Absence of the celiac trunk and trifurcation of the common hepatic artery: a case report Ausência de tronco celíaco e trifurcação da artéria hepática comum: relato de caso

Abstract Anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and its branches are particularly important from a surgical perspective due to their relationships with surrounding structures. We report here a particularly rare variant involving absence of the celiac trunk in association with trifurcation of the common hepatic artery. These variations were found in an adult male cadaver. We perform a review of the literature and discuss the clinical and embryological significance of these variations. Recognition of celiac trunk and hepatic artery variations is of utmost importance to surgeons and radiologists because multiple variations can lead to undue complications. Keywords: celiac trunk; common hepatic artery; gastric arteries; splenic artery; variation. Resumo As variacoes anatomicas do tronco celiaco e seus ramos sao particularmente importantes do ponto de vista cirurgico devido a sua relacao com as estruturas adjacentes. Nos descrevemos aqui uma variante particularmente rara envolvendo ausencia do tronco celiaco associada a trifurcacao da arteria hepatica comum. Essas variacoes foram observadas no cadaver de um adulto do sexo masculino. Neste artigo revisamos a literatura e discutimos a significância clinica e embriologica dessas variacoes. O reconhecimento das variacoes do tronco celiaco e da arteria hepatica e extremamente importante para cirurgioes e radiologistas uma vez que variacoes multiplas podem levar a complicacoes inesperadas.