Venous drainage from the tail of the pancreas to the lienal vein and its relationship with the distal splenorenal shunt selectivity.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the veins draining from the pancreatic tail to the lienal vein and its possible relationship with the loss of the distal splenorenal shunt selectivity.


METHODS
Thirty eight human blocks including stomach, duodenum, spleen, colon and pancreas, removed from fresh corpses, were studied with the replenish and corrosion technique, using vinilic resin and posterior corrosion of the organic tissue with commercial hydrochloric acid, in order to study the lienal vein and its tributaries.


RESULTS
The number of veins flowing directly to the splenic vein varied from seven to twenty two (14.52 + or - 3.53). Pancreatic branches of the pancreatic tail flowing to the segmentary veins of the spleen were found in 25 of the anatomical pieces studied (65.79%). These branches varied from one to four, predominating one branch (60%) and two branches (24%).


CONCLUSIONS
In 65.79% of the anatomical pieces studied, the veins of the pancreatic tail flowed in segmentary branches of the splenic vein. These branches could be responsible for the loss of distal splenorenal shunt selectivity. The complete disconnection of the pancreatic tail could increase the selectivity in this procedure.
Piras
Cláudio
C
Department of Surgery, School of Sciences, EMESCAM, Espirito Santo, Brazil. danilo.vix@terra.com.br
Paulo
Danilo Nagib Salomão
DN
Paulo
Isabel Cristina Andreatta Lemos
IC
Rodrigues
Hildegardo
H
Silva
Alcino Lázaro da
AL
D002102:Cadaver; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D016319:Corrosion Casting / Q000379:methods; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply*; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000502:physiology*