ABSTRACT
Apart from anatomy relevant to surgical dissection in specific areas of the female pelvis, the bridge between knowledge of pelvic anatomy and efficient surgical practice requires mastery of several techniques of surgical dissection. This chapter describes three fundamental areas that are essential to the successful surgeon: key techniques of tissue dissection, the dynamics of surgical teamwork, and a working knowledge of surgical anatomy. Proper tissue dissection frequently requires restitution to normal anatomy by lysis of adhesions and by systematic exploration within various areas of the pelvic retroperitoneum. As collaboration is essential to optimally perform successful surgery, teamwork relies on leadership skills to coordinate the roles of all team members to achieve a “synergy of purpose.” In addition to key visceral and structural pelvic anatomy, the pre-sacral space, the pelvic brim, the pelvic sidewall, the base of the broad ligament/cardinal ligament, the paravesical space, the retropubic space, the vesicovaginal space, the pararectal space, and the rectovaginal space will be reviewed.
