Round ligament management during minimally invasive groin hernia repair in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Female sex has been associated with worse outcomes after groin hernia repair (GHR), including a higher rate of chronic pain and recurrence. Most of the studies in GHR are performed in males, and the recommendations for females extrapolate from these studies, even though females have anatomy intricacies. The round ligament of the uterus (RLU) is associated with pelvic stabilization and plays a role in sensory function. Transection of the RLU during GHR is controversial as it can allow easier mesh placement but can favor genitourinary complications and chronic pain. As no previous meta-analysis compared preserving versus transecting the RLU during minimally invasive (MIS) GHR, we aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating surgical outcomes comparing the approaches. METHODS: Cochrane Central, Embase, and PubMed databases were systematically searched for studies comparing transection versus preservation of the RLU in MIS groin hernia surgeries. Outcomes assessed were operative time, bleeding, surgical site events, hospital stay, chronic pain, paresthesia, recurrence rates, and genital prolapse rates. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. A review protocol for this meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO (CRD 42023467146). RESULTS: 1738 studies were screened. A total of six studies, comprising 1131 women, were included, of whom 652 (57.6%) had preservation of the RLU during MIS groin hernia repair. We found no statistical difference regarding chronic pain, paresthesia, recurrence rates, and postoperative complications. We found a longer operative time for the preservation group (MD 6.84 min; 95% CI 3.0-10.68; P = 0.0005; I2 = 74%). CONCLUSION: Transecting the RLU reduces the operative time during MIS GHR with no difference regarding postoperative complication rates. Although transection appears safe, further prospective randomized studies with long-term follow-up and patient-reported outcomes are necessary to define the optimal management of RLU during MIS GHR.

Venous reconstruction using a round ligament-covered prosthetic vascular graft in right­lobe living­donor liver transplantation: a technical report.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short term-outcomes of venous reconstruction using a round ligament-covered prosthetic vascular graft and assess its effectiveness in the prevention of prosthetic vascular graft migration in right­lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) tributaries during right lobe LDLT between January, 2021 and October, 2022. These patients were divided into the autologous vascular graft group (A group, n = 24) and the round ligament-covered prosthetic vascular graft group (RP group, n = 6). The computed tomography (CT) density ratio of the drainage area in the posterior segment of patent grafts was significantly higher in the RP group than in the A group (0.91 vs. 1.06, p = 0.0025). However, the patency rates of reconstructed MHV tributaries in the A and RP groups were 61% and 67%, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.72). Prosthetic vascular graft migration did not occur in the RP group. CONCLUSION: Venous reconstruction using round ligament-covered prosthetic vascular grafts is a feasible and simple method to prevent prosthetic vascular graft migration in right-lobe LDLT.

Mid-term outcomes of laparoscopic vaginal stump­round (Kakinuma method) and stump­uterosacral (Shull method) ligament fixation for pelvic organ prolapse: A retrospective comparative study

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSC) using mesh are popular approaches for treating pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, it is not uncommon that native tissue repair (NTR) should be presented as an option to patients who are expected to have extensive intraperitoneal adhesion or patients for whom LSC or RSC is difficult owing to various risk factors. Laparoscopic vaginal stump-uterosacral ligament fixation (Shull method) has been introduced as a method for NTR in case of POP. However, effective repair using this surgical procedure may not be possible in severe POPs. To solve the problems of the Shull method, we devised the laparoscopic vaginal stump-round ligament fixation (Kakinuma method) in which the vaginal stump is fixed to the uterine round ligament, a histologically strong tissue positioned anatomically higher than the uterosacral ligament. This study aimed to retrospectively and clinically compare the two methods. METHODS: Of the 78 patients who underwent surgery for POP between January 2017 and June 2022 and postoperative follow-up for at least a year, 40 patients who underwent the Shull method (Shull group) and 38 who underwent the Kakinuma method (Kakinuma group) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in patient background variables such as mean age, parity, body mass index, and POP-Q stage. The mean operative duration and mean blood loss in the Shull group were 140.5 ± 31.7 min and 91.3 ± 96.3 ml, respectively, whereas the respective values in the Kakinuma group were 112.2 ± 25.3 min and 31.4 ± 47.7 ml, respectively. Thus, compared with the Shull group, the operative duration was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) and blood loss was significantly less (P = 0.003) in the Kakinuma group. Recurrence was observed in six patients (15.0%) in the Shull group and two patients (5.3%) in the Kakinuma group. Hence, compared with the Shull group, recurrence was significantly less in the Kakinuma group (P = 0.015). No patients experienced perioperative complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the Kakinuma method can serve as a novel and viable NTR procedure for POP.

