67 - Anatomical Variation of the Obturator Artery and Its Risk for Surgical Practice

Poster Board Number: 67
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

Victor Hugo Freitas, Student Medicine - Student Medicine, Medicine, Unichristus; Aston De Freitas, Student - Professor, Medicine, Unichristus; Enzo Lima Parente, Student Medicine - Student Medicine, Medicine, Unichristus; Marcela de Holanda, Student - Student, Anatomy, Unichristus; Gilberto Santos Cerqueira, Student Medicine - Student Medicine, Medicine, Unichristus; Joao Erivan Barreto, Professor Medicine - Professor, Medicine, Unichristus

Abstract Body :The obturator artery is most often a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. In the pelvis, the obturator artery gives off muscular branches, a nutrient artery to the ilium, and a pubic branch. The pubic branch originates just before the obturator artery leaves the pelvis. It ascends the pelvic surface of the pubis to anastomose with its companion on the opposite side and with the pubic branch of the inferior epigastric artery, a branch of the external iliac artery. The obturator artery and its variations have attracted the attention of pelvic surgeons, anatomists and radiologists due to the high frequency of variations in its course and origin. This anatomical variation can cause serious accidents during surgery if the surgeon is not aware of it. Based on these premises, the objective of this work was to describe an anatomical variation of the obturator artery in a human cadaver from the anatomy laboratory. 15 pelves from glycerinated cadavers were evaluated, 9 male and 7 female, totaling 14 pelves. The dissection of the inguinal region was carried out by 2 students from the Unichristus University Monitoring Program, under the supervision of an Anatomist Coordinator of the Laboratory of that program. Due to the fragility of the skin, it was easily removed by blunt dissection and manual detachment. After dissection, it was observed that only 1 male cadaver contained the anatomical variation where the obturator artery originated from the inferior epigastric artery. This variation has already been reported in studies and can complicate inguinal hernia correction surgery, and it is essential that the general and abdominal surgeon knows this anatomical variation to avoid iatrogenic injuries due to these changes. We found that the authors' contact with this anatomical variation is of great value, due to the importance of this knowledge in surgical practice in pelvic surgeries.