Laparoscopic Approach to the Lumbosacral Plexus and Pelvic Autonomic Nerves
摘要
Virtually all the nerve bundles of the anterior division of the lumbosacral plexus cross the pelvic cavity after emerging from the vertebral foramina. Laparoscopy provides optimal access and visualization to these nerve bundles due to the positive pressure, direct lighting, and magnification. Neuropelveology is a new field that has arisen from the development of such laparoscopic neurosurgical techniques. Anatomically, we divide the intrapelvic portions of the lumbosacral plexus into three groups: lateral (the genitofemoral nerve and the nerves lateral to the psoas muscle), distal (those fibers distal to the crossing of the internal iliac vein), and proximal (the nerve bundles proximal to the crossing of the internal iliac veins). In this chapter, we will describe the steps of the laparoscopic access to each of those nerve groups.