Role of color Doppler flow imaging in applicable anatomy of spleen vessels

AIM: To explore the role of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in visualization of spleen vessels and to define its value for spleen micro-invasive operation. METHODS: A total of 36 patients requiring laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) for various hematopathies and autoimmune diseases were randomly selected from April 2005 to May 2008. Anatomic types of spleen pedicle, adjacent relations between spleen vessels and pancreas, diameters of spleen artery and vein were detected and recorded by preoperative CDFI. Different operative procedures were performed according to different anatomic frameworks. The parameters were recorded by telerecording during LS and compared with those by preoperative CDFI using Chi-square test. RESULTS: Two anatomic types of spleen pedicle and four different adjacent relations between spleen vessels and pancreas were detected by CDFI. The diameters of spleen artery and vein detected by CDFI were 0.46 +/- 0.09 cm and 0.85 +/- 0.35 cm, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the parameters recorded by CDFI and by telerecording (chi(2) = 0.250, 0.677, P > 0.05). LS was successfully performed following the anatomic information provided by preoperative CDFI. CONCLUSION: Different anatomic frameworks of spleen vessels can be provided by preoperative CDFI, which instructs micro-invasive operation of spleen and increase the safety of operation. (c) 2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.