Arterial diameter of the celiac trunk and its branches. Anatomical study.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the fact that anatomical variations of the celiac trunk are well explored in the literature, information on these vessels diameters is scanty. The aims of the present study were to describe the arterial diameters of the celiac trunk and its main branches, and to investigate if these diameters are altered in those cases presenting anatomical variations of these vessels.


METHODS
Twenty-one formalin fixed adult male cadavers were appropriately dissected for the celiac trunk identification and arterial diameter measurements. Arteries measured included the celiac trunk and its main branches (splenic artery, left gastric artery and common hepatic artery), as the proper hepatic artery, right gastric artery, the left and right hepatic arteries and the gastroduodenal artery.


RESULTS
From the 21 cadavers, 6 presented anatomical variations of, at least, one of the above mentioned branches. The average arterial diameter comparisons between groups (normal and variable) clearly showed smaller diameters for variable vessels, but with no significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicates the possibility of a diameter reduction of the celiac trunk main branches in the presence of anatomical variations. This should be taken into account on the selection for the liver transplantation donors.
Silveira
Luís Augusto da
LA
Department of Surgery and Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirao Preto-SP, Brazil.
Silveira
Fernando Braga Cassiano
FB
Fazan
Valéria Paula Sassoli
VP
D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods