Jude Jose Thomson 1 , Vijayamma Kunnath Narayanan 2 , Ushavathy Padmanabhan 3 , Maria Davis Paracka 4
BACKGROUND Anatomical variations involving the visceral arteries are common. However, variations in coeliac trunk are usually asymptomatic, they may become important in patients undergoing diagnostic angiography for gastrointestinal bleeding or prior to an operative procedure. This study was useful for knowing the possible morphological variations before an upper abdominal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a descriptive study done by cadaveric dissection, conducted on thirty cadavers. The coeliac trunk being examined for its origin, branching pattern, distribution, and variations. Results were statistically analysed and compared with the previous studies. RESULTS In our study, 60% of the coeliac trunk shows variations and 40% have normal branching pattern. A complete absence of coeliac trunk was observed in one case. In the present study the Right inferior phrenic artery arising from coeliac trunk in 2 cases (6.6%) and left inferior phrenic artery arising from coeliac trunk in 3 cases (9.9%). Both inferior phrenic arteries are arising from coeliac trunk in 2 cases (6.6%). The common hepatomesenteric trunk and gastro splenic trunk was found in 1 case (3.3%). Hepatosplenic trunk was found in 2 cases (6.6%). In another 2 cases (6.6%) gastric and hepatic artery originate from coeliac trunk but splenic artery has a separate origin from abdominal aorta. An absent trunk was also found in 1 case (3.3%). In 5 cases (16.7%) showed trifurcation with variation in the branching pattern. CONCLUSION The branching pattern and extreme degree variability in coeliac trunk as brought out in the observations of the present study make it obvious that the present study almost falls in description with previous studies.
