An Unusual Anatomical Variation of Accessory Left Gastric Artery Arising from Left Hepatic Artery / Una Variación Anatómica Inusual de la Arteria Gástrica Izquierda Accesoria que se Origina de la Arteria Hepática Izquierda

SUMMARY: The stomach receives a rich blood supply from five sets of arteries, all of which originate from the celiac trunk. During the dissection of a female cadaver that had been fixed with formalin, an atypical branching pattern was observed. An accessory left gastric artery was found to originate from the left hepatic artery and send small branches to the esophagus, cardia, and fundus of the stomach. However, there was no anastomosis between the lower accessory left gastric artery and the left gastric artery. This is a rare variant of the gastric artery that has not been previously described in detail. It is important to recognize this variation for safe and effective interventional diagnosis and treatment techniques if dealing with the liver or gastric arteries.

El estómago recibe un rico suministro de sangre de cinco conjuntos de arterias, todas las cuales se originan en el tronco celíaco. Durante la disección de un cadáver femenino que había sido fijado con formalina, se observó un patrón de ramificación atípico. Se encontró una arteria gástrica izquierda accesoria que se originaba en la arteria hepática izquierda y enviaba pequeñas ramas al esófago, el cardias y el fondo del estómago. Sin embargo, no hubo anastomosis entre la arteria gástrica izquierda accesoria inferior y la arteria gástrica izquierda. Se trata de una variante rara de la arteria gástrica que no se ha descrito previamente en detalles. Es importante reconocer esta variación para la aplicación de técnicas de diagnóstico y tratamiento intervencionistas seguras y efectivas a nivel del hígado o las arterias gástricas.

Rare Origin of Accessory Left Gastric Artery from Splenic Artery and Its Clinical Significance: A Case Report

During routine dissection of abdomen an accessory leftgastric artery was found arising from the splenic arteryin one out of 30 adult formalin fixed cadavers in theDepartment of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical CollegeManipal. The origin of left gastric artery was normal.The accessory artery was running upwards behind usualleft gastric artery and run along lesser curvature of thestomach and also gave oesophageal branch supplyingthe lower part of esophagus. Before attempting anysurgical procedure on stomach or lower end ofoesophagus, preoperative evaluation of the arterialpattern and variations is desirable for correct surgicalapproach and to reduce postoperative complications.However, accessory left gastric origin from splenicartery becomes important to be noted when the patientundergoes angiography for diagnostic bleeding orduring trans catheter therapy. Knowledge about thesevariations is also important to be noted prior to surgeryin order to prevent postoperative complications whichwould be fatal.