of dexamethasone, melatonin and tacrolimus in noise-induced hearing loss.

Conclusion: The calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (TCR) and the pineal gland hormone and antioxidant melatonin (MLT) have been shown to possess otoprotective properties against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In contrast, dexamethasone (DXM) was not effective as an otoprotective agent against NIHL. Further studies are needed to understand the exact molecular mechanisms involved.

Differences in ocular dimensions between normal and dry eyes.

Assessment of ocular dimensions is essential for ophthalmic surgeons because these values must be determined before scheduling excimer laser refractive and cataract surgeries. Dry eye seems to affect central corneal thickness (CCT) values, but it is not clear if it affects anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD) and axial length values. Following on from this, we measured the CCT, ACD, LT, VCD and axial length of 64 healthy eyes (51.

Quantitative anatomical differences in central corneal thickness values determined with scanning-slit corneal topography and noncontact specular microscopy.

Purpose: This study was designed to analyze the differences in central corneal thickness values determined with noncontact specular microscopy and scanning-slit corneal topography. The measurements were performed on the same eye.

Methods: We analyzed the central corneal thickness values of 93 patients (n = 93) by means of noncontact specular microscopy (Topcon SP-2000P noncontact specular microscope, Topcon Corp.

Reduced corneal thickness values in postmenopausal women with dry eye.

Purpose: To study and compare the corneal thickness values of postmenopausal women with dry eye and postmenopausal women without dry eye.

Methods: The corneal thickness value of 30 postmenopausal women with dry eye (dry eye group; aged 52 to 55 years) and 32 postmenopausal women without dry eye (normal group; aged 51 to 55 years) was analyzed with the Orbscan Topography System II. Each woman underwent a tear breakup test, the Schirmer test, fluorescein staining of the cornea, and an analysis of the meibomian gland by slit lamp before corneal thickness measurement.

Anatomic study of the corneal thickness of young emmetropic subjects.

Purpose: To study the corneal thickness of young emmetropic subjects.

Methods: One thousand eyes of 1000 young healthy emmetropic subjects were analyzed with the Orbscan Topography System II (Orbscan, Inc, Salt Lake City, UT) from January 2001 to May 2003. The age of the subjects ranged from 20 to 30 years old (mean +/- SD = 27.

Segmental gracilis free flap based on secondary pedicles: anatomical study and clinical series.

The gracilis muscle has been used extensively in reconstructive surgery, based on the proximal dominant pedicle. In the literature, little attention has been paid to the secondary distal pedicles. The distribution of the secondary pedicles of the gracilis muscle was investigated in 20 cadaver thighs.

Cytoarchitecture and efferent projections of the nucleus incertus of the rat.

The nucleus incertus is located caudal to the dorsal raphe and medial to the dorsal tegmentum. It is composed of a pars compacta and a pars dissipata and contains acetylcholinesterase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, and cholecystokinin-positive somata. In the present study, anterograde tracer injections in the nucleus incertus resulted in terminal-like labeling in the perirhinal cortex and the dorsal endopyriform nucleus, the hippocampus, the medial septum diagonal band complex, lateral and triangular septum medial amygdala, the intralaminar thalamic nuclei, and the lateral habenula.