Anatomical study of the gastrocolic trunk.

Abstract

Introduction: the gastrocolic venous trunk, as described by Henle in 1868, is formed from the confluence of the right gastroepiploic, right colic, and anteroinferior duodenal pancreatic veins. Its location and anatomical knowledge is of surgical importance in pancreatic and colo-epiploic duodenal mobilization. Material and methods: 13 cadavers were used, adults, of both sexes. The following were recorded: gastrocolic venous trunk formation, caliber of tributaries and trunk, distances between: neck of pancreas and upper border of duodenum III, superior mesenteric vein to duodenum II. The venous trunk was topographed in relation to the mentioned structures. The length of the trunk was recorded, distance to the upper border of the duodenum III and to the lower border of the pancreas neck. Results: the most frequent conformation was by confluence of the right colic, right gastroepiploic and duodenal anteroinferior pancreatic veins. The average caliber of the venous trunk was 5.65mm (3.3mm-10mm). The mean distance between duodenum III and pancreatic neck was 31.34mm (13.2mm-51mm). The mean distance between superior mesenteric vein and duodenum II was 34.23mm (23.8mm-45.7mm). The mean length of the venous trunk was 9.43mm (3.2mm-16.3mm). Conclusion: it was found, in most cases, that the confluence of venous trunk formation was given according to the classically described. This was located more frequently with an oblique disposition downwards and inwards, and in the inferior-internal quadrant with respect to the quadrilateral given by a vertical line from the neck of the pancreas to duodenum III and a horizontal line from duodenum II to the superior mesenteric vein.