Pelvic AnatomyRETRO-PELVISNCT07522931
Systematic Anatomical Description of the Female Pelvic Retroperitoneum in Cadavers
An observational study of Pelvic Anatomy and Retroperitoneum, run by Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge at 2 sites in Spain.
Trial summary
This observational descriptive cadaveric study aims to describe the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum using standardized anatomical dissection. Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program will undergo pelvic retroperitoneal dissection. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Pelvic Anatomy, Retroperitoneum, Cadaveric Study
- What is being tested?
- Anatomical Dissection
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesSpain
- Study dates
- 14 Apr 2026to 30 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult female cadavers from the institutional body donation program.
Who may be able to join
- Female cadavers from an institutional body donation program
- Age ≥ 18 years at time of death
- Adequate preservation of pelvic and abdominal retroperitoneal structures
- Anatomical integrity allowing identification of the pelvic ureter, iliac vessels and their main branches, obturator nerve, and other structures included in the anatomical checklist.
- Availability of both hemipelves for comparative analysis
- Authorization for research use according to institutional body donation regulations
Who cannot join
- Male cadavers
- Prior major pelvic or abdominal surgery significantly altering retroperitoneal anatomy (e.g., hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, vascular surgery)
- History of pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
- Advanced pelvic or abdominal malignancy with retroperitoneal involvement
- Severe trauma affecting pelvic or abdominal anatomy
- Poor preservation or significant tissue degradation
- Absence of one or both hemipelves
- Advanced pregnancy at time of death
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Jorge Garcia Fernandez Principal Investigator, Gynecologist contact
Spain2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Universitat de Barcelona - Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology
Barcelona, Barcelona, 08007
- Not yet recruiting
Universitat de Barcelona - Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology
Barcelona, 08028
Josep Maria de Anta Vinyals Chief of Department Anatomy and Embriology, Anatomist, janta@ub.edu
About this study
Official title: Systematic Anatomical Description of the Female Pelvic Retroperitoneum in Cadavers: A Descriptive Study for Gynecologic Surgery
This observational descriptive cadaveric study aims to describe the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum using standardized anatomical dissection. Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program will undergo pelvic retroperitoneal dissection. Ten predefined anatomical relationships involving the ureter, pelvic vessels and nerves will be evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist. Anatomical variability will be described for each item. Standardized photographs will also be obtained to develop an anatomical atlas for educational purposes.
Read the detailed description
This is an observational, descriptive cadaveric study designed to characterize the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum with direct application to gynecologic surgery.
The study will be conducted using adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program. Approximately 20 cadavers will be included, depending on availability, providing a total of 40 hemipelves. Each hemipelvis will be considered an independent unit of analysis.
Standardized anatomical dissections of the pelvic retroperitoneum will be performed following a predefined protocol. The main anatomical structures relevant to gynecologic surgery will be identified, including the pelvic ureter, iliac vessels and their branches, obturator nerve, and other predefined anatomical landmarks.
Each hemipelvis will be evaluated using a standardized 10-item anatomical checklist. For every item, the reference anatomical pattern will be classified as present ("Yes"), absent ("No"), or not evaluable ("Not evaluable"). Anatomical variability will be calculated as the proportion of anatomical variants among all evaluable hemipelves for each item.
Standardized photographic documentation will be obtained throughout the dissections. Anatomical variants will be qualitatively described and illustrated whenever possible.
Statistical analysis will be descriptive. Categorical variables will be presented as absolute frequencies and percentages. Anatomical variability will be reported for each checklist item, excluding non-evaluable observations from the denominator.
This study does not involve living human participants, clinical interventions, or identifiable personal data. All procedures will be conducted in accordance with institutional and ethical standards governing the use of donated human bodies for research and education.
The expected outcome is a systematic description of the principal anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum and their anatomical variability, together with the development of a photographic anatomical atlas to support surgical training and gynecologic education.
