Arterial blood supply of the left lobe of the canine pancreas. I. Anatomic variations relevant to segmental transplantation.

The anatomy of the arterial blood supply of the left lobe of the pancreas was studied in 70 beagles. It was found to be supplied by one small artery only, which was called the pancreatic artery. The pancreatic artery originated from the splenic artery (type I) in 56 dogs (80%). However, it originated from the cranial mesenteric artery (type II) in 14 dogs (20%). In the presence of type I anatomy, the surgical technique for segmental pancreatic transplantation can, in general, be performed in a routine fashion. In the presence of type II anatomy, a modification should be applied. This modification is described and illustrated. It is concluded that the pancreatic artery should always be identified at operation, and that the specific surgical procedure chosen should depend upon the anatomy found. In addition, ischemic necrosis of segmental pancreatic grafts can only be explained by vascular thrombosis if the pancreatic artery has been recognized and preserved with certainty at transplantation.