Unusual branching pattern of coeliac trunk – a case report

Variations in the branching pattern of the coeliac trunk are common. We found a relatively rare type of variation in the branching pattern of this vessel. The coeliac trunk was longer than usual and terminated by dividing into common hepatic, splenic, left hepatic and left gastric arteries. The common hepatic artery divided into right hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries. Left hepatic artery gave an esophageal branch and a gastric branch apart from supplying the liver. Knowledge of these variations may be of importance to the surgeons and radiologists. Therapeutic embolization of the left hepatic artery might result in ischemia of the gastroesophageal junction when the esophageal and gastric branches arise from it.