- Conditions
- Pelvic Anatomy, Retroperitoneum, Cadaveric Study, Surgical Anatomy
- Being tested
- Anatomical Dissection
- Keywords
- Pelvic anatomy, retroperitoneum, female pelvis, Dissection, cadaver, cadaveric model, surgical anatomy, Gynecologic surgery, Morphometric analysis, Anatomical variability, Nerve-sparing surgery, Pelvic vessels, Ureter anatomy, Hypogastric plexus, Pelvic lymphatic anatomy
- Medical subject headings
- Cadaver
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Anatomical DissectionOther
Standardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection with completion of a 10-item anatomical checklist, observations and photographic documentation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Cadaveric Specimens | Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program. Specimens will undergo standardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection, completion of a predefined 10-item anatomical checklist, and photographic documentation. Receives: Other: Anatomical Dissection |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Frequency of anatomical variation
Percentage of anatomical variation for each of the ten predefined anatomical relationships evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (1)
Development of an anatomical atlas
Standardized photographic documentation of anatomical structures and variants for educational purposes.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start14 Apr 2026
- Primary completion28 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Pelvic AnatomyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Barcelona
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jorge García Fernández, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
- Investigators
- Jorge García Fernández, Gynecologist, Principal investigator, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07522931
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UB-RETROPERITONEO-2026
- Acronym
- RETRO-PELVIS
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this study does not involve living participants or identifiable individual-level clinical data. The study is based on anonymized cadaveric specimens and generates aggregate anatomical and morphometric data.
Publications
Cibula D, Abu-Rustum NR. Pelvic lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer--surgical anatomy and proposal for a new classification system. Gynecol Oncol. 2010 Jan;116(1):33-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2009.09.003. Epub 2009 Oct 17.
PubMed 19837449Sanna B, Henry BM, Vikse J, Skinningsrud B, Pekala JR, Walocha JA, Cirocchi R, Tomaszewski KA. The prevalence and morphology of the corona mortis (Crown of death): A meta-analysis with implications in abdominal wall and pelvic surgery. Injury. 2018 Feb;49(2):302-308. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.12.007. Epub 2017 Dec 9.
PubMed 29241998Sienkiewicz-Zawilinska J, Zawilinski J, Kaythampilla LN, Jankiel M, Urbaniak J, Bereza T, Kowalski W, Loukas M, Walocha J. Autonomic nervous system of the pelvis - general overview. Folia Med Cracov. 2018;58(2):21-44. doi: 10.24425/fmc.2018.124656.
PubMed 30467432Ripperda CM, Jackson LA, Phelan JN, Carrick KS, Corton MM. Anatomic relationships of the pelvic autonomic nervous system in female cadavers: clinical applications to pelvic surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Apr;216(4):388.e1-388.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.12.002. Epub 2016 Dec 9.
PubMed 27956200Kostov S, Slavchev S, Dzhenkov D, Mitev D, Yordanov A. Avascular Spaces of the Female Pelvis-Clinical Applications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. J Clin Med. 2020 May 13;9(5):1460. doi: 10.3390/jcm9051460.
PubMed 32414119
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Systematic Anatomical Description of the Female Pelvic Retroperitoneum in Cadavers: A Descriptive Study for Gynecologic Surgery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07522931
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RETRO-PELVIS / UB-RETROPERITONEO-2026
- Conditions
- Pelvic Anatomy, Retroperitoneum, Cadaveric Study, Surgical Anatomy
- Keywords
- Pelvic anatomy, retroperitoneum, female pelvis, Dissection, cadaver, cadaveric model, surgical anatomy, Gynecologic surgery
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hospital Universitari de BellvitgeUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Barcelona
- Study start
- 14 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This observational descriptive cadaveric study aims to describe the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum using standardized anatomical dissection. Adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program will undergo pelvic retroperitoneal dissection. Ten predefined anatomical relationships involving the ureter, pelvic vessels and nerves will be evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist. Anatomical variability will be described for each item. Standardized photographs will also be obtained to develop an anatomical atlas for educational purposes.
Detailed description
This is an observational, descriptive cadaveric study designed to characterize the main anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum with direct application to gynecologic surgery.
The study will be conducted using adult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program. Approximately 20 cadavers will be included, depending on availability, providing a total of 40 hemipelves. Each hemipelvis will be considered an independent unit of analysis.
Standardized anatomical dissections of the pelvic retroperitoneum will be performed following a predefined protocol. The main anatomical structures relevant to gynecologic surgery will be identified, including the pelvic ureter, iliac vessels and their branches, obturator nerve, and other predefined anatomical landmarks.
Each hemipelvis will be evaluated using a standardized 10-item anatomical checklist. For every item, the reference anatomical pattern will be classified as present ("Yes"), absent ("No"), or not evaluable ("Not evaluable"). Anatomical variability will be calculated as the proportion of anatomical variants among all evaluable hemipelves for each item.