Isolated Inflammatory Necrosis of the Falciform Ligament: A Case Report with Review of Literature.

Inflammatory necrosis of the falciform ligament is an extremely rare cause of acute right upper quadrant pain. Due to overlapping symptoms with pathologies affecting the gall bladder and liver, this poses a diagnostic challenge with limited existing literature. Here, we report a case of a 62-year-old female patient presenting in the accident and emergency department with right upper quadrant pain. The patient underwent ultrasonography and revealed thickened and echogenic falciform ligament. Further, a computed tomography revealed swollen falciform ligament with associated fat stranding. The patient was kept under conservative management and improved over 2 weeks.

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair for female patients with groin hernias.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) was recommended for female patients with groin hernias. Whereas, only a few studies focused on whether and how to preserve the round ligament of the uterus in TAPP. METHODS: Clinical data of 159 female patients with 181 groin hernias who underwent TAPP at a single institution in China from January 2016 to June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed and collected. RESULTS: All the patients underwent the operation smoothly without conversion. Division of the round ligament was performed for 33 hernias. Preservation of the round ligament was adopted for 148 hernias, 51 with the "keyhole" technique, 86 with the "longitudinal incision of peritoneum" method, and 11 with total dissection of the round ligament. The mean operative time was 55.6 ± 8.7 min for unilateral TAPP and 99.1 ± 15.8 min for bilateral TAPP. The mean estimated blood loss was 7.1 ± 4.5 mL. The postoperative complications included 6 (3.3%) cases of seroma, 1 (0.5%) case of hematoma, and 3 (1.6%) cases of mild chronic pain. The incidences of chronic pelvic pain and genital prolapse seemed to be higher in the division group than in the preservation groups (6.1% vs. 0.6% and 3.0% vs. 0%, separately). However, no statistical difference was observed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TAPP is feasible and effective for female patients with groin hernias, especially in preserving the round ligament of the uterus.

The falciform/round ligament "flooring," an effective method to reduce life-threatening post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage occurrence.

PURPOSE: Late post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) represents the most severe complication after pancreatic surgery. We have measured the efficacy of major vessels "flooring" with falciform/round ligament to prevent life-threatening grade C late PPH after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent PD and DP between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed on a prospectively maintained database. The cohort was divided in two groups: "flooring" vs. "no flooring" method group. The "no flooring" group had omental flap interposition. Patient characteristics and operative and postoperative data including clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), late PPH (grade B and C), and 90-day mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty patients underwent pancreatic resections, including 143 PD and 97 DP. The "flooring" method was performed in 61 patients (39 PD and 22 DP). No difference was found between the two groups concerning severe morbidity, CR-POPF, delayed PPH, and mortality rate. The rate of patients requiring postoperative intensive care unit was lower in the "flooring" than in the "no flooring" method group (11.5% vs. 25.1%, p = 0.030). Among patients with grade B/C late PPH (n = 30), the rate of life-threatening grade C late PPH was lower in the "flooring" than in the "no flooring" method group (28.6% (n = 2/7) vs. 82.6% (n = 19/24), p = 0.014). Risk factor analysis showed that the "flooring" method was the only protective factor against grade C late PPH occurrence (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The "flooring" method using the falciform/round ligament should be considered during pancreatectomies to reduce the occurrence of life-threatening grade C late PPH.

Anatomical investigation of the pelvic urogenital fascia in 10 formalin-fixed female cadavers: novel insights into the laparoscopic total mesometrial resection.

