Anatomy of the splenic artery: what does the surgeon need to know?

OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence and describe the main morphological and metric variations of the splenic artery in terms of its origin, path and polar and terminal branches. METHODS: cross-sectional study, carried out at Hospital de Clínicas between July and November 2020. Computed tomography scans were analyzed with intravenous contrast of the patients seen at the Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Service. The findings were categorized as to origin, path and splenic ramifications. RESULTS: 1,235 patients were evaluated. As for the origin, the splenic artery appears in the celiac trunk in 99.11% of the individuals. Of these, 5.95% have a bifurcated celiac pattern, 92.17% trifurcated and 1.88% tetrafurcated. The mean arterial diameter was 5.92mm (±1.2), the highest one being in white men. As for the path, the splenic artery was unique in the entire sample. The suprapancreatic course was found in 75.63% of the individuals, with a higher occurrence in women, 78.87% (p<0.001). The terminal splitting pattern of the splenic artery was characterized by the bifurcated type (95.47%). The terminal branches seen most frequently were those with three arteries (34.90%) and most individuals did not have polar branches. CONCLUSION: the splenic artery presents a highly variable pattern of origin and its average caliber is influenced by sex and color. The suprapancreatic path was the most characteristic and predominant in females. The bifurcated pattern of final division, with three terminal branches and the absence of polar arteries, occurs more frequently.

Anatomy of the splenic artery: what does the surgeon need to know? / Anatomia da artéria esplênica: o que o cirurgião precisa saber?

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine the prevalence and describe the main morphological and metric variations of the splenic artery in terms of its origin, path and polar and terminal branches. Methods: cross-sectional study, carried out at Hospital de Clínicas between July and November 2020. Computed tomography scans were analyzed with intravenous contrast of the patients seen at the Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Service. The findings were categorized as to origin, path and splenic ramifications. Results: 1,235 patients were evaluated. As for the origin, the splenic artery appears in the celiac trunk in 99.11% of the individuals. Of these, 5.95% have a bifurcated celiac pattern, 92.17% trifurcated and 1.88% tetrafurcated. The mean arterial diameter was 5.92mm (±1.2), the highest one being in white men. As for the path, the splenic artery was unique in the entire sample. The suprapancreatic course was found in 75.63% of the individuals, with a higher occurrence in women, 78.87% (p<0.001). The terminal splitting pattern of the splenic artery was characterized by the bifurcated type (95.47%). The terminal branches seen most frequently were those with three arteries (34.90%) and most individuals did not have polar branches. Conclusion: the splenic artery presents a highly variable pattern of origin and its average caliber is influenced by sex and color. The suprapancreatic path was the most characteristic and predominant in females. The bifurcated pattern of final division, with three terminal branches and the absence of polar arteries, occurs more frequently.

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar a prevalência e descrever as principais variações morfológicas e métricas da artéria esplênica quanto a sua origem, trajeto e ramos terminais e polares. Métodos: estudo transversal, realizado no Hospital de Clínicas entre julho e novembro de 2020. Foram analisadas tomografias computadorizadas com contraste endovenoso dos pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem. Os achados foram categorizados quanto à origem, trajeto e ramificações esplênicas. Resultados: foram avaliados 1.235 pacientes. Quanto à origem, a artéria esplênica surge no tronco celíaco em 99,11% dos indivíduos. Desses, 5,95% apresentam padrão celíaco bifurcado, 92,17% trifurcado e 1,88% tetrafurcado. O diâmetro arterial médio foi de 5,92mm (±1,2), sendo a maior média em homens brancos. Quanto ao trajeto, a artéria esplênica se apresentou única em toda a amostra. O curso suprapancreático esteve em 75,63% dos indivíduos, com maior ocorrência em mulheres 78,87% (p<0,001). O padrão de divisão terminal da artéria esplênica caracterizou-se pelo tipo bifurcado (95,47%). Os ramos terminais visualizados mais frequentemente foram os com três artérias (34,90%) e a maioria dos indivíduos não apresentou ramos polares. Conclusão: a artéria esplênica apresenta padrão de origem altamente variável e seu calibre médio é influenciado por sexo e cor. O trajeto suprapancreático foi o mais característico e predominou no sexo feminino. O padrão bifurcado de divisão final, com três ramos terminais e ausência de artérias polares, ocorre com maior frequência.