Anatomical Variation of Celiac Trunk - Hallers Tripod

Introduction: Celiac trunk is a short, wide unpaired artery of the Fore gut and arises from the Aorta opposite the lower border of 12th thoracic vertebra. The trunk proceeds forwards and to the right and divides into 3 branches. Left gastric, Common hepatic and Splenic arteries. They supply the gut tube from the lower oesophagus to the descending part of the Duodenum, Liver, Pancreas and Spleen. It is of great importance for the Surgeons and Radiologists to be aware of the variation of the Celiac trunk during surgical and radiological procedures in upper abdomen. Main objective of the present study is to known the level of origin and variation in the branches of the Celiac trunk. Methods: The present study was undertaken on 22 embalmed adult human cadavers irrespective of age, sex used for undergraduate dissection from the Department of Anatomy, Osmania Medical College over a period of 2 years. Results: In this present study, this normal anatomical pattern was the most prevalent in most studies 81.9 %. normal anatomical variant of celiac trunk i. e. Haller�s tripod was found in 4 specimens accounting for 18.1 %. Conclusion: From this study we conclude that variation in the branches of Celiac trunk is very common. Knowledge about these variations is important for Surgeons during Liver transplantation, cholecystectomy, gastrectomy and pancreatic resection. Also important for Radiologists during selective arteriography.