The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 199, Issue 2 , Pages 249-254, February 2010

Can the gastrocolic trunk of Henle serve as an anatomical landmark in laparoscopic right colectomy? A postmortem anatomical study

  • Dejan Ignjatovic, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Vestfold Hospital, Tonsberg, Norway
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Tel.: +47-33-34-20-00; fax: +47-33-34-39-45
    • ,
  • Milan Spasojevic, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University North Norway-Narvik Hospital, Narvik, Norway
    • ,
  • Bojan Stimec, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Anatomy Sector, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Institute for Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Received 26 November 2008; received in revised form 13 March 2009 published online 06 November 2009.

Abstract 

Background

The use of the gastrocolic trunk of Henle (GTH) as a landmark has been advocated in laparoscopic right colectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the GTH as a possible landmark in laparoscopic right colectomy in the context of the adjacent arteries.

Methods

Corrosion casting (30 specimens) and anatomic dissection were performed on formol-fixed cadavers (12 specimens).

Results

The GTH was found in 34 specimens (81.0%). Among its closely related neighboring arterial vessels, the right colic artery was the most frequent (19 cases [55.9%]). It passed by the GTH at a mean distance of 3.6 mm. The course of the arteries in relation to the GTH was caudal and parallel in most cases (29 [85.3%]), but there was also a significant portion of crossing schemes (11.7%).

Conclusions

Although the GTH is a constant and conspicuous anatomic entity, it is not easily accessible, because of its tight relations to the right colon arteries. Instead, the authors advocate the use the superior right colic vein as an anatomic landmark leading to the GTH during laparoscopic right colectomy.

Keywords: Gastrocolic trunk, Right colic artery, Right colic vein, Landmark, Laparoscopy, Anatomy, Colectomy

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PII: S0002-9610(09)00245-1

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.03.010

The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 199, Issue 2 , Pages 249-254, February 2010

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