Surgical glance at pancreatic arterial anatomy

Aim. Study of anatomical variations of the pancreatic neck blood supply, which may affect the results of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Material and methods. Anatomic characteristics of arterial blood supply of pancreas were studied in 42 autopsied cases, who died from diseases not associated with abdominal organs failure. Clinical part of our study included 62 patients. Arterial anatomy was examined during early arterial phase of computer tomography. Options of the origin of the dorsa pancreatic artery were noted. All patients had “soft” pancreas confirmed by morphological examination and computer tomography. Main group included 20 patients. Dissection of the pancreas during pancreatoduodenectomy in this group were performed 10–15 mm left of portal vein confluence. Control (retrospective) group included 42 patients performed standard procedure, when pancreas was dissected above the portal vein confluence.

Results. It was found that the neck of pancreas was supplied from dorsal pancreatic artery, found in all specimens. In 76% of cases it was a branch of splenic artery, in other cases – a branch of superior mesenteric artery. CT scan revealed the dorsal pancreatic artery in 54 (87.1%) people, in 8 patients the artery could not be identified. The dorsal pancreatic artery was a branch of the splenic artery in 64.8% of cases. In other cases it was a branch of the superior mesenteric artery, common hepatic artery, gastroduodenal artery and middle colon artery. If the dorsal pancreatic artery was a branch of the superior mesenteric, common hepatic, gastroduodenal artery, it was transected during lymphadenectomy. This led to higher frequency of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Conclusion. Localization of dorsal pancreatic artery must be taken into account during the pancreatoduodenectomy. That allows to decrease probability of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

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