Preliminary Cadaveric Study of Branching Pattern of the Coeliac Trunk and Arterial Diameters of Its Main Branches in a Selected Sri Lankan Population

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Coeliac trunk is the first central branch from abdominal aorta giving rise to its 3 main branches; left gastric (LGA), Splenic (SA) and common hepatic (CHA) .artery. Sri Lankan studies on celiac trunk anatomical variations are scarce. Morphometry of coeliac trunk and its branches are important in development of techniques for liver transplantation. To describe the morphology and morphometry of coeliac trunk and main branches in a selected Sri Lankan population

Method: Eleven formalin fixed adult cadavers were dissected and measurements were taken by using electronic digital caliper.

Results: The mean length of coeliac trunk was 2.18cm±1.00 with majority [54.5% (6/11)) originating closer to the upper border of 1st lumbar vertebral body. Percentage72.7 (8/11) of coeliac trunks divides into normal 3 main branches while 27.3% (3/11) had additional inferior phrenic arteries. All the cadavers had LGA as the 1st branch given from the trunk and in majority [45.5% (5/11)) LGA originated within 0.5cm from the origin of the trunk. In 72.7% (8/11) the diameter of the coeliac trunk was 0.6-0.8cm±0.46 which equals to the western figures. Out of the main 3 branches, LGA had the smallest (0.48cm±0.08) diameter while SA (0.79cm±0.13) and CHA (0.77cm±0.16) had equally similar mean diameters. In Majority [36.4% (4/11)] all 3 branches were given as terminal branches while 27.3% (3/11) gave SA and CHA as terminal branches 0.5 cm distal to the origin of LGA. Majority of right gastric artery [45.5% (5/11)] arises from the gastro duodenal artery while 18.5% (2/11) arises from the hepatic artery proper

Conclusion: Branching pattern of the coeliac trunk was similar to western studies with few anatomical variations