Coeliac trunk and its branches: anatomical variations and clinical implications

Knowledge of anatomical variations of the great vessels of the abdomen, including the coeliac trunk, is important for clinicians planning surgical intervention and radiological imaging. The present study aimed to record the prevalence of variations in the vascular pattern of branches of the coeliac trunk in cadavers.

A total of 50 properly embalmed and formalin-fixed cadavers from the Indian population were selected for the study. Dissection included surgical incision, followed by mobilisation of the anatomical viscera, to observe and record the branching pattern of the coeliac trunk.

The left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries were found to arise from the coeliac trunk in 86% of cadavers. In 76% of cadavers, the origin of the gastric artery was proximal to the bifurcation of the coeliac trunk into the common hepatic and splenic arteries. In one case, all three branches arose directly from the abdominal aorta, and the origin of the splenic artery was 1 cm distal to the origin of the left gastric and common hepatic arteries. In another case, the common hepatic and left gastric arteries arose from the coeliac trunk, and the origin of the splenic artery was 1.5 cm distal to the abdominal aorta.

Vessel ligation and anastomosis are important in surgical procedures like liver transplantation, and background knowledge of the different vascular patterns of branches of the coeliac trunk is vital. The findings of our study could help to minimise complications related to abdominal surgery, including bleeding and necrosis, and facilitate better and more accurate radiological interpretations.