Standardized photographic documentation will be obtained throughout the dissections. Anatomical variants will be qualitatively described and illustrated whenever possible.
Statistical analysis will be descriptive. Categorical variables will be presented as absolute frequencies and percentages. Anatomical variability will be reported for each checklist item, excluding non-evaluable observations from the denominator.
This study does not involve living human participants, clinical interventions, or identifiable personal data. All procedures will be conducted in accordance with institutional and ethical standards governing the use of donated human bodies for research and education.
The expected outcome is a systematic description of the principal anatomical relationships of the female pelvic retroperitoneum and their anatomical variability, together with the development of a photographic anatomical atlas to support surgical training and gynecologic education.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Cadaveric Specimens | – | Other: Anatomical DissectionAdult female cadavers obtained from an institutional body donation program. Specimens will undergo standardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection, completion of a predefined 10-item anatomical checklist, and photographic documentation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult female cadavers from the institutional body donation program.
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Female cadavers from an institutional body donation program
- Age ≥ 18 years at time of death
- Adequate preservation of pelvic and abdominal retroperitoneal structures
- Anatomical integrity allowing identification of the pelvic ureter, iliac vessels and their main branches, obturator nerve, and other structures included in the anatomical checklist.
- Availability of both hemipelves for comparative analysis
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Male cadavers
- Prior major pelvic or abdominal surgery significantly altering retroperitoneal anatomy (e.g., hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, vascular surgery)
- History of pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
- Advanced pelvic or abdominal malignancy with retroperitoneal involvement
- Severe trauma affecting pelvic or abdominal anatomy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical DissectionStandardized pelvic retroperitoneal dissection with completion of a 10-item anatomical checklist, observations and photographic documentation. | Other | Cadaveric Specimens |
Primary outcome
Frequency of anatomical variation
Time frame: Baseline
Percentage of anatomical variation for each of the ten predefined anatomical relationships evaluated using a standardized anatomical checklist.
1 secondary outcome
Development of an anatomical atlas
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 19837449Cibula D, Abu-Rustum NR. Pelvic lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer--surgical anatomy and proposal for a new classification system. Gynecol Oncol. 2010 Jan;116(1):33-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2009.09.003. Epub 2009 Oct 17.
- Background: PubMed 29241998Sanna B, Henry BM, Vikse J, Skinningsrud B, Pekala JR, Walocha JA, Cirocchi R, Tomaszewski KA. The prevalence and morphology of the corona mortis (Crown of death): A meta-analysis with implications in abdominal wall and pelvic surgery. Injury. 2018 Feb;49(2):302-308. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.12.007. Epub 2017 Dec 9.
- Background: PubMed 30467432Sienkiewicz-Zawilinska J, Zawilinski J, Kaythampilla LN, Jankiel M, Urbaniak J, Bereza T, Kowalski W, Loukas M, Walocha J. Autonomic nervous system of the pelvis - general overview. Folia Med Cracov. 2018;58(2):21-44. doi: 10.24425/fmc.2018.124656.
- Background: PubMed 27956200Ripperda CM, Jackson LA, Phelan JN, Carrick KS, Corton MM. Anatomic relationships of the pelvic autonomic nervous system in female cadavers: clinical applications to pelvic surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Apr;216(4):388.e1-388.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.12.002. Epub 2016 Dec 9.
- Background: PubMed 32414119Kostov S, Slavchev S, Dzhenkov D, Mitev D, Yordanov A. Avascular Spaces of the Female Pelvis-Clinical Applications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. J Clin Med. 2020 May 13;9(5):1460. doi: 10.3390/jcm9051460.
- University of Barcelona WebPageLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this study does not involve living participants or identifiable individual-level clinical data. The study is based on anonymized cadaveric specimens and generates aggregate anatomical and morphometric data.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Jorge Garcia Fernandez Principal Investigator, Gynecologist contact
Jorge García Fernández, Gynecologist principal investigator
Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Pelvic Anatomy and Retroperitoneum, run by Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge at 2 sites in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jorge Garcia Fernandez Principal Investigator, Gynecologist (+34622595644, jorgarciafernan@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Frequency of anatomical variation (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07522931, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Jul 2026.