PURPOSE: Previous anatomical studies of the urogenital fascia (UGF) have focused on males, and there is a lack of relevant anatomical studies on the distribution of the extraperitoneal UGF in females. METHODS: In this investigation, guided by the embryonic development of the female urogenital system, the ventral pelvic fascia structure of 10 female cadavers was dissected, and the distribution and morphology of female extraperitoneal UGF were observed, recorded in text, photographs and video, and 3D modeling was performed. RESULTS: We find that in the female extraperitoneal space there is a migratory fascial structure, the UGF, which surrounds the urogenital system and extends from the perinephric region to the pelvis along with the development of the urogenital organs. The two layers of the UGF are composed of loose connective tissue rich in fat that surrounds the urogenital organs, their accessory vascular structures, and the nerves of the abdominopelvic cavity. In the pelvis, it participates in the formation of the ligamentous structures around the rectum and uterus. Finally, it surrounds the bladder and gradually moves into the loose connective tissue of the medial umbilical fold. CONCLUSIONS: Sorting out the distribution characteristics of UGF has some reference value for studying the metastasis of gynecological tumors, the biomechanical structure of the female pelvis, and the surgical methods of gynecology, colorectal surgery, and hernia surgery.

Canine intrahepatic portosystemic shunts: Interlobar and intralobar classifications.

This two-part study design showed that a canine congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IPSS) may be classified by its location within a liver fissure (interlobar) or lobe (intralobar). A prospective anatomic study reviewed normal canine liver morphology and showed the CT angiography (CTA) appearance of the normal canine ductus venosus (DV), which was confirmed via dissection and literature review to be between the papillary process and left-lateral liver lobe (in the fissure for ligamentum venosum). A retrospective multi-institutional case series documented the frequency of imaging findings in 56 dogs with a single IPSS that underwent portal CTA at Cornell University or the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center between June 2008 and August 2022. An interlobar IPSS was seen in 24 of 56 (43%) dogs, all arose from the left portal branch except one. These shunts were typically near the median plane, remained interlobar throughout the course, and were nearly always (96%) craniodorsal to the porta hepatis. Four types were distinguished: patent DV (11 dogs), left interlobar (11 dogs), right interlobar (1 dog), and ventral interlobar (1 dog). Only about half (46%) were in the fissure for ligamentum venosum and therefore classified as a patent DV. An intralobar IPSS was seen in 32 of 56 (57%) dogs, most (88%) originated from the right portal branch and were in the right-lateral liver lobe (21 dogs) or caudate process (7 dogs). During canine portal CTA, documenting the interlobar or intralobar location of an IPSS might increase the consistency and validity of IPSS description.

Objective follow-up after transection of uterine round ligament during laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias in women: assessment of safety and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Whether to preserve the uterine round ligament during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in women is controversial. In this study, we aimed to compare outcomes of uterine round ligament preservation versus transection during such surgery and to explore the impact and long-term outcomes of transecting the round ligament. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 419 women who had undergone laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Qilu Hospital from January 2013 to January 2020; 393 (93.8%) of whom were successfully followed up. Patient characteristics and technical details of the operative procedure were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Early and late postoperative follow-up data, complications, especially symptoms related to retroflexed uterus, and fertility outcomes, were collected by a single follow-up nurse who was blinded to the operative procedure. RESULTS: There were 218 women (239 sides) in the uterine round ligament preservation group and 175 (182 sides) in the transection group. The patients in the preservation group were younger (45.9 vs. 53.6 years, p = 0.000), and had lower American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (p = 0.000). The median follow-up times in the preservation and transection groups were 41.8 ± 24.2 and 42.7 ± 24.6 months, respectively (p = 0.692). Compared with the transection group, the preservation group had longer operative times for repair of both primary and recurrent hernias. Intraoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay, development of seromas, recurrence rate, incidence of postoperative pain at the first and third postoperative months, and time of last outpatient visit were similar in the two groups. There were more premenopausal patients in the preservation group; however, we found no evidence that transection of the round ligament affected subsequent pregnancy or childbirth. Moreover, we identified no differences in dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, or uterine prolapse. CONCLUSION: Transection of the round ligament during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in women does not increase the incidence of dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, or uterine prolapse, whereas it has the advantage of reducing the operation time.

