lateral sacral vein

The lateral sacral vein is a vein located in the pelvic region that drains blood from the anterior surface of the sacrum and empties into the internal iliac vein.

The lateral sacral vein drains the anterior surface of the sacrum, including blood from the sacral foramina and the presacral venous plexus. It removes deoxygenated blood from bony and adjacent soft tissue structures around the sacrum.

There are typically multiple lateral sacral veins on each side, often arranged as superior and inferior branches that accompany the lateral sacral arteries. These small veins form a plexus over the sacral surface before joining the internal iliac vein.

The lateral sacral veins are important in posterior pelvic and sacral surgery, including rectal resections and sacral tumor excisions. Injury to these veins can cause brisk presacral bleeding that is difficult to control due to the veins' proximity to the sacral bone.

The presacral venous plexus is a network of thin-walled veins lying on the anterior surface of the sacrum. The lateral sacral veins are part of this plexus and communicate with basivertebral veins inside the sacral bone. This plexus is prone to catastrophic hemorrhage during low anterior rectal resection if the presacral fascia is breached.