Intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal anastomoses of spleen arteries

The importance of supporting the spleen with blood is enormous especially from the surgical point of view. The main vessel of spleen is the splenic artery. In this study we would like to extend current knowledge of anastomoses between the splenic artery and surrounding arteries. Seven donor bodies of both sexes were used for detailed dissection. We were concerned with both the intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal anastomoses. In another 100 donor bodies, the relationship between the spleen and the anterior surface of the posterior body wall was studied. The superficial anastomoses were found mainly in the peritoneal duplications. They were the short gastric arteries; the epiploic branches of the left gastroepiploic artery; branches of the middle and left colic arteries and arteries from the region of the pancreatic tail. Deep anastomoses were found between the spleen and the parietal branches of the aorta, i.e. the superior and inferior phrenic arteries and the arteries of the anterior surface of the posterior body wall: the posterior intercostal artery and lumbar arteries. Authors also expect small anastomoses in 40-50% of spleens that lie directly on the anterior surface of the posterior body wall. Our findings correspond with the clinical observations that after ligation of the splenic artery necroses in the spleen do not occur.