Unusual duplication and vulnerable intrapancreatic course of the left gastroepiploic artery: a rare anatomical variation

Abstract

The left gastroepiploic artery (LGEA) is the least described artery in the medical literature. Unusual variations of this artery might lead to vascular injuries, causing intraoperative bleeding after surgery. We observed rare vascular variations in an adult male cadaver. The left gastroepiploic artery after its origin from splenic artery pierced the pancreatic parenchyma at its posterior surface. After a short intrapancreatic course, the LGEA emerged out from the superior border of the body of the pancreas. LGEA then trifurcated into an omental branch, duplicated LGEA and another branch that continued as the main trunk of LGEA. Main LGEA and duplicated LGEA coursed towards the greater curvature of the stomach. The main LGEA ended by anastomosing with the right gastroepiploic artery, while the duplicated LGEA ended at the greater curvature of the stomach by ramifying into minute branches on the walls of the stomach and gave few gastric branches to supply the stomach and also supplied the greater omentum. This variation was associated with the presence of an accessory splenic artery. Anatomists, surgeons, and radiologists should be aware of such anomalous vascular variations as it could help to minimize complications related to pancreatectomy, omentoplasty, and resection of pancreatic tumors.

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