Preservation of the round ligament to accommodate transient portal hypertension after major hepatectomy.

PURPOSE: Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a leading cause of death after extensive liver resection. Apart from the size and function of the remaining liver remnant, the development of postresection portal hypertension (pHT) plays a crucial role in the development of PHLF. We hypothesize that the umbilical vein in the preserved round ligament (RL) may recanalize in response to new-onset pHT after extended hepatectomy, thus providing a natural portosystemic shunt. METHODS: In this exploratory study, RL was preserved in 10 consecutive patients undergoing major liver resection. Postoperative imaging was pursued to obtain evidence of reopened umbilical vein in the RL. The postoperative course, including the occurrence of PHLF, as well as the rate of procedure-specific complications were recorded. RESULTS: None of the 10 cases presented with an adverse event due to preservation of the RL. In 6 cases, postoperative imaging demonstrated reopening of the umbilical vein with hepatofugal flow in the RL. The rates of procedure-related surgical complications were lower than would be expected in this population; in particular, the rate of occurrence of PHLF as defined by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) was low. CONCLUSION: Our results support the theoretical concept of portosystemic pressure relief via a preserved umbilical vein after major liver surgery. As preservation of the RL is easily done, we suggest keeping it intact in extended hepatectomy cases and in patients with preexistent pHT.

Round ligament suspending treatment in orthotopic ileal-neobladder after radical cystectomy in women: a single-centre prospective randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the occurrence of emptying dysfunction between surgical techniques for orthotopic neobladder suspended with round ligament (rONB) and the standard procedure (sONB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomised controlled trial was performed in a single centre of female patients undergoing creation of an ONB using rONB or sONB. Patients were followed for ≥24 months after ONB. The primary endpoints were significant post-void residual urine volume (sPVR) and need for clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) at 24 months postoperatively. The secondary endpoints included early and late complications, urodynamic profile, and ONB continence. RESULTS: Between January 2011 and October 2017, the trial enrolled 85 patients, of whom 82 were randomised. A total of 41 patients had a rONB and 41 a sONB. At 24 months, 17 of the 37 patients with a sONB and nine of the 39 patients with a rONB had a sPVR. The cumulative risk of a sPVR was significantly lower in the rONB group (23.1%) vs the sONB group (45.9%) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.96; P = 0.040). In all, 15 of the 37 patients with a sONB and four of the 39 patients with a rONB needed CIC. The cumulative risk of requiring CIC was significantly lower in the rONB group (10.3%) vs the sONB group (40.5%) (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.07-0.67; P = 0.008) at 24 months. Multivariable Cox regression analysis also showed that the rONB type was an independently protective factor for sPVR and CIC. The rates of early (0-90 days) and late complication (>90 days) were 54.1% and 13.5% in the sONB group, and 64.1% and 10.3% in the rONB group, respectively. There were no significant differences in complications, urodynamic profile or ONB continence. A major limitation is the small sample size at a single centre. CONCLUSION: Posterior support with round ligament for an ONB significantly improved the emptying of the ONB and resulted in a reduced need for CIC. The surgical modification is a feasible and safe technique without additional complication-related surgeries.

Applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery-a review of their utility and efficacy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite their ubiquitous presence, easy availability and diverse possibilities, falciform ligament and hepatic round ligament have been used less frequently than their potential dictates. This article aims to comprehensively review the applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery and assess their utility and efficacy. METHODS: Medical literature/indexing databases were searched, using internet search engines, for pertinent articles and analysed. RESULTS: The studied flap and graft have found utility predominantly in the management of diaphragmatic hernias, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, peptic perforations, biliary reconstruction, venous reconstruction, post-operative pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, hepatic cyst cavity obliteration, liver bleed, sternal dehiscence, splenectomy, reinforcement of aortic stump, feeding access, diagnostic/therapeutic access into portal system, composite tissue allo-transplant and ventriculo-peritoneal shunting where they have exhibited the desired efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft are versatile and have multifarious applications in abdominal surgery with some novel and unique uses in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery including liver transplantation. Their evident efficacy needs wider adoption to realise their true potential.

