Left Gastric Vein

"The left gastric vein (LGV), formerly called the gastric coronary vein, is an important tributary of the portal system. It runs along the lesser curvature of the stomach, descends along the gastropancreatic fold, and drains into the portal vein (PV) and splenic vein (SpV). Accidental injury to the LGV is often due to its various patterns of inflow and route relative to the surrounding arteries. Because the LGV and mesenteric vein flow into the PV and SpV, which are major blood vessels, injury to the LGV can lead to heavy blood loss and difficulty in maintaining hemostasis, even during open gastrectomy. The LGV is one of the most important blood vessels requiring dissection during gastric surgery. Thus, alterations in LGV drainage patterns can affect surgical processes. Knowledge of the anatomical features of the LGV is therefore required to avoid accidental dissection of the vessel. In most individuals, the LGV starts from small branches of the anterior and posterior walls of the stomach, collects blood vessels from the lesser curvature of the stomach, and descends along the gastropancreatic fold. The drainage patterns of the LGV can vary. This blood vessel is small and fragile and can be easily injured during suprapancreatic lymph node dissection in patients with gastric cancer. (Wang Y, Huang CM, Zheng CH, Li P, Xie JW, Wang JB, Lin JX and Lu J- Classification of Anatomic Variations in the Left Gastric Vein during Laparoscopic Gastrectomy)."

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Last date updated on April, 2024