Anatomy of the splenic artery: what does the surgeon need to know? / Anatomia da artéria esplênica: o que o cirurgião precisa saber?

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine the prevalence and describe the main morphological and metric variations of the splenic artery in terms of its origin, path and polar and terminal branches. Methods: cross-sectional study, carried out at Hospital de Clínicas between July and November 2020. Computed tomography scans were analyzed with intravenous contrast of the patients seen at the Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Service. The findings were categorized as to origin, path and splenic ramifications. Results: 1,235 patients were evaluated. As for the origin, the splenic artery appears in the celiac trunk in 99.11% of the individuals. Of these, 5.95% have a bifurcated celiac pattern, 92.17% trifurcated and 1.88% tetrafurcated. The mean arterial diameter was 5.92mm (±1.2), the highest one being in white men. As for the path, the splenic artery was unique in the entire sample. The suprapancreatic course was found in 75.63% of the individuals, with a higher occurrence in women, 78.87% (p<0.001). The terminal splitting pattern of the splenic artery was characterized by the bifurcated type (95.47%). The terminal branches seen most frequently were those with three arteries (34.90%) and most individuals did not have polar branches. Conclusion: the splenic artery presents a highly variable pattern of origin and its average caliber is influenced by sex and color. The suprapancreatic path was the most characteristic and predominant in females. The bifurcated pattern of final division, with three terminal branches and the absence of polar arteries, occurs more frequently.

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar a prevalência e descrever as principais variações morfológicas e métricas da artéria esplênica quanto a sua origem, trajeto e ramos terminais e polares. Métodos: estudo transversal, realizado no Hospital de Clínicas entre julho e novembro de 2020. Foram analisadas tomografias computadorizadas com contraste endovenoso dos pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem. Os achados foram categorizados quanto à origem, trajeto e ramificações esplênicas. Resultados: foram avaliados 1.235 pacientes. Quanto à origem, a artéria esplênica surge no tronco celíaco em 99,11% dos indivíduos. Desses, 5,95% apresentam padrão celíaco bifurcado, 92,17% trifurcado e 1,88% tetrafurcado. O diâmetro arterial médio foi de 5,92mm (±1,2), sendo a maior média em homens brancos. Quanto ao trajeto, a artéria esplênica se apresentou única em toda a amostra. O curso suprapancreático esteve em 75,63% dos indivíduos, com maior ocorrência em mulheres 78,87% (p<0,001). O padrão de divisão terminal da artéria esplênica caracterizou-se pelo tipo bifurcado (95,47%). Os ramos terminais visualizados mais frequentemente foram os com três artérias (34,90%) e a maioria dos indivíduos não apresentou ramos polares. Conclusão: a artéria esplênica apresenta padrão de origem altamente variável e seu calibre médio é influenciado por sexo e cor. O trajeto suprapancreático foi o mais característico e predominou no sexo feminino. O padrão bifurcado de divisão final, com três ramos terminais e ausência de artérias polares, ocorre com maior frequência.

Complete gallbladder duplication: seventh report in world literature

Gallbladder duplication results from a rare abnormality of embriogenesis and is twice as common in women as in men. The signs and symptoms of double gallbladder cholecystitis are the same as those of single gallbladder cholecystitis: strong pain in the epigastric region and right hypochondrium, which may irradiate to the back and be accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting, Murphy positive sign, and pain on palpation of these regions; plastron may also be present. For this reason, many cases are still diagnosed intraoperatively, making surgery difficult and increasing the possibility of biliary tract injury. We report the case of a female patient with epigastric and dorsal pain for 4 days, which worsened with the ingestion of salty and fatty foods and was accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Physical examination showed a positive Murphy sign. A complete abdominal ultrasound examination showed gallbladder duplication, both lithiasic. Magnetic resonance cholangiography confirmed the duplication of the gallbladder and cystic ducts, with a single main biliary tract and acute lithiasic cholecystitis in both gallbladders. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy of both vesicles was performed without complications, and the patient was discharged 3 days after the procedure. (AU)

Artéria hepática direita originada da artéria mesentérica superior: Qual seu real trajeto anatômico? / Right hepatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery: What is the standard anatomic position?

RESUMO Objetivos: A irrigação arterial hepática tem como característica a elevada frequência de variações da anatomia. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever o trajeto anatômico da artéria hepática direita quando originada da artéria mesentérica superior. Métodos: Foram analisadas 5147 tomografias computadorizadas com contraste endovenoso de pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Radiologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Passo Fundo - RS, no período outubro de 2016 a dezembro de 2017. Foram selecionados 125 pacientes portadores de variação anatômica da artéria hepática direita na origem. Os achados foram categorizados pela variação do trajeto vascular, emergência da artéria mesentérica superior e a relação com demais estruturas. Resultados: Obtivemos o trajeto mais frequente desta variação como retropancreático (88,8%), retroportal (76,8%) e pós-coledociano (75,2%), emergindo cerca de 2,33 cm da origem da artéria mesentérica superior. Conclusão: Demonstramos que na maioria das vezes, a artéria hepática direita variante, apresenta trajeto posterior ao pâncreas e ao pedículo hepático e emerge próxima da origem da artéria mesentérica superior.

ABSTRACT Objective: Liver arterial irrigation is characterized by a high frequency of variations in its anatomy. The aim of the study was to describe the anatomic position of the right hepatic artery as a brunch of the superior mesenteric artery. Methods: A total of 5147 intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of patients seen at the Radiology Service of the Passo Fundo Clinical Hospital (RS), from October 2016 to December 2017, were selected. 125 patients with anatomic variation of the right hepatic artery were selected. The findings were categorized by the variation of the vascular position, emergence from the superior mesenteric artery and the relationship with other structures. Results: The most frequent position was retropancreatic (88.8%), retroportal (76.8%) and post-choledocian (75.2%), emerging about 2.33 cm from the superior mesenteric artery. Conclusion: We have shown that most common variant of the right hepatic artery presents its posterior origin from the pancreatic and hepatic pedicle, and arises close to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.