Female pediatric inguinal hernia: uterine deviation toward the hernia side.

PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify the frequency and the clinical significance of deviation of the uterus in female pediatric inguinal hernia. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 94 female pediatric inguinal hernia cases that were treated by laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure. We assessed for correlations between uterine deviation and age, body weight, the size of the hernia orifice, and the presence of contralateral processus vaginalis (PV) patency. RESULTS: Eighty-four of 94 cases were diagnosed with unilateral inguinal hernia. A total of 62 (73.8%) of these had uterine deviation to the hernia side (Group D); 22 (26.2%) had no deviation to the hernia side (Group N) (P < 0.001). Group D cases were significantly younger than those in Group N (P = 0.0351). There was no difference in body weight, size of the hernia orifice, or contralateral PV patency between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of uterine deviation toward the hernia side was statistically significant. It is important to recognize that female pediatric inguinal hernia repair carries an increased risk of ovarian and fallopian tube damage, because these appendages are close to the hernia orifice as a result of the uterine deviation.

No difference in genitourinary complications after laparoscopic vs. open groin hernia repair in women: a nationwide linked register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: During laparoscopic groin hernia repair, the surgeon may transect the round ligament of uterus to facilitate mesh placement. Transection during open repair is rarer and anatomically further from the uterus. Our aim was to compare long-term genitourinary outcomes, particularly genital prolapse, between open and laparoscopic repair in women with a primary groin hernia. METHODS: The study was reported according to RECORD guidelines. All women having received a primary anterior open or laparoscopic groin hernia repair from 1998 to 2014 were identified through The Danish Hernia Database and linked with data from The Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Register of Causes of Death. Our outcome was postoperative genital prolapse and other long-term complications related to gynecology, urology, and infertility. RESULTS: We included 10,867 women having received a primary groin hernia repair, 7732 (71%) had an open anterior repair and 3135 (29%) a laparoscopic repair. The median (range) age was 59 (19-102) and 64 (18-105), respectively (p < 0.001). Median follow-up was 65 (range 0-203) months. After open repair, 313/7340 (4.2%) had a postoperative genital prolapse, and 46/2,934 (1.5%) after laparoscopic repair (p < 0.001). In multivariate Cox Regression analyses adjusting for age and hernia type, there were no difference between the two methods (p = 0.474). Women with an inguinal hernia had a higher risk of genital prolapse than women with a femoral hernia, independent of repair method [HR = 1.455 (1.143-1.853), p = 0.002]. We found no significant differences between open and laparoscopic methods in multivariate analyses assessing other long-term postoperative genitourinary and/or infertility outcomes. CONCLUSION: We found no differences in postoperative genital prolapse or other complications related to gynecology, urology, and/or infertility between open anterior and laparoscopic groin hernia repair in women. Assuming the round ligament of uterus is being transected more often in laparoscopic repair than in open, the urogenital consequences of transection seem to be minimal.

Close relationship between the short round ligament and the ovarian prolapsed inguinal hernia in female infants.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the length of the round ligament and the presence of a patent processus vaginalis (PV) based on the hypothesis that a short round ligament is the cause of ovarian inguinal hernia in female infants. METHODS: Between April 2011 and March 2017, 132 girls underwent laparoscopic surgery for inguinal hernia. Before surgery, the presence of ovarian prolapse was diagnosed. We observed the internal inguinal ring laparoscopically and examined the diameter of the PV orifice as well as the round ligament length. Medical records and video records were reviewed to evaluate PV patency and round ligament length. RESULTS: Seventeen of the 132 cases had an ovarian inguinal hernia; all of them were infants. In all infants, with or without a prolapsed ovary, the round ligament was short, causing the ovary and fallopian tube to be close to the hernia orifice over the pelvic brim. In girls aged over 12 months, the round ligament lengths on the hernia side, contralateral open PV side, and contralateral closed PV side were 33.0 ± 9.3, 36.8 ± 7.5, and 41.4 ± 8.5 mm, respectively. The round ligament length in open PV was significantly shorter than in the closed PV, but the difference was smaller in older patients. CONCLUSION: The round ligament, which is the female gubernaculum in the fetus, was shorter in the open PV than in the closed PV in younger girls. The short round ligament results in the ovarian prolapsed hernia.

