Michael S. Baggish

Abdominal hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States. The basis for this operation is an open abdomen (laparotomy), which provides adequate exposure for isolation of the uterus and adnexa from surrounding structures to allow cutting and securing of support structures that attach the uterus to the pelvic floor and sidewalls.

These supporting structures include (1) vascular pedicles together with their peritoneal and connective tissue investments (e.g., infundibulopelvic ligament, uterine artery and veins); (2) muscular supports (e.g., the round ligaments); (3) connective tissue–vascular/neural condensations (e.g., cardinal, uterosacral ligaments); and (4) fat and peritoneum (e.g., broad ligament, uterovesical, uterorectal folds).

Strategic surrounding structures include the bladder anteriorly, the rectum posteriorly, and the ureters and great vessels laterally.

The blood supply to the uterus emanates from the hypogastric arteries and via the ovarian arteries from the aorta. The venous drainage enters the hypogastric veins, the vena cava (right ovarian), and the left renal vein (left ovarian). The uterine artery crosses from the anterior division of the hypogastric artery obliquely above the ureter to join the uterus at the junction of the corpus and cervix. The artery divides into a larger, ascending branch and a smaller, descending branch that supplies the cervix and anastomoses with the vaginal artery. The latter also takes origin from the anterior division of the hypogastric artery.

FIGURE 11–1 A. The myomatous uterus in situ, the Balfour self-retaining retractor is in place. A Richardson retractor is positioned between the bladder and the uterus. B. A 0 Vicryl stitch placed into the uterine fundus pulls the uterus posteriorly, exposing the vesicouterine peritoneum. A malleable retractor has been placed between the uterus and the sigmoid colon.

FIGURE 11–2 Schematic topographic view of the pertinent anatomy encountered during hysterectomy.

FIGURE 11–3 A. The round ligament is clamped with a Zeppelin clamp. B. A second clamp is placed on the round ligament at the point where it attaches to the uterus and the ligament is divided. C. The cut is extended into the upper portion on the anterior leaf of the broad ligament.

FIGURE 11–4 The round ligament is cut, and the peritoneal reflection between the bladder and the uterus is dissected by slipping the scissors beneath the peritoneal edge and spreading the scissors repeatedly as the scissor is advanced. Next, the dissected peritoneum is cut.

FIGURE 11–5 A. The scissor is slipped under the vesicouterine peritoneum within a bloodless space, in preparation for cutting the peritoneum. B. The bladder peritoneum is cut, thereby severing the attachment between the bladder and the uterus. C. The loose areolar tissue deep within the anterior leaf of the broad ligament is dissected. D. The pelvic ureter lies at the floor of the dissected broad ligament.

FIGURE 11–6 The left round ligament is divided similarly to the procedure performed on the right side.

FIGURE 11–7 A. The left round ligament has been cut. The left side of the vesicouterine peritoneum is dissected with scissors and cut so as to join up with the severed peritoneum on the right side. B. The bladder is pushed inferiorly by applying pressure on the cervix and bladder with a sponge stick. The pressure should mainly be applied to the cervix.

FIGURE 11–8 When sponge forceps are applied to the bladder, care must be taken to stay in the midline; straying to the right or left will invariably tear the surrounding vesical (vesicle) and uterine vessels.

FIGURE 11–9 A. The posterior leaf of the broad ligament is isolated and opened. B. The ovarian vessels (infundibulopelvic ligaments) are clamped with Zeppelin clamps with identical curvature. C. The infundibulopelvic ligament is triply clamped with Zeppelin clamps and divided along the dashed line between the clamp closest to the ovary and the two clamps farthest from the ovary. D. The ovarian vessels have been cut free from the adnexa, and one suture ligature has been placed and tied. E. The two portions of the cut infundibulopelvic ligament are shown here. A second suture ligature will be placed midway and below the clamp to which the arrow points. The suture ligature will be tied “fore and aft.”

FIGURE 11–10 The lowest clamp on the infundibulopelvic ligament is tied with 0 Vicryl. The remaining clamp is removed after a suture is passed under the clamp and is tied fore and aft (around the tip and heel of the clamp). The ligament, thus doubly secured, is then divided. A similar procedure is performed on the right and left sides. The ureter is identified to the point where it is crossed over by the uterine vessels.