Variants of topography and branching of the stomach arteries

Abstract

Introduction. We know from the literature that the left gastric artery along with the right gastric artery and the left and right gastroepiploic arteries are the main vascular trunks involved in the blood supply to the stomach. Knowledge of the individual characteristics of gastric vessels is especially applicable in diagnostic procedures. For example, in angiographic imaging of the accessory left gastric artery, its trajectory is similar to that of the intrahepatic arteries in the left lobe of the liver, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery. Aim of study. According to classical data, the arteries of the stomach come from the branches of the celiac trunk (Netter F. H., Sinelnicov R. D.). The arterial crown of the lesser curvature consists of the left gastric artery (branch of the celiac trunk) and the right gastric artery (branch of the common hepatic artery). The arterial crown of the greater curvature consists of the right gastroepiploic artery, coming from the gastroduodenal artery (branch of the common hepatic artery) and of the left gastroepiploic artery (branch of the lienal artery). Methods and materials. The topography and branching of the stomach arteries were studied by the macroscopic method of preparation of 6 organocomplexes. Results. Using the macroscopic method, the morphological and individual characteristics of the stomach arteries were studied. The greater curvature of the stomach is vascularized by the right gastroomental artery and the left gastroomental artery. The vessels were identified in all cases. The left gastroomental artery emerged from the lienal artery or its branches (2 cases), it was doubled on one piece. The right gastroomental artery emerged from the gastroduodenal artery or the anterior superior pancreatoduodenal artery (2 cases), it was doubled in 2 cases. The lesser curvature of the stomach is vascularized by the left gastric artery and the right gastric artery. The left gastric artery branches from the celiac trunk or the abdominal aorta (1 case), the splenic artery (1 case). In 2 cases the vessel was doubled. The right gastric artery emerged from its own hepatic artery and departed from the left hepatic artery only on one complex of organs. Conclusion. According to our data, the topography and branching of the stomach arteries are variable. This is important to consider in order to prevent complications during organ surgeries.