DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.061

Pages: 1343-1345

The portal vein drains blood from the abdominal part of alimentary tract except the lower part of rectum and anal canal, also from spleen, pancreas, gallbladder. It measures 8cm in length and 2cm (range 7 to 15 mm) in diameter. In liver transplantation and pancreatectomy a length of portal vein is removed for anastomosis with recipient vessels. The effect of anthropometrical measurements on the dimensions of portal vein, liver, spleen is important marker for evaluation, diagnosis, and assessment of portal hypertension, organomegaly and organ transplantation. There are very few studies regarding anatomical dimensions of portal vein; not much studied in Indians. Present study was done to note the variations in the normal length and diameter of the portal vein in cadavers dissected during normal dissection and after statistical analysis compared with the previous data available. The study was conducted on total 40 embalmed cadavers (22 males and 18 females). The mean length and mean diameter of all portal veins were 4.69cm (range 3cm to 7cm) and 1.64cm (range 0.9cm to 2 cm) respectively. In males , the mean length and mean diameter were 4.87cm (range 3.3cm to 7cm) and 1.75cm (range 1.2cm to 2cm) respectively. Whereas in females the mean length and mean diameter were 4.47cm (range 3cm to 5.7cm) and 1.51cm ( range 0.9cm to 2cm) respectively. Considering the normal variations in the anatomical dimensions of portal vein in relation to gender, height, weight, race its knowledge is essential for surgeons and radiologists for various surgical and radiological procedures.