The ligamentum teres femoris in orangutans.

OBJECTIVES: It is widely viewed that orangutans lack a ligamentum teres femoris (LTF) inserting on the femoral head because orangutans lack a distinct fovea capitis. Orangutans employ acrobatic quadrumanous clambering that requires a high level of hip joint mobility, and the absence of an LTF is believed to be an adaptation to increase hip mobility. However, there are conflicting reports in the literature about whether there may be a different LTF configuration in orangutans, perhaps with a ligament inserting on the femoral neck instead. Here we perform a dissection-based study of orangutan hip joints, assess the soft tissue and hard tissue correlates of the orangutan LTF, and histologically examination the LTF to evaluate whether it is homologous to that found in other hominoids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hip joints from six orangutans were dissected. In the two orangutans with an LTF passing to the femoral head, the LTF was assessed histologically. Skeletonized femora (n=56) in osteological repositories were examined for evidence of a foveal pit. RESULTS: We observed an LTF in two of the three infant orangutans but not in the sub-adult or adult specimens. Histological examination of the infant LTF shows a distinct artery coursing through the LTF to the head of the femur. One percent of orangutan femora present with a foveal scar, but no pit, on the femoral head. DISCUSSION: Despite being absent in adults, the LTF is present in at least some orangutans during infancy. We suggest that the LTF maintains a role in blood supply to the femoral head early in life. Because the LTF can limit hip mobility, this may explain why the LTF may be lost as an orangutan ages and gains locomotor independence. These findings enhance our understanding of orangutan hip morphology and underscore the need for future soft tissue investigations.

The round ligament of the uterus: Questioning its distal insertion.

PURPOSE: Classically, the round ligament of the uterus (RLU) attaches distally in the ipsilateral labia majora. This attachment has rarely been described in adults. That is why we have performed an anatomical study focused on this distal ending. PATIENTS: We performed in 2015 the cadaveric dissection of 19 RLU. METHODS: In all cases, the RLU was individualized on its entire length from its uterine origin to the inguinal canal. Then this canal was open from its internal orifice to its external orifice. We described the distal attachment of the RLU according four areas: before the internal inguinal ring, after the external inguinal ring, under the pubic bone and in labia majora. RESULTS: We found 3 types of distal attachments with first an attachment after the external inguinal ring in more than half of cases (52.6%). Then, before the internal inguinal ring (26.3%) and under the pubic bone (22.1%). No RLU was found inlabia majora. However, the proximal attachment seems constant at the antero-superior face of uterus, near the tubo-uterine junction like its pelvic path under the broad ligament. CONCLUSION: In adult, the RLU is a structure, which begins at the cranio-ventral part of the uterine bottom near the tubo-uterine junction. Then it passes under the broad ligament and reaches the inguinal canal, that it crosses in more half of cases. However, 3 distal attachment areas have been identified but never in the labia majora. Indeed, some anatomical information available in anatomical treaties seems not correct and should be amended.

Application of fluorescent cholangiography during single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis with a right-sided round ligament: Preliminary experience.

An 82-year-old woman was diagnosed with cholecystitis with a right-sided round ligament. We planned a single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Based on the findings of fluorescent cholangiography, the running course of the common bile duct was confirmed before dissection of Calot's triangle, and the confluence between the cystic duct and the common bile duct was exposed after the dissection of Calot's triangle. The planned surgery was successful. The operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 157 min and 2 mL, respectively. The patient was discharged from our hospital 3 days after surgery. Application of fluorescent cholangiography during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the patients with a right-sided round ligament should be widely accepted.

Lipoma of round ligament on the intraperitoneal portion (abdominal site): a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Primary tumors of round ligament are rare, and when found are typically leiomyomas. Endometrioma, and mesothelial cysts are the benign lesions recognized as involving the round ligament. We report a case of lipoma of the round ligament in a 48-year-old premenopausal woman. Round ligament lipoma on the intraperitoneal portion (abdominal site) is very rare and it should be kept in the differential diagnosis of ovarian and abdominal masses.