Anatomy of splenogastric vessels in patients with schistosomal portal hypertension

The literature describes the short gastric vessels as branches of the splenic pedicle. However, in our surgical practice, we verified the maintenance of splenic vitality and function even after dividing the splenic artery and vein. In order to understand this phenomenon, we studied the architecture of the splenogastric vessels during subtotal or total splenectomies performed to treat esophageal and gastric variceal bleedings due to portal hypertension. We observed that these vessels were independent of the splenic pedicle and their number ranged between zero and 13. These findings are important in different surgical procedures and should be better investigated in order to understand the splenic vessels. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.