Variations in the Branching Pattern of the Celiac Trunk in a Kenyan Population

Abstract

SUMMARY:The celiac trunk is the major source of blood supply to the supracolic abdominal compartment. Usually, it branches into the splenic, common hepatic and left gastric arteries to supply this region. It has however been shown to display ethnic variations in its branching pattern. Knowledge of these variations may be important in surgical and radiological procedures around the head of the pancreas. The aim was to illustrate the commonest variations in the branching pattern of the celiac trunk in a Kenyan population. The study was conducted in the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. Were collected one hundred twenty three (123) bodies obtained from dissection cadavers and autopsy cases following ethical approval and consent from next of kin. Gross dissection of the anterior abdominal wall using an extended midline incision and retraction of the liver and stomach was performed. The celiac trunk was trifurcated in 76 (61.7%), bifurcated in 22 (17.9%) and gave collaterals in 25 (20.3%). Dorsal pancreatic artery was the most common collateral and occurred in 14.8%. Other branches included gastroduodenal and inferior phrenic arteries present in 3.3% and 4.9% respectively. The Kenyan population has a higher incidence of bifurcation and collateral branching of the celiac trunk hence need for caution during surgical procedures of the supracolic abdominal compartment.

Variant anatomy of the celiac trunk –review of literature with a case report

“…IJBAR (2014) 05 (10) www.ssjournals.com The hepatosplenic trunk (Type II) and separate LGA from the aorta have been reported in the literature 10,[13][14][15][16]18,21,22,36,37 . The LGA commonly arises from the CT as one element of its trifurcation.…”

“…Mburu studied 123 specimens and observed the origin of IPA from the CT in 4.9% 15 . The previous study conducted by Tiwari 20 and Petrella 25 showed the origin of RIPA alone from the CT in 2% and 5.62%, LIPA alone in 4% and 21.35%, whereas both IPAs in 4% and 7.86% respectively.…”

“…The high incidence of anatomical variations of the CT and its branching pattern was widely described in the literature as obs erved to vary from classical trifurcation [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] to abnormal trifurcation 10,14,20 . bifurcation 10,11,13-18,21-23 , quadrifurcation 6,10,13,[15][16][17]19,20,22,[24][25][26] , pentafurcation 5,9,10,13,15,20,25,[27][28][29][30][31][32] , hexafurcation 13 , heptafurcation 33 and even absence 4,8,13,14,[16][17][18] of the trunk.…”

“…bifurcation 10,11,13-18,21-23 , quadrifurcation 6,10,13,[15][16][17]19,20,22,[24][25][26] , pentafurcation 5,9,10,13,15,20,25,[27][28][29][30][31][32] , hexafurcation 13 , heptafurcation 33 and even absence 4,8,13,14,[16][17][18] of the trunk. Generally additional branches other than the normal branches are referred to as collaterals 5, 21, 27, 29, 32, 33 .…”

“…Generally additional branches other than the normal branches are referred to as collaterals 5, 21, 27, 29, 32, 33 . Reported collaterals of the CT include the inferior phrenic, aberrant right hepatic, gastroduodenal, middle colic, dorsal pancreatic, left superior suprarenal, left middle suprarenal, duodenal or ileal arteries 5,6,9,10,13,15,16,19,20,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] . Presence of additional arteries may provide collateral circulation which may be important during liver transplant, laparoscopic surgeries, and radiological abdominal interventions in day to day clinical practice 29 .…”