The venous trunk of henle (gastrocolic trunk): A systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence, dimensions, and tributary variations

Surgeons have recognized the clinical significance of the venous trunk of Henle during multiple pancreatic, colorectal, and hepatobiliary procedures. To date, no study has followed the principles of evidence-based anatomy to characterize it. Our aim was to find, gather, and systematize available anatomical data concerning this structure. The MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, BIOSIS, SciELO, and Web of Science databases were searched. The following data were extracted: prevalence of the trunk of Henle, its mean diameter and length, the organization of its tributaries, method of anatomical assessment (cadaveric, radiological, or intraoperative), geographical origin, study sample, and known health status. Our search identified 38 records that included data from 2,686 subjects. Overall, the prevalence of the trunk of Henle was 86.9% (95% CI, 0.81-0.92) and the mean diameter was 4.2 mm. Only one study reported the length of the trunk (10.7 mm). The most common type of venous trunk (56.1%) was a vessel comprising three tributaries: gastric (right gastro-epiploic vein), pancreatic (most commonly the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein), and colic (most commonly the superior right colic vein). The trunk of Henle is a common variant in the anatomy of the portal circulation. It is a highly variable vessel, but the most common type is a gastro-pancreato-colic trunk. In surgical practice, the presence of this venous trunk poses a high risk for bleeding, but it can also be a useful landmark during various abdominal procedures. Clin. Anat. 31:1109-1121, 2018. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.