Aberrant left gastric vein: what should surgeons know?

Area of Science:

• Anatomical variations
• Surgical anatomy
• Vascular anomalies

Background:

• Aberrant left gastric vein (ALGV) is a rare anatomical variant.
• Misidentification can lead to surgical complications like bleeding.
• ALGV can be implicated in hypertensive gastropathy and gastric cancer metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and illustrate the three main patterns of aberrant left gastric veins.
• To increase surgeon awareness of this rare vascular anomaly.
• To discuss the clinical significance of ALGV.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of imaging data over five years.
• Identification and categorization of three cases, each representing a distinct variant.
• Analysis of anatomical variations, embryological origins, and radiological findings.

Main Results:

• Three distinct patterns of aberrant left gastric veins were identified and documented.
• The rarity and limited reporting of ALGV were confirmed.
• Discussion encompasses normal anatomy, variants, embryology, radiology, and clinical implications.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons must be aware of ALGV types and associated arterial variations.
• Recognition of ALGV is crucial to avoid pseudolesions and manage potential liver segment atrophy.
• Understanding ALGV aids in preventing surgical misadventures and managing related pathologies.