Vascular anatomy of the stomach related to gastric tube construction.

In view of constructing a gastric tube after esophagus resection, the vascular anatomy of the greater curvature of the stomach, especially the connection between the left and right gastro-epiploic arteries, was investigated. The vascular anatomy was studied in 20 embalmed human specimens. After dissection a gastric tube of 4 cm wide was constructed, using the greater gastric curvature. Various lengths of the arterial arcades were measured. In 70% an anastomosis between the right and left gastro-epiploic arteries was present. With the construction of an isoperistaltic gastric tube, in which the left gastro-epiploic artery is left in situ (ligating it at the splenic hilus), there is an 18.7% increase of length of arterial arcade along the gastric tube. Leaving the left gastro-epiploic artery in situ increases the feeding arterial arcaded-length along the gastric tube with 5.0 cm (19%).